What is Included in a CRSM-CT Kit?

     Question:  Ok, I need to purchase a CRSM-CT because I need to splice a cable tap.  That I know.  What I don't know is what is included in the kit that I'm buying.

     Answer:  I understand.  Here is what you will get.  For the purpose of this example; I'm using a CRSM-CT 34/10-150 but the components will not change if you need a 53/13 or an 84/20.

Possibly most importantly; each kit contains the instruction sheet!

The CRSM-CT shrink sleeve including stainless steel rail

Black cloth tape, sealant strip and cable ties.

    And there you have it.  All of the components of the CRSM-CT Cable Tap Splicing Kit.  You will need to supply your own propane torch and method for making sure the cable is clean (solvent/rag/etc). 

How Do I Seal Parallel Wires?

Question:  How do I seal up parallel, touching wires when dealing with a tap?

Answer:  It is probably a lot easier than you think.  Raychem's CRSM is designed for applications exactly like that.  Here is a diagram of what the tap looks like after installation:

Notice the parallel wires to the left

In this case, the CRSM-CT includes (as one of the components) a sealant strip that is wrapped (in a figure-8 pattern around and through the two wires that are touching.  This (along with the adhesive of the CRSM-CT shrink sleeve) acts to encapsulate that section of the two wires and protect the connection.

Shelf Life of Raychem (or Covalence) Heat Shrink Sleeves?

Question:  What is the shelf life of Raychem / Tyco Electronics / TE heat shrink sleeves / Covalence Seal for Life shrink sleeves?

Answer:  Let's take a long look at it first.  These are products that are designed to be installed and then offer corrosion protection or sealing for the life of the electrical system or pipeline.  So, these are manufactured as stable products that will require no updating for the systems' life. 

     The only stipulation is that these products must be stored properly prior to use.  Let's look at a worst case scenario.  Pretend you remove all sleeves and components from their packaging and lay them in your back yard for a year or two.  Over the course of those two years; you're likely to see the adhesives compromised as they become caked with dirt/mud/bugs/etc.  As a result - though the shrink sleeve will still shrink; the adhesive is going to be too filthy to bond to anything.  If a sealant doesn't bond properly - a seal will not properly form and as a result; the product will not work as intended.

     I'm in a unique position.  Our warehouse has been used to stock Raychem (and Covalence) heat shrink materials since 1989.  Over that time; we've seen products come and go; we've seen products changed and we've seen a few products become obsolete.  As a result; I've gotten the chance to install products (in demonstrations or for training) that have been sitting on a box; on our shelf; in an warehouse that is not temperature controlled (we are in Houston, Texas).  I've installed products that have been sitting for 25 years (stored "properly").  I've then had the chance to examine and evaluate those products.  They've performed just as well as if they were manufactured in the previous week. 

     So to sum up:  If you've properly stored the product and components - the shelf life is essentially indefinite.

Easiest Way to Seal a Cable Splice?

     Look no further than the GHFC!  This product is rated to 1000 volts and utilizes Raychem's patented Gel-Tek technology to assure a long lasting, water proof seal.  The GHFC can be used of low voltage cable taps or splices.  GHFC is also approved for underground splicing (to ANSI C119.1); for overhead cables and is ideally made for street lighting applications.

     Once the cable is crimped and prepared; the GHFC literally takes two seconds to install.  It is just as easy as snapping your fingers!

Available in four sizes:

GHFC-1-90 

GHFC-2-90

GHFC-2.5-90

GHFC 3-90

Contact us so that we can help you select the proper size.

See an installation video and product information HERE.

What is the Fastest and Easiest Way to Splice a Low Voltage Cable?

Question:  What is the fastest and easiest way to splice low voltage cable?

Answer:  No question.  Utilize Raychem's Gel technology.  It is available in multiple forms for multiple applications.  It is incredibly fast.  It is incredibly simple.  It is very economical.  

Why would you use anything else?

This technology is used in GILS (Gel Inline Splice), Gelwrap, Gelcap SL Covers for street lights, GHFC, Gelcap Splice Covers, Gtap Splice and Gelport.  

Watch this video to see just how simple using this product is.

How Do I Repair a Cable?

Question:  I have a damaged cable, how do I repair it?

Answer:  The first thing you're doing to need to do is get yourself a properly sized CRSM wrap around repair system for power cable oversheaths.  

Step 1:  Clean the damaged area on the cable and the adjacent (undamaged) PE jacket.  

Lightly abrading the PE will assure the strongest possible bond. 

Step 2:  Remove the release paper from the CRSM shrink sleeve

Step 3:  Wrap the CRSM sleeve in place

Step 4:  Secure the rail and channel closure system in order to hold the CRSM in the shape 

of a tube during the shrink process.

Step 5:  Fire up your propane torch or industrial hot air gun and begin shrinking the sleeve; starting in the middle and moving your heat source circumstantially around the shrink sleeve.

Step 6:  Continue shrink the CRSM sleeve; working your way to one edge; 

then back to the middle; then out to the other edge.

Step 7:  Check to see that you have adhesive flow on both ends of the shrink sleeve (along the cable).  This is your seal.  If that adhesive is there; and the CRSM sleeve is conformed to the cable;

 you are finished.  Simple and easy!

