Heat shrink on step down regulator?

[Motopreserve]

Quick question: think it's ok to put a bit of heat shrink on a step down converter? I assume that these things dissipate excess power as heat, but I figured I could open some holes on the top for air. I'd be more comfortable not leaving it wide open to the elements on top of the craft.

 

[...guest...]

I've got my Pololu 5v stepdown completely encased in heat shrink past the connectors and it seems to have worked just fine. You bring up a great point about heat dissipation though and will keep an eye out. The stepdown is used to power (not trickle charge) a Mobius action cam.

 

[Motopreserve]

I've got my Pololu 5v stepdown completely encased in heat shrink past the connectors and it seems to have worked just fine. You bring up a great point about heat dissipation though and will keep an eye out. The stepdown is used to power (not trickle charge) a Mobius action cam.

Thanks Ronin. I'm using it to power a gimbal which is more happy at solid 12v from wither a 4S flight battery or small dedicated 3S.

 

[kloner]

you can heat shrink it,, in fact you should. I implant them things into foam wings with gorrilla glue and they work for hours on end in the worst heat ever.... never failed

 

[Motopreserve]

you can heat shrink it,, in fact you should. I implant them things into foam wings with gorrilla glue and they work for hours on end in the worst heat ever.... never failed

Consider it heat shrunk!

 

[jes1111]

Heatshrinking it will also help protect those soldered joints against vibration and bending - so make sure the heatshrink goes a little way up the wire, like on an ESC.

 

[Motopreserve]

Heatshrinking it will also help protect those soldered joints against vibration and bending - so make sure the heatshrink goes a little way up the wire, like on an ESC.

Thanks guys. The joints are the points that concern me most, so they'll definitely be covered. The exposed +/- are a short waiting to happen in some bizarre crash or mishap.