Shielding the back of Toggle Switches

[jcorsico]

What's the proper way (if any) for shielding open terminals on the back of toggle switches? I'm not talking about EM shielding, but rather just protective shielding so I don't have exposed conductors.

In my situation, I have two toggle switches (see attached data sheet) that have screw-on terminals for ring connectors. In the current installation, the terminals are simply exposed, and thus you could bump into one with a stray screwdriver and pull a short circuit. As such, I'd like to shield the terminals to avoid this risk.

Thanks very much,
Jon Corsico

[Neel]

We sell a rigid heat shrink called SCL which is excellent for this.

Regards,

Neel

[jcorsico]

Neel - are you talking about the attached?

I have some ATUM, which seems similar. Any advantage of the SCL over the ATUM in this application?

How do you get the heat shrink off (which is adhesive lined) if you have to unscrew the terminals on the switch? Also, in my application, the wires come off the switch at at 90 degree angle (rather than leading straight off the back of the swtich as depicted in the data sheet). Will the SCL/ATUM handle that 90 degree angle? I obviously haven't tried yet...

Thanks,
Jon

[Neel]

ATUM is totally different. Much too thin and soft. SCL will conform to the 90 degree shape no problem.

[jcorsico]

ATUM is totally different. Much too thin and soft. SCL will conform to the 90 degree shape no problem.

Hmm. Interesting. From reading the Raychem catalog, it's quite hard to tell the difference between the different types of tubing.

What should I be using the ATUM for?

Thanks again,
Jon

[Neel]

Hmm. Interesting. From reading the Raychem catalog, it's quite hard to tell the difference between the different types of tubing.

What should I be using the ATUM for?

Yeah, spec sheets can do that. We use ATUM for making boots and transitions where a molded product is unavailable, impractical or costs too much.

Jon & the rest of the people reading, a little personal rant on life in our industry:

This is an example of why Apex Speed Technology is in business. This is why I appreciate you buying products and services from us when you read these things on our forums, other forms or websites or hearing from people. We sell very few things you can't get somewhere else. The reason you buy from us is that WE USE THIS STUFF EVERY DAY. I can tell you things the Raychem catalog can't. I don't understand why we live in a world full of engineers and technical people who have fallen for the fallicy that you can choose a product from only a spec sheet and a price list.

We've increasingly become a portal for people who have purchased their systems from other people and now ask our help and support. All a welcome to ask for help, all are welcome to our advice; we want to help everyone because I think its good company karma. But please do the right thing and buy your ECUs, Dashes, Logger, Cameras wiring supplies and other electronics products from us, because its not cheap or easy to maintain all of this support. And keep in mind that the though we appreciate every single sale, but buying an ECU from someone else then buying $10 in wiring from me is a nice gesture, but doesn't really help us stay in business.

Thanks!

Neel

[jcorsico]

We use ATUM for making boots and transitions where a molded product is unavailable, impractical or costs too much.

Neel,

Thanks again. Can you explain the different types of heat shrink tubing that you typically use? I'd like to be able to stock the appropriate supplies for future use. I currently have some ATUM and also RNF-100. I know DR-25 and DR-25TW is the standard for general purpose use, but when I purchased my stock I was trying to keep costs within reason, and the DR-25 is quite expensive.

And understood about buying from you guys. I just found this web site; nice resource.

Jon

[Neel]

We use a few different kinds of shrink:

1. ATUM - boots, transitions.
2. SCL - splices, terminals.
3. Raceline 150 - heatshrink harness covering.
4. Kynar - splices and labels, clear.
5. RBK - for repair work.

Sometimes its just experience that tells you what's the best to use where.

-Neel