Can Electrical Glue Gun Be Used For Isolation Of Conductors? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 03:11:26 pm
content: When I soldered recently, I made mistake and soldered 8 wires too close to each other and some were interventingwith each other. Because part that wires are connected to is small, it is not possible to isolate with insulating tape.Can cheap electric glue gun help to do this job?P.SThe small part is not conductor of voltage, it is phone line adapter:

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 03:16:00 pm
content: Usually hot glue is used to stabilize things but they aren't in anyway conductive so just go ahead

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 03:22:42 pm
content: Quote from: T4P on August 27, 2012, 03:16:00 pmI never owned such gun so should there be glue density I must relate to? The glue must become hardened and not stay soft.

author: Astroplio
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 03:31:00 pm
content: Yes you can use "hot glue gun". When the glue is melted it is soft and it gets hard when cold.Also if you need to do some repair afterwards you can easily remove it all together and reapply some more after the repair.But yes, it is usually used to hold in place LEDs, conductors or other components.You can see application videos on youtube.(Maker's love this stuff ;p)

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 03:38:31 pm
content: Quote from: Boris_yo on August 27, 2012, 03:11:26 pmI think you'll find it's still a conductor of voltage.

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 03:50:01 pm
content: Quote from: Astroplio on August 27, 2012, 03:31:00 pmI have locally $1.50 glue gun and I saw on chinese websites $20 glue guns... Should I try $1.50 first?

author: Astroplio
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 04:08:24 pm
content: If it is safe to handle, yes... I see on google there are types with temperature monitoring circuit, you don't need those for generic use.Just use common sense and remove it from the wall socket after use!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 05:33:37 pm
content: just remember the glue is not a good insulator, do not use it to withstand more than 50V, or where it can be exposed to moisture. Long term it will pick up humidity from the air and will corrode the copper it touches. As well do not expose to temperatures above 35C as it becomes soft and more conductive.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 05:53:59 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on August 27, 2012, 05:33:37 pmIn which case, it's not suitable for phone lines.Quote from: Boris_yo on August 27, 2012, 03:50:01 pmI wouldn't touch either.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 06:08:19 pm
content: I use a 8$ offtheshelf glue gun and i am generally happy, just that it takes 10mins to warm upLooking to buy a 10 odd-dollar 100W glue gun from DX that at the very least is decent

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 06:25:32 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on August 27, 2012, 05:53:59 pmPhone line conducts 50V? And how do you know it is 35 C?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 06:29:51 pm
content: Quote from: Boris_yo on August 27, 2012, 06:25:32 pmYou're playing with your phone line and you don't even know how it works?QuoteDid I say anything about temperature?

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 07:10:43 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on August 27, 2012, 06:29:51 pmI know enough to solve problem in this case.Quote from: Monkeh on August 27, 2012, 05:53:59 pmI don't know whether you referred to voltage or temperature.

author: flolic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 07:11:35 pm
content: Quote from: Boris_yo on August 27, 2012, 03:11:26 pmYou should use heat shrink tubing to isolate wires. After that you can use hot glue if you need some mechanical rigidity.

author: Astroplio
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 08:35:25 pm
content: How much does this adapter cost?Can't you just get a new one and redo the modification more carefully?Because if you buy a new tool (heat gun) that is seriously more expensive than the adapter then what's the point?Or here is yet an other idea, see maybe you can wedge some insulator between the exposed leads, use some epoxy glue to keep in place, if you have any around...

author: TriodeTiger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 09:38:34 pm
content: "hot glue" are thermoplastics, can't find exact ones commonly used, but with some common materials:Their dielectric constants vary from 2-6, while CuO2 at 18, and pure water @ 20c is 80.A vaccuum and roughly air are 1 of course, teflon/mica 2-3, so somewhat insulative (in the case cheap thermoplastics have nothing strange added to them)You must consider distance and what the phone line voltages run at regardless, which is why it was hinted to know beforehand how phones worked above by another user.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2012, 10:55:32 pm
content: Yeah I do it all the time if I have an exposed solder joint from a wire to a lug of some sort. Heatshrink doesn't fit over it so I blob a little bit of hot glue on it.

author: Jeff1946
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2012, 01:24:59 am
content: Did an experiment. Measured resistance of solid and molten hot glue. Infinite as far as my meter was concerned,and I put the probes within a mm or so of each other. Next connected a lead from a 20V supply to a 1M ohm resistor and measured voltage across the resistor when its other lead and other lead from supply were put in drop of melted glue. Less than 1 mv across the resistor. So as far as I can tell should be fine to use on the connector. This was standard hobbyist glue stick.

