Orange Heatshrink

Post by **evric** » Wed, 27 Jan 2010, 18:59

Does anyone know of a source of orange heatshrink?

I found Cabac SMO.... range of orange heatshrink on the internet but when contacted the company said the product range had been discontinued.

I know about the orange flexible conduit but it would be nice to put an orange sleeve aroung smaller wires which are carrying 120V in the "engine" bay. Legally this is required anyway.

Post by **coulomb** » Wed, 27 Jan 2010, 19:43

This shows that it exists:

https://www.onlineshoppingcart.com.au/s ... 71532422db

Somewhat expensive at over $57/m.

Post by **Squiggles** » Wed, 27 Jan 2010, 20:13

I do recall that energy authorities used thick glue lined orange heatshrink when repairing underground cables....not what you are after I would suspect.

Post by **Richo** » Wed, 27 Jan 2010, 20:58

Maybe if you can't get any heatshrink then orange electrical tape might do.

Post by **a4x4kiwi** » Wed, 27 Jan 2010, 21:38

I even had trouble finding orange electrical tape, but I think it is more common that orange heat-shrink.

Post by **Squiggles** » Wed, 27 Jan 2010, 22:22

Richo wrote: Maybe if you can't get any heatshrink then orange electrical tape might do.

Hey Richo, your starting to sound more like a butcher than an electrician!

Post by **Johny** » Wed, 27 Jan 2010, 22:30

These guys claim to have orange.

Post by **woody** » Wed, 27 Jan 2010, 22:33

Squiggles wrote:
Richo wrote: Maybe if you can't get any heatshrink then orange electrical tape might do.

Hey Richo, your starting to sound more like a butcher than an electrician!

orange tape over non-orange heatshrink is what I think Richo meant.
Orange conduit better?
Orange-sprayed conduit?

Post by **Squiggles** » Thu, 28 Jan 2010, 00:30

woody wrote:
Squiggles wrote:
Richo wrote: Maybe if you can't get any heatshrink then orange electrical tape might do.

Hey Richo, your starting to sound more like a butcher than an electrician!
orange tape over non-orange heatshrink is what I think Richo meant.
Orange conduit better?
Orange-sprayed conduit?

Yeh I know, I am just making an old electricians observation, electrical tape never makes a good long term solution. Except for the now obsolete non adhesive tape the old timers used to wrap cables with. There was some technique required but 50 years on it would still be in place.

If you do use adhesive tape use Nitto brand.

Post by **Richo** » Thu, 28 Jan 2010, 00:31

The indication is the same.
Also the automotive industry has been using tape for many years.
Just make sure the cable is rated correctly.

Post by **Squiggles** » Thu, 28 Jan 2010, 00:40

Your right about the auto industry, completely forgot that. Do they use adhesive tape? Whatever it is I am pretty sure it is not the same as your common old PVC electrical tape.

Post by **coulomb** » Thu, 28 Jan 2010, 05:28

woody wrote: Orange conduit better?
Orange-sprayed conduit?

Corrugated ("curly") conduit sprayed with orange paint looks surprisingly good... until the conduit flexes and the paint comes off in flakes. I'm still finding orange flakes months after I tried that...

It might not be too bad over rigid conduit.

But orange conduit isn't hard to find (I was just too lazy to go to the electrical store), it's thinner stuff like heat shrink that's harder to find.

Post by **bga** » Sat, 27 Feb 2010, 18:34

Using the correct primers and paints should get the paint to stick well.

I bought a can of special plastic primer for an auto touch up job a while ago.

I would expect that an automotive orange engine spray can should work nicely. These engine paints are dense and cover well. The solvents should integrate with the plastic so that it won't fall off. It may need a pre-spray with thinners and/or a primer to get good adhesion.

I must try this on some white corrugated aussieduct. Incidentally, this is also available in orange and in various sizes to 50mm or larger.

Post by **coulomb** » Sat, 27 Feb 2010, 19:22

bga wrote: It may need a pre-spray with thinners and/or a primer to get good adhesion.

Yes, that's possibly a big part of it ending up looking like this:

The other thing is the jester on the can (difficult to see in the photo, but you can see his curly shoe) might have been a clue that this wasn't proper automotive engine spray.

Thanks for the tips.

Post by **TheConverted** » Sat, 27 Feb 2010, 19:48

If you want paint that will be rock hard and flexible, look up POR-15.

I use it on my other project for rust protection.

Post by **coulomb** » Sat, 27 Feb 2010, 20:17

TheConverted wrote: ... paint ... flexible ...

I think the inflexibility of this paint was a big part of the problem. Though I suppose if it broke up but still adhered, it might just craze or crack but stay on, which would be nowhere near as bad.

Post by **bga** » Sat, 27 Feb 2010, 21:40

That's kind of annoying!

Jester??? So, the joke's on you

Turps based, I assume.
Maybe this one's best left to the export market!!

I think the trick is an acetone based solvent that will interact with the plastic and allow the paint to key into it.

I have a note of caution with flexible wiring and paints:
In the 1980s, I used a tropicalising varnish on a boat electrical panel. The vinyl in the insulation interfered with the paint's ability to polymerise and set. The thing remained sticky for years.

I shall try an experiment if nobody beats me to it.

Post by **bga** » Tue, 09 Mar 2010, 00:49

I tried some orange engine paint for a Holden red motor, which is more or less orange. It seems to stick well to corrugated aussieduct. I didn't do any solvent pre-treatment, which should improve the adhesion.

Post by **evric** » Tue, 09 Mar 2010, 01:28

I just tried some orange paint from Motormate and its seems to stick to the split corrugated tubing as well.

Post by **lithbattboss** » Tue, 09 Mar 2010, 03:52

We supply the high grade orange flexible conduits for professional EV conversions. Unlike the corrugated PVC conduit used by electricians the smooth bore conduit we supply our customers makes for a more professional looking EV conversion since it is very easy to wipe down to keep looking as good as new (a good feature for show EV's). The corrugated conduit collects dirt and grime in the grooves over time in a working EV and is much more difficult to keep looking good.
The professional smooth bore conduit I mainly supply for electric boat conversions since it is available in IP67 and IP68 ratings when the proper fittings are used. This makes it completely waterproof and it can be hosed clean. The corrugated electricians flexible corrugated conduits are not waterproof.
There is more info on the LiFeTech website- http://lithbattoz.com.au/index.php?page=battery-testing

Post by **lithbattboss** » Tue, 09 Mar 2010, 03:56

Post by **evric** » Tue, 09 Mar 2010, 12:37

Very nice. Are the sizes mentioned on the website internal diameter?

Post by **lithbattboss** » Tue, 09 Mar 2010, 15:51

Conduits are available in all of the common electrical industry sizes just the same as the corrugated electricians conduits.
Available sizes are-
12mm, 16mm, 20mm, 25mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm and 63mm
For our professional EV customers we mainly stock the 20mm, 25mm and 32mm sizes. Other sizes are less commonly used and are available on special order only.

Post by **evric** » Thu, 30 Sep 2010, 17:55

Hi all,
I have purchased orange heatshrink for my project from the US.

1/2" Orange Heatshrink 2:1 shrink ratio (ie. shrinks to 1/4").
Very nice...
This is normally very hard to obtain, particularly in Australia.

I purchased 50ft and now I'm selling what I didn't use.
the cost is $6.50 per metre plus postage.
Please PM me if you want some. Payment via direct deposit.

I have some orange 25mm H/D flexible conduit as well. Ideal for 50mm square cable.

Eric.