Heat-shrink Tubing

This stuff is great. It replaces electrical tape in most applications. The only disadvantage is you often can't put it on the middle of a wire when there is something already on the end. There's even waterproof heat shrink with heat-activated adhesive, but I've never used it so I don't know how well it works.

• Use the smallest tubing which will fit easily over the connection.
• Don't forget to put the heat shrink on the wire before any connectors.
• Buy lots of it. I mean a hundred feet each of different sizes. Don't buy the little variety packs that cost $3 and give you a couple of feet, because you'll primarily use one or two sizes and run out. Buy spools from Mouser or Digi-Key. It's cheap.
• Use a heat gun. Not a lighter or soldering iron.
• If the heat gun only has HIGH and LOW settings, use LOW unless you're very careful. It's not a hair dryer - HIGH is for destroying things.
• Don't use clear heat shrink. It looks like an uninsulated connection.