How to Shrink Heat Shrink..wo/going kaboom

[Sink or Swim]

This may be a crazy question but I will ask anyway......

I am putting my rebuilt alternator back on my boat. The sensor and excitor wires had some kind of bullet or push type connectors on them (sorry don't know the lingo...I know they are not spades.) I was going to put heat shrink on them just as added protection but here is where I want to be safe. I'm in the area with the motor and the hatch is up so ventilation is not a problem but....can I use a heat gun to shink the heat shrink? I know alternators, starters and other parts have to be marine so you don't go kaboom. And I have always made sure the blower is working properly and the hoses are in good shape because I have heard of too many horror stories. Am I just being too paranoid? Of course I don't even have a heat gun yet. I rewired my trailer lights and I used one of those butane lighters used to start my bbq grill. I'm pretty sure I don't want to use that

Later

 

[tommays]

Re: How to Shrink Heat Shrink..wo/going kaboom

assuming that there is no leaking gas and the engine bay is open and well vented you can shrink with a normal amount of caution



Tommays

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How to Shrink Heat Shrink..wo/going kaboom

These bullet connectors come OEM with a soft (silicon I guess) sleve over them to keep water out. If you have that, no need to heatshrink.

If you do, stick your nose down in the area and below and smell for gas fumes. If you smell some blow it out till you don't....with something else.

The heat gun is not an open flame so you are ahead of the game there. Just, as an added precaution, turn it on before you go into the bilge and don't change switch positions while it's there....take it out to turn it off.

HTH

Mark

 

[klicknative]

Re: How to Shrink Heat Shrink..wo/going kaboom

Even if you don't need a heat gun for this job, shop around and buy a good one anyway. You'll find a lot of uses for it down the road.

Something I have found with the bullet conectors with the soft boots is they go together better with a dab of dielectric grease on the tip. The auto parts store (NAPA, Carquest) has it. It's the same stuff used on spark plug boots. It doesn't take much, just a light film to get them "home" and it helps seal out moisture.

When I wire something up from "scratch" I like to use non insulated terminals and shrink tube. I can get a better crimp without the hard plastic sleve in the way. I use a Beldon Stripper/crimper. I start the crimp in the "V" shaped die marked "NON INS" and finish in the square one for the size of terminal I'm working with. When it's finished it's about the same size as the outside of the insulation on the wire. I use 1" of shrink tube on rings, spades, ect and 2" on butt splices. Oh, and put the shrink tube on BEFORE you crimp the conector on. It will make you use bad words if you don't.

 

[Sink or Swim]

Re: How to Shrink Heat Shrink..wo/going kaboom

Thanks for the tips everyone. If you don't hear from me tomorrow......call an ambulance.

I will get a heat gun. This is the third time in 2 months I have needed one. The butane lighter works good for the bbq grill but I don't think I will use it this time. Heat is ok in the engine compartment....flames and sparks bad.

Later

 

[BF]

Re: How to Shrink Heat Shrink..wo/going kaboom

you can use a soldering iron to shrink heat shrink. Just rub the heat shrink with the shank of the iron. You may have to touch it on one side then the other.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How to Shrink Heat Shrink..wo/going kaboom

Harbor Freight tools has them on sale for like $7. You have the 600+ setting and the 1200 or 1500 W (forgot which) setting. Great, cheap, and works just fine.

Mark

 

[drewpster]

Re: How to Shrink Heat Shrink..wo/going kaboom

I also use the el-cheapo Harbor Freight heat gun. I have one at work and one at home. I have used them quite a bit without a problem. Including shrinking triple wall on to 1/0 cable. Works great!

 

[Scaaty]

Re: How to Shrink Heat Shrink..wo/going kaboom

No fumes? Been using my old Zippo from Vietnam since ..well, do the math..