Heat shrink terminals

[Builder]

Hope I'm not in the wrong forum, but here goes:

I go through heat shrink connectors like water and they're real expensive to buy at the auto parts stores. I pay $3.99 for only 2 of them! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I have tons of heat shrink butt connectors, but I wondered if anyone had a source for the heat shrink ring terminals in bulk-cheaper than Pep Boys?

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I buy mine from Imperial Supply in Green Bay, WI or Lawson products. They are about 50 cents in bulk. You mite want to look into an assortment to start with.
Bill

 

[JerryG]

Gee whiz. If I was paying that much for heat shrink I would be using Posi-lock connectors for everything.

 

[BB_TX]

Why not buy plain terminals and some heat shrink tubing?
What do you use the heat shrink terminals for?

 

[awlchu]

www.mcmastercarr.com

 

[dullpain]

www.waytekwire.com/

 

[trlong]

Not sure of your application but would agree that an assortment of heat shrink tubing would be cheaper in the long run. I prefer it as I can cut it long enough to extend down the wires, providing more moisture protection for the connection and strain relief. I often will use one diameter for the connectors and two smaller diameter lengths on either side.

An alternative, albeit a bit more messy, is liquid electrical tape. I've used it for all the connections for my CUT's work lights and several other exterior environment connections, with good results. If interested, one Mfg.'er is "Star brite" (starbrite.com). I'm sure there are others, Google came up with a bunch. Can't find the spec.'s now but I recall the temp range to be more than adequate. May not be good near a hot motor or exhaust but then most wire insulation isn't either. One caution is to make sure you have good ventilation as it outgasses some nasty fumes 'til dried.

Tom

 

[SnowRidge]

<font color="blue"> An alternative, albeit a bit more messy, is liquid electrical tape. </font>

I'll second that. I also use it with heat shrink tubing. It's a lot cheaper than the commercial heat shrink terminals. I solder a non-insulated terminal on, coat the butt and a bit of the wire with liquid electrical tape, and after it has set up a bit, slip heat shrink over it and hit it with the heat gun. I don't remember ever having one of those fail, even in a salt water environment.

The best liquid electrical tape is made by 3M (sorry, don't remember the number), but the Star Brite stuff works fine, too.

 

[Builder]

Thanks for the link to Watek wire. Their terminals are only .25c/pc compared to the $2/pc at Pep Boys. Man I was getting ripped-off. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I will also re-try the heat shrink tubing ideas. I have used it before, but it always seemed to melt around the end of the connector, exposing some of the metal end /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Maybe i need to use a different kind of heat shrink tubing.

Thanks for your help.

 

[DGS]

When you use this product use silicone dielectric grease at each end .
it wiil seal any contaminents from reaching the joint you have made.

 

[trlong]

Liquid tape AND heatshrink. I like that idea....especially, as you say around salt water. I'd rather take the time and a few more pennies to do it well, than to have @#$%$ !! intermittents to track down and/or fail when you really need 'em.

 

[Builder]

Where do we get "liquid tape"? Napa? Home depot?

 

[ronjhall]

I get it from West Marine.

 

[trlong]

First found mine at NAPA. However, if Snowridge says 3M's the best, I'll go looking for it the next time I run low.