DIY HeatTape Connections

First- you will want to mark your heat tape ends. Make a small mark about 1/4" in from the end on the center of each copper strip.

Next- Using a hole puncher (regular school model is fine) punch a hole centered on each of your marks.

Read Carefully - Very Important Step!


Next- Carefully insert the flat eyelet BETWEEN the laminate layers. This sometimes takes a little patience!

Next- Line up the eyelet with the hole and insert the taller half of the rivet through the hole.

Next- put the shorter half of the rivet on the protruding tall half

Now you will need to smush the rivet completely.
This is best done with the crimping pliers designed for this. You know you have a good connection when you hold the heat tape at the connection and the eyelet can not pivot on the rivet.

There should be no movement. If there is then you will need to crimp the rivet again. Unlike the older style connectors, you CAN re-crimp if needed. There are no "teeth" that can only crush one time.

Now you will need to sandwich the connection between the two pieces of heavy insulating tape provided. Repeat this on both rivet connections and you are done!

The finished tape insualtion can be trimmed with a scissor if needed. Be sure you leave an ample covering of the connection. We like to keep the edge of the tape even with edge of the heat tape.

Do this on the top and bottom of both sides.

Fold electrical tape over the copper buss-bar on the non-connected end and you are done!