Heatshrink size's

[AP Electrical]

Could anyone tell me what heatshrink for various CSA cables say from 1mm2 to 25mm2 I'm after getting some from Rapid to build up some stock.

Thanks in advance Alex

 

[Richard Burns]

Depends on the type of heatshrink you need, 2:1, 3:1, glue lined, electrical insulation, also what you are heat shrinking. Are you shrinking singles, T&E cores, just the copper, the insulation , the sheath and how tightly it needs to be held. If you use heatshrink only just over the od of the cable it is a hassle to get on but if you heat it unevenly it will stay on; if you use 6mm 2:1 heatshrink on 3 mm cable it may be loose.

This table gives you an idea of what is possible:

csa	core diameter mm	overall o.d. mm	minimum 2:1 i.d.	maximum 2:1 i.d.	usable i.d.	Minimum 3:1 i.d.	maximum 3:1 i.d.	usable i.d.
1mm[SUP]2[/SUP]	1.13	3.00	3.5	5.6	5.0	3.5	8.4	6.0
1.5mm[SUP]2[/SUP]	1.38	3.20	3.9	6.4	5.0	3.9	9.6	6.0
2.5mm[SUP]2[/SUP]	1.78	4.20	4.7	7.8	6.0	4.7	11.7	6.0
4mm[SUP]2[/SUP]	2.50	4.80	5.3	9.0	6.0	5.3	13.5	6.0
6mm[SUP]2[/SUP]	3.10	5.20	5.7	10.0	8.0	5.7	15.0	6.0
10mm[SUP]2[/SUP]	4.00	6.80	7.3	12.9	8.0	7.3	19.4	12.0
16mm[SUP]2[/SUP]	5.10	8.00	8.5	15.1	10.0	8.5	22.7	12.0
25mm[SUP]2[/SUP]	6.42	9.80	10.3	18.7	13.0	10.3	28.1	12.0

If you are covering the sheath I generally find for small, up to 4mm cables, 12mm 3:1 works OK.

 

[AP Electrical]

Thanks richard, good info - Its for sleeving crimped joints in t&e 1mm 2.5 etc,,,

 

[rick]

Good thread. But why not consider using Wago connectors - can be put in inaccessible locations, and much quicker to do.

 

[AP Electrical]

Yeah wagos defo have there place, but there's also room for a few crimps ! For tight spots...

 

[Rockingit]

So......how do you protect the wago's then, afterwards?! If you don't want to pay out for a joint box (like me), just slip on some heatshrink over the whole lot for a few inches either way.