LEDs and fiber optics

[Locke_333]

Hi, i've been wodering if i could use heat shrink tube with leds and fiber optics safely? I'm unsure if the heating of the tube might damage the LEDs or melt the fiber, i've never used that kind of thing before but i figured it might be a good way to seal both Leds and fiber togheter.

My only experience so far with LEDs and fiber is the Star Destroyer, i only replaced the normal bulb with LEDs but i am using fiber in other project now and wondered what other used for this ?

[Pat Amaral]

Heat shrink is a great way to bundle fibers with the LEDs. You just have to be careful not to heat it up too fast. Personally, I don't like using a flame to heat the HS tubing. I prefer to use either a soldering iron or a heat gun. If you have a pencil torch, you can even get an attachment specifically for heat shrink tubing. They work like a charm and there's minimal danger of melting the fibers or the LED if you use it properly. The trick is to keep any heat source moving constantly until the tube has contracted to where you want it.

[Sparky]

The fiber used <a href="http://www.kc6sye.com/images/images_04_ ... _hrnss.jpg" target="_blank">here</a> was fairly big so it was more resistant to the heat used to shrink the tubing . . . but it worked for us. We had three of these.

The trick was to make sure the LED didn't slip away from the fiber ends, other wise the heat shrink would shrink down between the fiber bundle and the LED face (we sanded the LED's flat) blocking some or all the light. I think we had to cut off one heat shrink tube and re-do it out of the three.

[Locke_333]

Thanks for the tip, didn't thought about that.

[Madman Lighting]

I agree with Pat, heat shrink is perfect for hooking fiber to LEDs. I also agree in using a warm soldering iron or heat gun, avoid flame.

-John C.