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Heat shrink tubing for tiny wire

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PED
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Heat shrink tubing for tiny wire
Posted by PED on Friday, February 1, 2019 5:53 PM

Trying to wire up some LED's for signals and the wire is really tiny. I supect it is about 36ga. Smallest heat shring tubing I have is 1/16 (shrinks to 1/32) and it will not shrink down to grip the wire. I am soldering these wires to a larger wire and I want the shrink wrap to act as a strain relief in addition to insulation. I know shrink wrap exist to do a better job but I am not sure what I should shop for.

What size, brand, source, etc should I be looking for?

Paul D

N scale Washita and Santa Fe Railroad
Southern Oklahoma circa late 70's

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Posted by j. c. on Friday, February 1, 2019 6:04 PM

i would check at grangers , or you might use liquid tape.

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Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, February 1, 2019 6:21 PM

Ed, Gmpullman, posted this the other day

According to one source, 36 ga wire is .005" in diameter.  I have hairs that thick.

 I'm skeptical that such a product exists, that would also meet your strain relief requirement. 

You do know that magnet wire, which is probably what you have, is insulated?  Maybe a combination of the smallest heat shrink and the "Amazing Goop" Mel refers to, later in that thread, would work as strain relief. 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by wvg_ca on Friday, February 1, 2019 6:31 PM

you can get shrink tube that is less than 1/16 inch ...

but it is substantially more expensive [from the supplier i use]

available from digikey [and probably others]

Moderator
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Posted by tstage on Friday, February 1, 2019 7:12 PM

Paul,

How big/what gauge is the larger wire?  Will the heat shrink you have shrink down around that?  As long as you can heat shrink around the larger wire, it can serve as a strain-relief to the smaller wire - even if it is loose on the latter.

Tom

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Posted by RR_Mel on Friday, February 1, 2019 7:26 PM

Use a small gob of Goop, wait 5 minutes and mold it around the connection.  Been using it for about 12 years and never had a problem.
 
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
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Posted by bruce22 on Saturday, February 2, 2019 1:50 AM
Look for tubing that has a 3:1 shrink ratio. May help
PED
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Posted by PED on Saturday, February 2, 2019 8:26 AM

The "larger" wire is 22ga. Even if it worked, the Goop approach does not appleal to me because of the time needed to let it set up before I could handle it. I know this stuff exists because I have some prewired LEDs with wire that small and it has some shring wrap on it. My 1/16 (about 1.6mm) wrap will almost do it. I did find some 1mm shrink wrap at several web sites but it is pricy. I will probably go ahead and get some of the 1mm size to try out.

Paul D

N scale Washita and Santa Fe Railroad
Southern Oklahoma circa late 70's

PED
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Posted by PED on Saturday, February 2, 2019 10:57 AM

I decided that anything smaller than 1/16" would be hard to get over my larger 22ga wire. My current 1/16" wrap had a 2:1 shrink ratio. I found some 1/16" wrap with a 3:1 shrink ratio that I sure will work for my needs. Was $16.99 for a 25 ft piece on Amazon. I have a lot of joints to cover so I expect to use most of it.

Paul D

N scale Washita and Santa Fe Railroad
Southern Oklahoma circa late 70's

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Posted by richg1998 on Saturday, February 2, 2019 11:10 AM

I have bought various sizes in the past online.Google is my best friend.

Also comes in NMRA DCC colors.

Also found it at a local hardware store in my little city but only in black color.

I have been working in electronics for some years. Also have a heat gun which really helps.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

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Posted by Ronvaaw9c on Friday, February 22, 2019 9:54 AM

I use the smallest shrink that Litchfield Station sells. Lot smaller than 1/16. Reasonably priced with reasonable shipping. 

PED
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Posted by PED on Friday, February 22, 2019 7:57 PM

I found some 1/16 that works for me. The big difference is that it is a 3 to 1 shrink ratio. Most common shring wrap is 2:1so the 3:1 stuff wil  really tighten down on tiny wire.

Paul D

N scale Washita and Santa Fe Railroad
Southern Oklahoma circa late 70's

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