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2012, 04:29:14 am
content: Quote from: Astroplio on August 27, 2012, 08:35:25 pmThe point is, I want to purchase heat gun because I don't have any at all so it will also be useful for other things.

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2012, 06:33:30 am
content: Quote from: jim_griff on August 28, 2012, 06:02:28 amDoes this heat gun also fit for other things, like glueing protruding thin lacquered layer of wooden furniture? Also I wonder why some devices like this and as well as soldeners have 2 pin plug that lacks ground. Is it because these devices are cheap enough to serve as excuse for not putting additional efforts into making them grounded?

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2012, 09:42:04 am
content: Why do you need to ground them?

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2012, 09:47:17 am
content: Quote from: T4P on August 28, 2012, 09:42:04 amYou don't, they're double insulated.

author: Boris_yo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2012, 09:47:25 am
content: Quote from: T4P on August 28, 2012, 09:42:04 amTo prevent damage to device that can render it useless.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2012, 10:31:40 am
content: Quote from: Boris_yo on August 28, 2012, 09:47:25 amThis isn't a soldering iron you know.

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2012, 10:37:37 am
content: Quote from: T4P on August 28, 2012, 10:31:40 amHe's talking about a hot glue gun, did you read any of the posts in this thread?

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2012, 03:24:07 pm
content: You misintepreted my answer sir.What i mean was " You don't glue mosfets do you? "

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 28, 2012, 03:30:52 pm
content: Quote from: T4P on August 28, 2012, 03:24:07 pmYour answer made no sense in relation to the subject of the thread, and still doesn't.

author: Joe M
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2012, 06:48:11 am
content: Just want to chime in with my first post, hot glue is ok as long as the internal temperature of the device in question is relatively low. For example you shouldnt have any problems with your telephone adapter and most equipment. But when it comes to hot stuff, like amplifiers and such, I much rather use standard silicon, because even if hot snot wont completely melt, it will become soft as temperature rises, so it may actually unglue from say a PCB and such.When i was recapping some old equipment which used Axial capacitors, i used Radials instead, and i glued them to the pcb with hot snot, after a few minutes of using the device, all caps unglued from the pcb due to increased temperature.

author: Gall
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2012, 09:46:07 am
content: In most cases, hot glue is not considered "proper insulation" according to bureaucratic safety rules.However, it works perfectly at low temperatures provided that the device remains cold. So it is adequate for low-powered battery devices, small current cables (except for building installations) and in similar cases. It may be used for HV insulation and filling in things like DIY tesla coils as well provided that adequate precautions (extra fuses, fire guard etc.) are taken. Remember, it is unsafe and strictly prohibited to use hot glue for mains and in all cases where the overload may cause wires to heat.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2012, 10:42:46 am
content: Use silicone outside of low temp devices and low voltage device. Works every single time

author: ptricks
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2012, 12:35:44 pm
content: Quote from: T4P on August 31, 2012, 10:42:46 am100% silicone is probably the best thing to use anytime you need an insulator or something to hold things in place. It can withstand VERY high temps and doesn't conduct until you get to some seriously high voltages, silicone products are used as power line insulators. Downside is the smell until it fully cures.Make sure it is 100% silicon, clear.I use it all the time to pot components that are going into a marine environment.Be careful with hot glue, not all manufacturers are the same and each can use different materials in the sticks.Specs on clear silicone sealant are:dielectric (insulation )is 23000volt per millimeter

author: TriodeTiger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2012, 08:02:14 pm
content: Unsure if this was mentioned before:Be sure to buy something such as a neutral cure silicone adhesive/silicone rubber, the components and your nose will thank me before it cures (albeit acetic acid I have no clue what it would do to the insulation in this case, but it certainly could be corrosive to other things electrical, should the need arise to use it to glue something else down)Alexander.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2012, 08:33:56 pm
content: I not sure if it is now but at one time the ring signal voltage was 90 V and the voice voltage 48 to 50 volts so if glue gun material is only good to 50 volts will it withstand the ring voltage. I one shorted the phone line and blew the fuse at the exchange that was in the 70's.