Anyone know where I can buy heat shrink tubing for 14650s?

[jb0nez]

There was a thread about 14650 wrappers etc, which is now closed. Since my ultrafires' heat shrink tubing is starting to get cut, I'd love to re-heat shrink wrap it before it fails.

Does anyone know where I can get this wrapping? I have googled a lot and seen a few people talking about how they have it, but nobody selling it.

 

[BWhare]

You might find something useful here:

Found 12 heat shrink at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

The 23 mm looks like it could fit...

 

[Thrasher]

home depot, harbor freight, radio shack. lowes, probably ace hardware as well

 

[AttyPops]

OK.

Wrapping a potentially vent-able battery in anything other than the material it's designed to be wrapped in, particularly if you don't know the specs....like tensile strength and insulating factors/heat dissipation is a bad idea.

If it's designed for it, maybe OK...

Small tears and such have been fixed with small bits of tape. However, in general, get a new battery people, IMHO.

 

[Iffy]

Wrapping a potentially vent-able battery in anything other than the material it's designed to be wrapped in, particularly if you don't know the specs....like tensile strength and insulating factors/heat dissipation is a bad idea.

If it's designed for it, maybe OK...

Small tears and such have been fixed with small bits of tape. However, in general, get a new battery people, IMHO.

Any type of electrical heat shrink (EHS) will be superior to any tape, and more than likely, da original batt crap wrap!

Just go to your local electrical supply store and have them take care of ya. Plus, chances are you'll get a lot more per dollar!

BTW, spent over 41 years in 'tronics, military and civilian, and good EHS is invaluable and beyond awesome!

- insulate screwdriver shafts/pliers handles
- marine (salt water) wiring boots
- 'tronic connector/cable boots
- PV batt rattle eliminator
- silence mil field gear rattles
- field expedient flashlight holders
- mess kit handle insulator/silencer
- M16/AR15 magazine paracord pulls
- eyeglasses temple covers
- Bic lighter boot with paracord pull/hanger

That's just a very few uses for EHS!

Also, there are diff EHS thicknesses for diff insulation/'wear' applications; ergo, my local electrical supply store recommendation.

 

[AttyPops]

batteries get hot. They get hot when used. They get hot when charged. Heat can make them fail. Adding a wrap is more insulation. Also, that particular type of wrap shrinks with heat by definition. And...how do you intend to shrink it onto the battery? With heat?

A battery is not a screwdriver or a wire.

Tape, in small bits, probably won't have much effect. However, wrapping the whole battery in the wrong stuff is STILL a bad idea if you use the wrong stuff.

Some may work. Some....not. That battery is probably $5.00 new (and you got use out of it).

 

[fourtytwo]

Also try your local hobby store that deals with radio controled cars, boats, helis and stuff.

I gotta agree with Iffy here. heat shrink is just one step below duct tape in usefulness in my tool box. Also, spend the extra few cents and get the best quality heat shrink you can find.

 

[Iffy]

With heat?

Well, a freezer won't work! Of course ya use heat. Apparently you have no practical EHS knowledge. Otherwise ya wouldn't be arguing about something that is a common and a very plausible solution. Either that or you're over thinking a non-issue. I won't just to$$ a batt and some coin away based upon your inexperience. Neither should anyone else!

A battery is not a screwdriver or a wire.

See above...

AP, I really do think da world of ya. But, if you're not familiar with a viable solution/product and it's proper application, you do a disservice to those that think ya think ya know what you're talkin' 'bout!

 

[TomCatt]

What would be the most advisable way of applying heat to the EHS to shrink it onto a li-ion battery?

 

[Iffy]

What would be the most advisable way of applying heat to the EHS to shrink it onto a li-ion battery?

Lowest controlled heat required for slow EHS shrinkage. I have a temp controlled heat gun which makes it quite easy. But, one can also use a hair dryer on the lowest effective setting while constantly moving the dryer and rotating the battery while closely observing the EHS reaction (aka 'manual' control). Done this many, many times before my heat gun. Actually, I've accomplished this also with a lighter, although I DO NOT recommend that due to inconsistent heat control.

Kinda like wrappn' a coil; easier to do than describe!

 

[jb0nez]

You might find something useful here:

Found 12 heat shrink at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

The 23 mm looks like it could fit...

