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What does electrical tape do? What is electrical tape made of? 

Electrical tape is used mainly for insulating and repairing damaged or cut cables and wires. It's used in many applications, from home DIY to commercial wiring installations and repairs. 

When choosing the right electrical tape for the job, there are several things you need to consider. 

 

 

Read on to find out more about the different types of electrical tape, how to use it and more. 

 

What does electrical tape do?

Electrical tape insulates wires to stop them conducting electricity, prevent electric shocks and reduce fire hazards. It protects cables and wires from the elements to stop abrasion, corrosion and UV damage. It also provides protection from chemicals including acids and alkalis.  

It's also used to keep wires and cables tidy, organised and easily identifiable. It's most commonly used by electricians. 

 

What is electrical tape made of?

Electrical tape is made of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a highly versatile polymer that does not conduct electricity. It is also very flexible, which makes it ideal for use in electrical tape when wrapping around cables.

 

Why is it called electrical tape?

The full, technically-accurate name for electrical tape is PVC electrical insulation tape. It was given this name because of its material and how it's used.

 

When was electrical tape invented?

Electrical tape was invented more than 75 years ago by American inventors Snell, Oace, and Eastwold from The 3M Company. Before they created PVC electrical tape, electricians were using tape made of cotton, which was weak and unreliable for the job it needed to do. 

 

What is electrical tape used for?

Electricians use PVC insulation tape when adding new installations, or for making repairs. 

 

It's mainly used for: 

• Protective jacketing

• Insulating wires, cables, connections and connectors to stop them from conducting electricity

• Making repairs to damaged cable sheathing

• Harnessing and bundling cables together

• Sealing and marking cables for identification

 

Some quirky uses for electrical tape 

There are some surprising and unusual uses for electrical tape, including:

 

• Football teams use electrical tape to hold up their socks and keep shin pads in place

• To protect hockey sticks from moisture build up

• Making drumsticks more durable, to prevent slippage and splinters

• For repairing holes in tents when camping

• Marking where actors should stand in theatre and film productions

• Arts and crafts projects 

 

Is PVC tape waterproof?

PVC electrical insulation tape is not waterproof but it does provide some protection against moisture. Electrical tape can't be fully waterproof because it's sticky surface would lose adhesion if it became too wet. 

 

Can electrical tape be used outdoors?

You can use electrical tape outdoors because it is durable, robust and designed to withstand the elements. But it is not guaranteed to keep water out over the long term because it is water-resistant, not waterproof. 

 

What are the different types of electrical tape?

Electrical tape comes in a variety of colours, lengths and widths. 

 

The different colours of electrical tape are related to the voltage and phasing of the wires, and their usage depends on the standards of the country. Grey, brown, white and green and yellow striped tape are not used as commonly in the UK as they are internationally. 

 

The table below shows the features, technical information and usage of each tape. 

 

Tape colour

Features

Technical information

Usage

UK

International

Black

• Manufactured using premium grade plasticised PVC film.

• Flexible with excellent protection against abrasion.

• Moisture and UV resistant, flame retardant.

• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

• Available in a range of 3 lengths: 5m, 20m and 33m rolls

• 19mm width (sold in packs of 10)

• Material: Premium grade plasticised PVC film

• Total thickness: 0.15mm (±0.02)

• Elongation: 125%

• Tensile Strength: 22 N/10mm

  Hebei Top Tape supply professional and honest service.

• Adhesion: Rubber based

• Adhesion to steel: 2.5N/10mm

• Adhesion to self: 2.5N/10mm

• Dielectric Strength: 40 kV/mm

• Temperature Rating: -18°C to +105°C

• Flame Retardancy: Self extinguishing

• Compliance: Conforms to BS EN -2

Insulation / low voltage, neutral

Low voltage phase B

Yellow

Low voltage, phase B

Sheath, 110 V Site wiring

Red

Low voltage, phase B

Sheath, 415 V 3 phase

Green

Earth (UK old)

 

Grey

 

Low voltage, phase C

Brown

Live

Live

Blue

Neutral

Low voltage, neutral Sheath, 230 V

White

 

External applications involving white cordage

Green and yellow stripe

Earth

Earth

 

We also sell 50mm wide black and wide white PVC electrical insulation tape for jobs where you need extra width. Our 50mm tape is only sold as singles, whereas our 19mm wide tape is sold in packs of 10. 

 

Is PVC tape strong?

PVC electrical tape has tensile strength of 22 N/10mm and dielectric strength of 40kV/mm. It can also stretch to 125% of its length. 

 

How do you apply PVC tape?

