Heat shrink tubing products are designed to insulate wires and keep them protected from abrasions, environmental hazards and chemicals. Heat shrink tubing products are rated by their expansion ratio which is the comparative difference in the expansion and recovery rate. Exposure to heat will cause these heat shrink tubing products to contract. They can shrink to as far as one sixth of their original diameter to provide a good fit over joints with irregular shapes. Heat shrink ratios for tubing products usually range from 6:1 to 2:1. The wider the range of shrink ratio, the more you can use your heat shrink tubes for wider application.

The most common heat shrink ratios for tubing products are the 2 to 1 ratio. This means that your heat shrink tube can shrink down to half of its size, meaning it can shrink to 50% of its original size. So for a 0.60" diameter wire, you should use 1" tubing so when it shrinks down to half of its size, you get a good, snug fit over your wire or cable. If you are using a shrink tube for a wire with a terminal on the end, it is recommended that you use the 3 to 1 heat shrink tubing. This is to make sure that the tubing will shrink down onto the terminal at the same time shrink down onto the wire. That should give you a fine finish without any wires or cables exposed.

Before purchasing your heat shrink tubing, various considerations shall be taken into account. Of course, voltage rating and temperature capabilities are one of the considerations. Aside from those, the size should also be taken into account to have that perfect fit. That is why heat shrink ratios for tubing products are very important. If you don't want your electrical wire to look sloppy, you should look closely to the shrink ratio. When you encounter 6:1 ratio, this means the tubing is 6 times larger than it was before it started to shrink. The wide range of heat sink ratios will allow you to find the best size that you need for your project.

Heat shrink tubing allows you to easily fit various components. Due to its ability to shrink, it makes heat shrink tubing an excellent sealant, making sure that all important parts are covered while sliding over the larger materials. To make sure that you get the best suited heat shrink tubing that you need, you should also consider where you will install the tubing and the environmental factors that the tubing will subjected to. This way, you don't have to waste money for buying the tubing that you don’t really need.

Heat shrink tubing is primarily used for insulation, protection for conductors not to be exposed and for water-proofing. It is also used to repair wires, for resistance to abrasions and cover for wires and cables. For more information about these products and their corresponding ratios, WesBell Electronics is the place to go. They have a wide range of heat shrink tubing products that you can choose from.