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Heat-shrink tubing close to the hotend?

Posted by cristian

cristian

Heat-shrink tubing close to the hotend?
September 05, 2014 05:30PM

Registered: 12 years ago
Posts: 344

Hi smartrappers,
here comes a newbie question.

I have noticed that it is quite common to use heat-shrink tubes to insulate wires close to the hotend (or even inside, as for the thermistor).
Is it okay for long term use? Most of those (cheap) tubes are rated for 125°C, not more.
Wouldn't it be better to use kapton tape?

Cristian

Reply Quote

mikefiatx19

Re: Heat-shrink tubing close to the hotend?
September 05, 2014 05:56PM

Registered: 12 years ago
Posts: 125

I think the thermistor uses thin PTFE tube at the connection with the heater block. The shrink tube is used just outside and around the heater block.

Reply Quote

regpye

Re: Heat-shrink tubing close to the hotend?
September 05, 2014 06:26PM

Registered: 13 years ago
Posts: 791

Quote
cristian
Hi smartrappers,
here comes a newbie question.

I have noticed that it is quite common to use heat-shrink tubes to insulate wires close to the hotend (or even inside, as for the thermistor).
Is it okay for long term use? Most of those (cheap) tubes are rated for 125°C, not more.
Wouldn't it be better to use kapton tape?

Cristian

I use and supply PTFE sleeve that is only 0.5mm ID to the thermistor leads. The leads are joined to longer wires and the joint is covered with heatshrink tube, it doesn't get hot enough to affect it in any bad way.
I have done hundreds like this without any failures.

[regpye.com.au]
"Experience is the mother of all knowledge." --Leonardo da Vinci

Reply Quote

Anonymous User

Re: Heat-shrink tubing close to the hotend?
September 05, 2014 06:44PM

Still, not worth the risk. I use PTFE heat shrink tubing. It's a little expensive, but vinyl @ 200C is a bad idea. Even if 1 out of 1000 fail, it's not worth saving the 5 cents it takes to use the right material for the job.

Reply Quote

cristian

Re: Heat-shrink tubing close to the hotend?
September 06, 2014 03:56AM

Registered: 12 years ago
Posts: 344

Quote
regpye
I use and supply PTFE sleeve that is only 0.5mm ID to the thermistor leads. The leads are joined to longer wires and the joint is covered with heatshrink tube, it doesn't get hot enough to affect it in any bad way.
I have done hundreds like this without any failures.

Thanks Reg, I was indeed looking for this info on your website but I missed it.

Quote
Robert_Paulson
Still, not worth the risk. I use PTFE heat shrink tubing. It's a little expensive, but vinyl @ 200C is a bad idea. Even if 1 out of 1000 fail, it's not worth saving the 5 cents it takes to use the right material for the job.