Electrical tape recommendations (Page 2/2)
MidEngineManiac AUG 28, 04:19 PM
The stretch tape is silicone rubber, so whatever rating silicone is, and self-sealing. Plumbers use it to fix leaks and I 1st got into it working on slushy/ice-cram machines where the condensation is a BEAACCHHH to deal with. It solved a lot of problems for me, but nowhere near 8kv either.
theogre AUG 28, 06:24 PM
Car harness wiring wrap is Not Electrical Tape and does Not uses adhesives or a least not like "normal" tapes.

First problem people use E-tape including best products like 3M Super 33+ & Super 88 is you pulled the tape very tight. Then you often try to wrap long sections.
Just that 2 issues and the E-tape tries to return original shape and nothing is going to stop that more so when harness is bent often several to many times.

Plastic Wrapping Is an outgrowth of Cable Lacing using "string" to bundle wires. There are "rules" for tension, to start, wrapping, allow wires to exit at random points and end the wrap. If you fail any step then the wrap will fail and likely soon.

I think Eastwood.com and some others carry proper car wrapping "tape" in single packs. Not digging thru current offers.

Even for Electrical work where E-tape is made for... Can have same problem.
People pull tape way too tight, worse not having enough overlap and then tries to self unwrap starting at the end.
Many use typical 3/4 tape to wrap large spaces... Is a reason 3M and other offers 1" to 2" tape so you don't wrap a whole pack or more of narrow tape.
Cheap tape is even worse because of the cheap "glue" that fails all by itself and often makes a huge mess doing so. Worse when is outdoors or in high heat places.

When you don't see a CSA UL etc ratings on the pack, core or both... Do Not Buy the crap. Example: 3M Super 88 have CSA -10 to 105°C, UL 539H Insulated Tape, and others. Even tho product is max 600v and 80°C

3M Super 33+ is 7mil thick 3/4" to 2" wide & Super 88 8.5mil thick only in 3/4" wide I've use a lot of both... Sometime thicker tape isn't good or need bigger width.

------------------
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RWDPLZ AUG 28, 08:14 PM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

Car harness wiring wrap is Not Electrical Tape and does Not uses adhesives or a least not like "normal" tapes.




I didn't say wiring wrap, I said tape. If you'd bothered to look at the specs I'd posted, you'd see it does in fact use adhesive.

The difference between hardware store electrical tape and good tape is mainly the adhesive. Why don't you see good automotive-grade tape at auto parts or home improvement stores? The tapes you see for sale are produced at extraordinarily low cost, and are 'good enough' for most home applications. As a result, the market hasn't demanded a better tape. Anyone seeking a better tape will usually quickly find them, albeit at an increased price and lack of immediate availability.

There's a reason these catalogs have dozens of different tapes for different applications. OP said wiring and plastic looming, which probably means automotive, not UL household.

You can see a typical automotive electrical tape installation here:



Towards the end of the video: Look at the way she wraps it around the bundle, not stretching it, using a "half overlap" (half the width of the tape) technique. I've seen little old ladies that do this every day for years do this at a speed that surpasses most automated processes when you take setup into account, on all but the longest spans.

Despite long spans, the standard 19mm width tape I gave an example of in the previous post is typically used, due to versatility and economies of scale in mass production. Other tape types will be used where applicable, depending on heat resistance, potential exposure to liquid, NVH concerns, or potential for abrasion. Harness coverings (hard tubes, soft tubes, channels, corrugated tubing, etc) are used in conjunction with the tapes where applicable.

Here, you can see a wider cloth type tape. He's taping larger spans in an area where NVH is probably an issue.
ls3mach AUG 29, 12:06 AM

quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ:


I didn't say wiring wrap, I said tape. If you'd bothered to look at the specs I'd posted, you'd see it does in fact use adhesive.

The difference between hardware store electrical tape and good tape is mainly the adhesive. Why don't you see good automotive-grade tape at auto parts or home improvement stores? The tapes you see for sale are produced at extraordinarily low cost, and are 'good enough' for most home applications. As a result, the market hasn't demanded a better tape. Anyone seeking a better tape will usually quickly find them, albeit at an increased price and lack of immediate availability.

There's a reason these catalogs have dozens of different tapes for different applications. OP said wiring and plastic looming, which probably means automotive, not UL household.

You can see a typical automotive electrical tape installation here:



Towards the end of the video: Look at the way she wraps it around the bundle, not stretching it, using a "half overlap" (half the width of the tape) technique. I've seen little old ladies that do this every day for years do this at a speed that surpasses most automated processes when you take setup into account, on all but the longest spans.

Despite long spans, the standard 19mm width tape I gave an example of in the previous post is typically used, due to versatility and economies of scale in mass production. Other tape types will be used where applicable, depending on heat resistance, potential exposure to liquid, NVH concerns, or potential for abrasion. Harness coverings (hard tubes, soft tubes, channels, corrugated tubing, etc) are used in conjunction with the tapes where applicable.

Here, you can see a wider cloth type tape. He's taping larger spans in an area where NVH is probably an issue.




Edit.

Thanks.

[This message has been edited by ls3mach (edited 08-29-2022).]

Kitskaboodle AUG 29, 09:29 PM
Yes, I was referring mostly to automotive wiring / loom applications.
I ended up buying the 3M Super 88. 😀
Thank you all for the informative input!
Kit

[This message has been edited by Kitskaboodle (edited 08-29-2022).]