Wow great find! I don't know why that didn't come up on my web searches. A meter of the 23mm is only $0.84, including shipping. Already ordered.

Edit: thanks for all the input everyone. I want to mention I live in Hawaii so my local electronics/hobby stores are pretty anemic.

 

[stormwench]

My question would be if you plan to remove and replace the wrap or just add an additional layer of wrap?

 

[StereoDreamer]

Lowest controlled heat required for slow EHS shrinkage. I have a temp controlled heat gun which makes it quite easy. But, one can also use a hair dryer on the lowest effective setting while constantly moving the dryer and rotating the battery while closely observing the EHS reaction (aka 'manual' control). Done this many, many times before my heat gun. Actually, I've accomplished this also with a lighter, although I DO NOT recommend that due to inconsistent heat control.

Kinda like wrappn' a coil; easier to do than describe!

OK, so let me get this right...

You re suggesting that someone go buy special low-temp EHS that is made specifically for wrapping batteries, then get a temp-controlled heat gun, to fix a well-used battery that could very possibly have been internally damaged by whatever caused the original wrapper to become compromised?

And you're saying this is just as safe and more cost effective than just going to a vendor and buying a new battery for, what $7.00?

Well, maybe when you've got 41 years of experience of other people (civilian and military employers) buying your gear, double-checking your work, and covering your .... when something goes south, that is an acceptable solution. But really, I don't think the average vaper--especially one who obviously doesn't know much about batteries--has the time, resources, equipment, knowledge, or time to bother with all that foolishness.

I'm the biggest cheapskate in vaping, and believe me, I try to squeeze every bit of life out of my gear. I've got Vivi Nova heads that are 8 months old that I've meticulously maintained and are still working--not because I can't afford new ones, but because I like the idea of saying I've got 8-month-old Vivi Nova heads still working.

But when it comes to batteries, I don't skimp and I don't cut corners.

And neither should you, "jb0nez". I'm 100% with "AttyPops" on this one.

Dude--just buy a new freaking battery...

 

[jb0nez]

My question would be if you plan to remove and replace the wrap or just add an additional layer of wrap?

Add. In my experience once the PCB disc at the bottom comes loose its game over for the battery.
And I have four new batteries on the way. But I'm tired of replacing batteries every three months because the EHS gets a slit, and those costs add up. I already spent too much on juice and cartos

 

[vapdad]

Will it shrink in a pre-heated oven?

 

[AttyPops]

You guy are just pulling my leg I guess.

1) The Li-Ion battery manufacturers don't recommend using them above 90 degrees F on many things. They want you to store them in a cool place too.

2) You're actually proposing (and BTW modifying some of the original advice) to use special low temp heat guns and such rather than getting a new battery?

3) You are offending me without cause. And being presumptive at the same time. There's heat shrink in my electronics bench storage. I use it all the time. The low temp stuff vs the high temp stuff isn't fully the point. See my 1st post.

4) If you're heating a Li-Ion battery....(particularly with some of the wrapping stuff suggested in the first few posts) you're an idiot. It may very well work 98% of the time...but I wouldn't want to be that 1 out of 50 people that had a problem. "Special heat gun" or with an oven. Still idiot. Unless you can show me where it shrinks below 90 degrees F. And also show me that it won't insulate the battery more (with an additional layer) during charging and also show me that it won't put more pressure on the battery....

Looks like 42 years are required before good advice can be achieved.

Someone is going to either A) get the wrong stuff. B) Heat it too much or C) damage a battery physically.

Most ovens won't even go below 150. Now we begin the claim of using "special ovens".

Some people will mess this up even if it can be pulled off safely at all. In general, it's a bad idea. It's "Iffy".

And quit quoting me out of context. The "heat it?" was obviously rhetorical.

I was also careful to state that there may be "proper stuff" vs improper. However, there were also posts about picking up tube at R.S. and hardware stores without specs. So......use caution here.

Any type of electrical heat shrink (EHS) will be superior to any tape, and more than likely, da original batt crap wrap!

Just go to your local electrical supply store and have them take care of ya. Plus, chances are you'll get a lot more per dollar!

