Heat Shrink After the Connector

bishopthomas · 12th June 2007, 11:29 PM

My 52 channel snake is complete but I could really use some more fan tail length. Is there anything I can do now that the XLR's are on or will I have to live with my hard lesson learned?

Jim vanBergen · 13th June 2007, 01:24 AM

Lesson learned.

My $0.02: Don't extend them unless you go to an industrial terminal block, patch bay, or connector-to-connector, which are all added failure points.

Better to leave it as is.

bishopthomas · 13th June 2007, 01:28 AM

Oh well, I'll live with it. If I find I need more length then I will resolder it. After soldering these multipins XLR's almost seem too easy.

Jim vanBergen · 13th June 2007, 01:32 AM

How long did you make the tail? 3'? 4'?
I have some snake that are only 3' (too short for big desks) and some 6' (WAY too much for small desks)

LX3 · 13th June 2007, 03:50 AM

Hmm... I take it you mean the tails themselves need to be longer? So if you could remove more of the snake's outer jacket, you'd have longer tails?

What diameter has your snake (the jacketed part) come out at? Are the cores individually jacketed? (If not, I suspect you are indeed stuck)

If you're using adhesive-lined heatshrink, I think it normally has a higher than 2:1 shrink ratio.... which means you might be able to take large-diameter un-shrunk H/S, feed each XLR thru it one at a time, and hopefully there'd still be enough space to get the last plug thru even after the other 51 are through there. But it all depends if you get lucky with the un-shrunk diameter of the appropriate h/s. I mean, if unshrunk it's only 10mm or so larger than the snake outer jacket, it's not going to work out.

I would test everything before cutting anything!

I managed to do this once to replace the h/s on a pre-made 28-channel snake - the manufacturer hadn't used adhesive lined h/s, and it just slipped off.

Am I making any sense at all?

bishopthomas · 13th June 2007, 04:07 AM

I think it's going to be fine. This is the FOH split trunk and is only 10 feet long. The tail only has to be long enough to stretch the distance of a 52 channel snake box and I think it will do that. I just don't want to get on a job where I have to slice up the outer insulation in order to get that spread. I'll call it finished for now and take it from there.

LX3 - Yes, you are correct, longer tails. Each shielded pair has the standard foil wrap around it, so as I cut the snake's outer jacket that foil is exposed. I thought about trying a 3:1 heat shrink, just don't have any on hand at the moment. Even with a larger diameter I don't think it will fit over the XLR connector. It's really no big deal. I thought that maybe there would be some kind of adhesive heat shrink that wrapped instead of being a tube (or any other ideas).

**Remoteness** · 13th June 2007, 04:20 AM

Tommy baby, I just odered some Alpha FIT421 which is 4:1 heat shrinkable tubing which can be used for that exact purpose.

I got it in black in various sizes...

Call me to discuss this further if applicable.

nathanvacha · 18th June 2007, 12:47 AM

they don't make clear heatshrink out there, do they?

bishopthomas · 18th June 2007, 01:04 AM

Yes, they do. I need to place an order for some, actually. That way I can number my channels then heatshrink over it.

nathanvacha · 18th June 2007, 06:57 AM

exactly what i was thinking. lemme know where you get it.

noamraz · 18th June 2007, 09:09 AM

I've just figured out that i forgot to place the Shrinks on the TRS multicable i did soldered yesterday..

bishopthomas · 18th June 2007, 03:56 PM

Here's what I bought:

Heat Shrink

If you're not into eBay then do a Google search. You'll have plenty of options.

Jim vanBergen · 18th June 2007, 07:02 PM

I buy clear, yellow, blue, red and black from Mouser in many sizes.

FWIW.

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12th June 2007, 11:29 PM	#1
bishopthomas Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 609	Heat Shrink After the Connector My 52 channel snake is complete but I could really use some more fan tail length. Is there anything I can do now that the XLR's are on or will I have to live with my hard lesson learned?

13th June 2007, 03:50 AM	#5
LX3 Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 341	Hmm... I take it you mean the tails themselves need to be longer? So if you could remove more of the snake's outer jacket, you'd have longer tails? What diameter has your snake (the jacketed part) come out at? Are the cores individually jacketed? (If not, I suspect you are indeed stuck) If you're using adhesive-lined heatshrink, I think it normally has a higher than 2:1 shrink ratio.... which means you might be able to take large-diameter un-shrunk H/S, feed each XLR thru it one at a time, and hopefully there'd still be enough space to get the last plug thru even after the other 51 are through there. But it all depends if you get lucky with the un-shrunk diameter of the appropriate h/s. I mean, if unshrunk it's only 10mm or so larger than the snake outer jacket, it's not going to work out. I would test everything before cutting anything! I managed to do this once to replace the h/s on a pre-made 28-channel snake - the manufacturer hadn't used adhesive lined h/s, and it just slipped off. Am I making any sense at all? __________________ Paul

13th June 2007, 04:20 AM	#7
Remoteness Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 4,905	Tommy baby, I just odered some Alpha FIT421 which is 4:1 heat shrinkable tubing which can be used for that exact purpose. I got it in black in various sizes... Call me to discuss this further if applicable. __________________ Steve Remote AuraSonicLtd.com the home of ASL Mobile & Location Production Remoteness on the Linkedin Network Remoteness on Myspace

18th June 2007, 09:09 AM	#11
noamraz Gear nut Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Israel Posts: 93	Geez I've just figured out that i forgot to place the Shrinks on the TRS multicable i did soldered yesterday..

13th June 2007, 01:24 AM	#2
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,294	Lesson learned. My $0.02: Don't extend them unless you go to an industrial terminal block, patch bay, or connector-to-connector, which are all added failure points. Better to leave it as is.

13th June 2007, 01:28 AM	#3
bishopthomas Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 609	Oh well, I'll live with it. If I find I need more length then I will resolder it. After soldering these multipins XLR's almost seem too easy.

13th June 2007, 01:32 AM	#4
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,294	How long did you make the tail? 3'? 4'? I have some snake that are only 3' (too short for big desks) and some 6' (WAY too much for small desks)

13th June 2007, 04:07 AM	#6
bishopthomas Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 609	I think it's going to be fine. This is the FOH split trunk and is only 10 feet long. The tail only has to be long enough to stretch the distance of a 52 channel snake box and I think it will do that. I just don't want to get on a job where I have to slice up the outer insulation in order to get that spread. I'll call it finished for now and take it from there. LX3 - Yes, you are correct, longer tails. Each shielded pair has the standard foil wrap around it, so as I cut the snake's outer jacket that foil is exposed. I thought about trying a 3:1 heat shrink, just don't have any on hand at the moment. Even with a larger diameter I don't think it will fit over the XLR connector. It's really no big deal. I thought that maybe there would be some kind of adhesive heat shrink that wrapped instead of being a tube (or any other ideas).

18th June 2007, 12:47 AM	#8
nathanvacha Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,191	they don't make clear heatshrink out there, do they?

18th June 2007, 01:04 AM	#9
bishopthomas Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 609	Yes, they do. I need to place an order for some, actually. That way I can number my channels then heatshrink over it.

18th June 2007, 06:57 AM	#10
nathanvacha Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,191	exactly what i was thinking. lemme know where you get it.

18th June 2007, 03:56 PM	#12
bishopthomas Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 609	Here's what I bought: Heat Shrink If you're not into eBay then do a Google search. You'll have plenty of options.

18th June 2007, 07:02 PM	#13
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,294	I buy clear, yellow, blue, red and black from Mouser in many sizes. FWIW.

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