Ordering heat shrink

[Che_Guitarra]

My local electronics store doesn't carry heat shrink in the diameter I need for this particular job.  I've tried using electrical tape but as can be seen it bunches up around the pins of the DB-25 adaptor and i'm not happy with it.  Looking online (at Mouser) i'm overwhelmed and unfamiliar with heat shrink specs and options  :-[  I basically want a length of heat shrink to cover the area as can be seen in pink.  I've got three breakouts the same to cover, thus one yard of the stuff is more than enough.

What other businesses/retailers are likely to sell heat shrink?  If I have to resort to buying heat shrink online, is there anything I need to know about the myriad of options available to me?

 

[ereder4]

You might be able to mask-off the lower connector and apply a liquid electrical tape, either by dipping or brushing.

 

[outoftune]

redco has some 2" heatshrink

http://www.redco.com/Redco-ST221.html

 

[Brian Roth]

For many years, I've used 3M FP-301 shrink as shown at the top of this Mouser page:

http://www.mouser.com/catalog/catalogusd/646/1318.pdf

It is sold in 4 four "sticks" or on longer rolls.

Bri

 

[PRR]

Home Depot (home repair and contractor supply) sometimes has very large shrink for house service-entrance (meter) cable splices. I don't know if big enough for a DB-25. Also we in the USA favor low voltage on FAT wires and your land favors more efficient voltages probably at lesser current (thus thinner wires and splices).

HD also has "Liquid Tape" which is a fast-drying rubbery compound with a brush in the lid. It has been good enough for a back-hoe hole in my underground feeder. Messy.

Auto Repair is another possible place,

There are, or were, standard housings for DB25 connectors which took a connector in each end, for gender-benders or custom cross-wiring. I guess the whole DB25 scene is fading. And they were longer than your pink-area so you'd need a wire-stretcher (or re-wire).

Grab a tall can of Fosters. Remove contents. Cut a 1"x6" strip, flatten it out. Wrap it around the two DB25 connector flanges. Tap-down the 3/8" overlap. Ugly? Drink another Fosters and see if you can trim it better.

 

[bruce0]

you can get backshells that connect db25 to db25, here is one that goes DB9 to db25 (http://uk.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Kobiconn/157-4002-EX/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMu5A18b%252bIx2GuyQBLIKtyAk%252bjOLuKT6G2w%3d)

didn't find a db25 to db25 match, but I know they exist, I have one lying around somewhere.

Here is a cast plastic one, but I am sure the screw and snap together ones exists
http://www.showmecables.com/product/Null-Modem-Adapter-DB25-M-F-Port-Saver.aspx


Found one!

http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/381266333/DB25_to_DB25_adapter_shell.html

 

[bruce0]

Here is one for $5 quantity 1, available one at a time.
http://www.showmecables.com/product/DB25-Hood-Black-Plastic.aspx?zmam=49733141&zmac=5&zmas=1&zmap=374&gclid=CMHG2ozflbsCFYQ7Ogod7mYANA

 

[Che_Guitarra]

Damn, I missed your post Bruce0.  I ended up finding the larger scale heat shrink at a industrial trades store for electricians. 

 

[bruce0]

What do those DB25 to DB25 adapters of yours do anyway?

 

[mjrippe]

Grab a tall can of Fosters. Remove contents. Cut a 1"x6" strip, flatten it out. Wrap it around the two DB25 connector flanges. Tap-down the 3/8" overlap. Ugly? Drink another Fosters and see if you can trim it better.

Still not happy with it?  Drink another can of Fosters and you won't care  ;D