BTW, spent over 41 years in 'tronics, military and civilian, and good EHS is invaluable and beyond awesome!

- insulate screwdriver shafts/pliers handles
- marine (salt water) wiring boots
- 'tronic connector/cable boots
- PV batt rattle eliminator
- silence mil field gear rattles
- field expedient flashlight holders
- mess kit handle insulator/silencer
- M16/AR15 magazine paracord pulls
- eyeglasses temple covers
- Bic lighter boot with paracord pull/hanger

That's just a very few uses for EHS!

Also, there are diff EHS thicknesses for diff insulation/'wear' applications; ergo, my local electrical supply store recommendation.

Well, a freezer won't work! Of course ya use heat. Apparently you have no practical EHS knowledge. Otherwise ya wouldn't be arguing about something that is a common and a very plausible solution. Either that or you're over thinking a non-issue. I won't just to$$ a batt and some coin away based upon your inexperience. Neither should anyone else!



See above...

AP, I really do think da world of ya. But, if you're not familiar with a viable solution/product and it's proper application, you do a disservice to those that think ya think ya know what you're talkin' 'bout!

Lowest controlled heat required for slow EHS shrinkage. I have a temp controlled heat gun which makes it quite easy. But, one can also use a hair dryer on the lowest effective setting while constantly moving the dryer and rotating the battery while closely observing the EHS reaction (aka 'manual' control). Done this many, many times before my heat gun. Actually, I've accomplished this also with a lighter, although I DO NOT recommend that due to inconsistent heat control.

Kinda like wrappn' a coil; easier to do than describe!

Will it shrink in a pre-heated oven?

 

[AttyPops]

P.S.

The manufacturers may very well use a cold-shrink tube wrapping process. Some also use wrapping rather than shrinking. IDK. Do you?

 

[StereoDreamer]

But I'm tired of replacing batteries every three months because the EHS gets a slit, and those costs add up. I already spent too much on juice and cartos

I think the first thing I'd do is capture and kill the evil leprechans who were cutting slits in my batteries when I wasn't looking.



Short of that, I venture a guess that there are some machining burrs in your PV tube that are damaging your battery wraps--you might a to try nd figure out whats going on, and sand/file down any sharp bits inside your PV's battery tube.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of shrink-tubing "cure"...

 

[jb0nez]

No burrs, perfectly smooth, but very sharp edges (e-power BTW). Plus sometimes when putting into the charger, my fingers slip and the sharp metal spring loaded piece shoots forward. I think that catches the little edge where the PCB is.

I've started trying to be more careful, but once the slit is there it just grows.

I'll let you know how my heat shrinking goes . I suspect it will not fit in the e-power tube anyway, since the ultrafire 14650 barely fits as it is.

2 of my batteries are NOT on the way since Madvapes got hacked when I placed my order, so my debit card # is now floating around the internet and the order was canceled.

And the other 2 I realized after I ordered are unprotected Trustfires. So, well, BLEH. Guess I'll just get some more of the red IMRs from CCV and deal with the lower mah by carrying more with me.

Edit: What's particularly vexing is that once the slit appears, once it's grown to about 1/3 the circumference, the battery stops working - yet it's putting out 3.7v (measured on a voltmeter) and my charger thinks it's charged. Plus when I plug it into my e-power the switch LED blinks 3 times, which is normal behavior when screwing the tube onto the switch with a charged battery. But I press the button to vape and the LED comes on and stays on for a few seconds, and no vape.

Edit2: Did I mention I'm sick of replacing batteries? If it's not the slit, they just die. Trustfires in particular. And my stock batteries long since just died away. I am a pretty heavy vaper but I don't think I hit 300 charge cycles on any of the non-slit ones that died in 3 months.

I think the first thing I'd do is capture and kill the evil leprechans who were cutting slits in my batteries when I wasn't looking.

Short of that, I venture a guess that there are some machining burrs in your PV tube that are damaging your battery wraps--you might a to try nd figure out whats going on, and sand/file down any sharp bits inside your PV's battery tube.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of shrink-tubing "cure"...

 

[gutter22]

Since your using the cheapest batteries available I'd suggest replacing them too. Ultrafire & trustfire batteries are about the cheapest batteries you can get. Which might explain the decreased life cycles your experiencing too.

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