How Do I Shrink a Raychem (Tyco Electronics) Heat Shrink Sleeve?

Question:  How do I shrink a Raychem heat shrink sleeve?

Answer:  You've got a couple of options.  First and foremost it is important to know that the backing of the sleeve will begin to shrink once it reaches a temperature in the vicinity of 267F (there is a generalization as some Raychem sleeve backings do shrink at higher or lower temperatures than this).

In any case; the question now becomes; how do I get the backing to reach that 267F temperature?  This can be done easily with a small propane (or other) torch.  You want to make sure that you have a torch that puts out a 'bushy', broad flame.  Acetylene or welding torches will not work well in this role.

Bernzomatic torches do an excellent job of shrinking our Raychem heat shrink sleeves.

An industrial hot air gun can also be used to excellent results.

 Otherwise, you also have the option of using a hot air gun of some kind to do the job.  It could possibly take a bit longer (depending on the air gun) but ultimately you will achieve the same exact result.

CRSM Cable Repair Sleeves

     CRSM (Cable Repair Sleeves) are a multi-function heat shrink sleeve system used for a wide variety of cable repairs and low (1000 volt) splicing.  Utilizing a rail and channel mechanical closure system (which has been around since the 1960's), this product utilizes a high expansion backing and a thick adhesive sealant to cover many, many varieties of electrical repair/splice requirement.

     CRSM was invented in the 1970's.  Some might read that and think "wow; what an ancient technology; surely there is something newer out there."  Others (like me) would look at that and say "wow - 40 years of use and this product is still a leader in its field.  If there were problems with this product; they would certainly have been discovered by now."

     This product is available in a number of different sizes and widths.  The nomenclature is as follows:  the first number is the supplied ID of the tube (once the rail and channel is in place).  The second number is the fully recovered ID of the shrink sleeve.  The third number is the 'length' (some would say width) of the tube - or the coverage of the sleeve along the cable. 

Standard Sizes:

CRSM 34/10-200
CRSM 34/10-1200

CRSM 53/13-200

CRSM 53/13-1200

CRSM 84/20-750

CRSM 84/20-1200

CRSM 107/29-1000

CRSM 107/29-1200

CRSM 143/36-1200

CRSM 198/55-1200

Call or email today for pricing:  936/321-3333 or stacey@jsicoatings.com

WCSM Sizing Change

     WCSM Heavy Wall Sealant Coated Tubing has recently gone through a sizing adjustment.  In almost every case, this is an incredibly minor change as the tubing has simply been expanded a little bit more and re-named.  In every case the tubing recovers down to the very same dimension.

What used to be WCSM 9/3-1200-S is now WCSM 12/3-1200-S 

This simply means that the WCSM shrink sleeve used to be supplied with a 9mm ID (.354")

but is now supplied with an ID of 12MM (.47").  

This change has effectively modified this WCSM (and all WCSM sizes) to cover 

a larger range of wire and connector sizes.

What used to be WCSM 13/4-1200-S is now WCSM 16/4-1200-S 

This simply means that the WCSM shrink sleeve used to be supplied with a 13 mm ID (.51") but is now supplied with an ID of 16 mm (.629")

 What used to be WCSM 20/6-1200-S is now WCSM 24/6-1200-S 

This simply means that the WCSM shrink sleeve used to be supplied with a 20 mm ID (.787") but is now supplied with an ID of 24 mm (.94")

What used to be WCSM 33/8-1200-S is now WCSM 34/8-1200-S

This simply means that the WCSM shrink sleeve used to be supplied with a 33 mm ID (1.299") but is now supplied with an ID of 34 mm (1.338")

What used to be WCSM 43/12-1200-S is now WCSM 48/12-1200-S 

This simply means that the WCSM shrink sleeve used to be supplied with a 43 mm ID (1.692") but is now supplied with an ID of 48 mm (1.889")

 What used to be WCSM 51/16-1200-S is now WCSM 56/16-1200-S 

This simply means that the WCSM shrink sleeve used to be supplied with a 51 mm ID (2.00") but is now supplied with an ID of 56 mm (2.20")

What used to be WCSM 70/21-1200-S is now WCSM 70/20-1200-S 

In this case, the change means that the WCSM 70/20, when fully recovered 

is 1 mm smaller at .787" instead of .826"

What used to be WCSM 105/30-1200-S is now WCSM 110/30-1200-S 

This simply means that the WCSM shrink sleeve used to be supplied with a 105 mm ID (4.13") but is now supplied with an ID of 110 mm (4.33")

What used to be WCSM 130/36-1200-S is now WCSM 130/35-1200-S

In this case, the change means that the WCSM 130/35, when fully recovered 

is 1 mm smaller at 1.377" instead of 1.417"

WCSM Stock

It seems to come up an awful lot:  What stock do you have on WCSM?

Here is what we have at this exact moment: July 1, 2013
(does not include orders in process or in transit from the plant)

300 each WCSM 12/3-1200-S
450 each WCSM 16/4-1200-S
1850 each WCSM 20/6-1200-S
250 each WCSM 34/8-1200-S
200 each WCSM 48/12-1200-S
100 each WCSM 56/16-1200-S
75 each WCSM 70/20-1200-S

Call us today for pricing!  We accept Visa or Mastercard (in many cases) and offer Net 30 once we've gone through your standard credit application form.