Use at least two layers of half-lapped tape to insulate low-voltage components. 

 

Image source

 

When wrapping cables, stretch the tape as you go to help it stick better. Use enough tension when applying the tape to make sure it conforms evenly to the surface of the cable. This will provide better insulation than if there is any slack in the tape. Trim the tape and press down the end to avoid the tape lifting. 

 

Buy GTSE PVC electrical insulation tape

 

We stock a wide range of low cost PVC electrical insulation tape, available to buy in bulk from £1.79 for 10 rolls. If you have any more questions about electrical tape, or any other products, please get in touch and contact us via live chat, or . 

 

Adhesive electrical insulation

Electrical tape, standard black

Electrical tape (or insulating tape) is a type of pressure-sensitive tape used to insulate electrical wires and other materials that conduct electricity. It can be made of many plastics but PVC (polyvinyl chloride, "vinyl") is the most popular, as it stretches well and gives effective and long-lasting insulation. Electrical tape for class H insulation is made of fiberglass cloth.

Varieties

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A selection of color-coded electrical tapes.

A wide variety of electrical tapes are available, some for highly specialized purposes. "The primary tapes used in electrical applications are vinyl, rubber, mastic, and varnished cambric."[1] Electricians may use various colors of tape to insulate wire and to indicate the voltage level and phase of the wire (colored tape sometimes is called "phasing tape"). When wires are phased, a ring of tape is placed on each end near the termination so that the purpose of the wire is obvious. The following table(s) describe the use of electrical tape.

Electrical Tape Color Codes

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Tape color Usage (U.S.) Usage (U.K.) Usage (International ' new) Black Insulation
Low voltage, phase A Insulation
Low voltage, phase C Low voltage, phase B Red Low voltage, phase B Low voltage, phase A Sheath, 415 V 3 phase Blue Low voltage, phase C Low voltage, phase C Low voltage, neutral
Sheath, 230 V Brown High voltage, phase A Low voltage, phase A Low voltage, phase A Orange High voltage, phase B Sheath, garden tools Yellow High voltage, phase C Low voltage, phase B Sheath, 110 V site wiring Green Earth ground Earth Green with yellow stripe Isolated ground Earth ground Earth White Low voltage, neutral gray High voltage, neutral Low voltage, phase C

Tape that is approved for electrical applications will carry an approval label from an agency such as Underwriters Laboratories.[3][1]

History

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Electrical tape #27

Today, electrical tape is simply "another form of insulation".[4] The original electrical insulating tape was made of cloth tape impregnated with Chatterton's compound, an adhesive material manufactured using gutta-percha. This type of tape was often used to insulate soldered splices on knob and tube wiring. It was commonly referred to as "friction tape", and had the unique property of being sticky on both sides. Because of this, no matter how it was used it stuck to itself very readily.

In the early s, vinyl plastic emerged as a versatile material for a wide range of applications, from shower curtains to cable insulation. A major ingredient in vinyl film was tricresyl phosphate (TCP), which was used as a plasticizer. Unfortunately, TCP tended to migrate, giving the surface of the vinyl film an oily quality and degrading every tape adhesive known. Research chemists and engineers at 3M set out to create a dependable, pressure-sensitive tape made of a vinyl film that would have the required electrical, physical and chemical properties.

Experiments were conducted by combining new plasticizers with the white, flour-like vinyl resin. Finally, in January ,[5] inventors Snell, Oace, and Eastwold of 3M applied for a patent for a vinyl electrical tape with a plasticizer system and non-sulfur-based rubber adhesive that were compatible. The first commercially available version of the tape was sold for use as a wire-harness wrapping. This original electrical tape wasn't black.[5] Tapes formulated for high-temperature were yellow, and later versions were white. Electrically insulating tapes are essential for enhancing functionality and reliability in a wide range of applications. Some of the most popular types include electrically insulating adhesive tape and electrically insulating film, both of which provide reliable electronic isolation and ensure that a direct electrical connection is not made between two or more circuits or their adjacent parts. There is also electrically conducting tape for shielding and similar applications.[6] White tape, because of its instability in ultraviolet light, was eventually replaced with black tape, although colored vinyl tapes are still used as identification and marking tapes. Black became the standard industry color for vinyl standard tape, primarily because of its ultraviolet resistance. Thicknesses originally were 4 mil (100 μm), 8 mil (200 μm) and 12 mil (300 μm). These were standardized to 7 mil (180 μm) and 10 mil (250 μm) in .

See also

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References

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• [1] Electrical Taping Skills: A Lost Art?
• [2] Electrical Tape Tips by KØFF
• ASTM D - Test methods for electrical tapes