Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Wiring best practices and loom building technique
Basil
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Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Post by Basil »

Are there any tricks to feeding several wires down one long run of heat shrink tubing, short of having only a few wires in a huge diameter heat shrink tube, that won't shrink to size properly? I am sure the pros must have a few trade secrets here? ;)
stevieturbo
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Re: Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Post by stevieturbo »

Basil wrote:Are there any tricks to feeding several wires down one long run of heat shrink tubing, short of having only a few wires in a huge diameter heat shrink tube, that won't shrink to size properly? I am sure the pros must have a few trade secrets here? ;)
What is the actual problem ? How tight are you looking to pack them ?

Obviously you dont try to feed them in one at a time. You group wires together then use something to pull them in.

Either a single draw wire, stiff wire, whatever.
Gadgetman
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Re: Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Post by Gadgetman »

How longs the tube? FWIW, on realll long runs (in small flexible conduit admitedly, but same principle) I've used an air-line and blow gun to blow a draw cord through, then it's a simple case of carefully pulling the cable bundle through. If the runs are very long though, friction can be a killer, both for the "stiction" and the heat it can put into insulators.
Richspec
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Re: Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Post by Richspec »

use a piece of stiff wire as a draw cord as mentioned above and lubricate the cables your pulling through to overcome the friction issue, I often use the same principles at work on a larger scale and the cable lubrication cant be beaten for troublesome jobs.
stevieturbo
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Re: Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Post by stevieturbo »

although for automotive purposes, a silicone lube might be best.
Antral
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Re: Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Post by Antral »

Twist your wires together first . ;)
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ignitionautosport
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Re: Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Post by ignitionautosport »

KY jelly. Seriously.
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stevieturbo
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Re: Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Post by stevieturbo »

Or easiest solution....get someone else to make the loom lol
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ignitionautosport
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Re: Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Post by ignitionautosport »

Someone like me :mrgreen:
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VR6Turbo
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Re: Feeding long cable runs down heatshrink tube?

Post by VR6Turbo »

How long is a long cable run? For any wires I might need to get at again, I use that corrigated conduit stuff. I've run cables down a long length of sleeving before (2-3M) and had to cut it open again to make some changes to the loom (adding a new function), which is a pain in the back side!
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