Marine vs non-Marine Adhesive-Lined Heat Shrink Tubing

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by NoTies

Is American SS somehow superior to SS from other countries?

By "American" I believe Bob was referring to the Imperial sizing vs metric sizing. not to country of origin.

[geoffr]

Thanks all - you have confirmed what I expect.. and given me a few places to order from

[dicorenz]

I'm an engineer of heat shrink tubing for many years. What marine heat shrink tubing requires is waterproof, so any adhesive lined heat shrink tubing is suitable. The key is which type of heat shrink tubing could supply plenty adhesive, and there are also several different types of adhesive. As to my experience, I suggest you could try medium wall heat shrink tubing with adhesive. Or dual wall heat shrink tubing if you want it to be more flexible.

[Jammer]

There are many grades of heat shrink. To characterize them as "marine" and "non-marine" isn't particularly useful.


In most electrical and electronic assemblies, the purpose of heat shrink is to provide electrical insulation, not water resistance. Thin wall tubing is best for that because it is easier to work with, less expensive, more flexible, and uses up less space in the wire bundle. And that is the sort of heat shrink you would want to use in a dry environment, if for example you're working on the connections to your breaker panel below decks.


Double-wall heat shrink provides better water resistance.


You can get products with 3:1 shrinkage for covering odd shapes or so you need fewer sizes in your toolkit. 2:1 is more common.


You can get black which is more UV resistant, or clear which lets you confirm that the inside glue has melted and adhered, or colors which are useful for marking polarity of things like battery cables.


Electronic supply houses, like Mouser and Newark, have the largest selection. They have precut lengths, kits, and long rolls.

[dicorenz]

Originally Posted by Jammer

There are many grades of heat shrink. To characterize them as "marine" and "non-marine" isn't particularly useful.


In most electrical and electronic assemblies, the purpose of heat shrink is to provide electrical insulation, not water resistance. Thin wall tubing is best for that because it is easier to work with, less expensive, more flexible, and uses up less space in the wire bundle. And that is the sort of heat shrink you would want to use in a dry environment, if for example you're working on the connections to your breaker panel below decks.


Double-wall heat shrink provides better water resistance.


You can get products with 3:1 shrinkage for covering odd shapes or so you need fewer sizes in your toolkit. 2:1 is more common.


You can get black which is more UV resistant, or clear which lets you confirm that the inside glue has melted and adhered, or colors which are useful for marking polarity of things like battery cables.


Electronic supply houses, like Mouser and Newark, have the largest selection. They have precut lengths, kits, and long rolls.

I agree with you that at most situation, single wall heat shrink tubing will be enough. I am a supplier of heat shrink tubing, from my point of view, the prices are good enough to use adhesive lined heat shrink tube at all situation in marine. Maybe the retail price of adhesive lined heat shrink tube will be much higher than single wall tubing's.

[zboss]

There is definitely a difference between grade A brand marine quality heat shrink and less expensive non-marine terminals but next to no difference in just the tubing.

[dicorenz]

I think the quality of heat shrink tubing from different suppliers are similar, the key point is to choose the right heat shrink tubing. There are several different types of heat shrink tubings.

[BlackHeron]

Amazon has good prices through a seller called TEMCo -all diameters, in 4 foot lengths. I only use the mastic/glue-lined stuff on the boat.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F2LGAYG..._xTZzFbE403RTP

[Bycrick]

As usual with most, one can take either of two approaches to heat shrink tubing:
1. The simple generic approach. Hey, it covers the joint and shrinks. What else do I need?
2. Or, you can "engineer" the solution. Which of several different materials with different properties. Wall thickness. Stiffness. Flexibility. Shrink ratio. Abrasion resistance. UV resistance. Heat resistance. Adhesive lined or not. Which of several adhesives. Color. Chemical or oil resistant. Cost.

For your application, maybe it doesn’t make a difference, but
they’re not all the same. McMaster-Carr has enough different kinds to keep you reading for a couple of hours.

[zboss]

I've started buying only clear heat shrink tubing (with adhesive) so I can put labels under them when we shrink the tubing.

There are varieties of 6:1 heat shrink tubing which is useful for putting on a cable that has already been made up with a terminal but without heat shrink.