At some point in that article, I found need to talk about crimping
cables. So thought that probably deserved a section on its own. So I
did a pictorial tutorial:

http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?...Cable_crimping

As someone who has not yet tried crimping for mains wiring I found this
very helpful. It left me with two small questions:

(i) wd it be helpful/possible to give a steer as to what size heatshrink
is suitable for common applications (eg 1.0mm and 2.5 twin & earth)? I
ask as TLC list 6mm etc heatshrink which left me scratching around to
find out if this is diameter or radius or what; and then off to work out
the circumference of "flat" cable. I think I got there in the end (eg
6242Y 2.5mm is approximately 9.5 x 5.25 so circumference rounds up to
30mm; heat shrink appears to be quoted by diameter so 12mm starts off at
38mm which should slide on and shrink nicely). But (a) I could be wrong
and (b) even if I am right in principle, in practice........?

(ii) when doing a few bits of heatshrinking for car and other low
voltage electrics over the years I found (in the days when I smoked) a
cheap, disposable cigarette lighter a handy tool. Would one of them be
ineffective (or otherwise unacceptable)?

Sorry if I am looking to be spoon-fed too much.
--
Robin