<p>An improved heating element (10), comprising: (a) an electrically insulated resistive heating wire (14); (b) a flexible substrate (16) that supports the electrically insulated resistive wire (14); (c) one or more electrical connections (18) for an operational component of the heating element (10), the electrical connection (18) including at least two wires (12) that are joined together; (d) a spacer (28) controlling spacing between the at least two wires (12) approaching the electrical connection (18); wherein at least a portion of the electrical connection (18) including the spacer (28) is encapsulated in a shrunken heat shrinkable sheath (20) that includes at least one mass of hot melt adhesive (22) within the sheath (20) so that the electrical connection (18) is insulated from fluid penetration.</p>
