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Choosing the right electrical tape for your application.

Applying 3M™ Scotch-Seal™ Mastic Tape 2229

There are many electrical tapes on the market, and it can be difficult to choose the right one for your specific application.

Each type of tape is designed for specific applications and using the wrong one can impact the quality of your installation and/or repair.

Here are three applications and my recommendations for the most suitable electrical tapes for each. These applications are:

  • Environmental sealing and re-jacketing
  • Low-voltage primary insulating
  • Medium-voltage primary insulating and waterproofing

1. Choose mastic tapes for environmental sealing and re-jacketing.

Mastic tapes are effective for environmental sealing applications – and for good reason. Their sticky adhesive allows them to seal on most surfaces and they can easily fuse to themselves. This is important because, as you wrap the tape, it creates a strong and reliable seal.

It’s important to remember that, when working on a cable jacket, you will need abrasion resistance. Also, keep in mind that not all mastic tapes are created equal and each have their own purposes.

Here is what you need to know when choosing a 3M™ Mastic Tape:

Watch this video on how to apply 3M™ Scotch-Seal™ Mastic Tape 2229.

Watch this video to see how you can repair a cable jacket with 3M™ Mastic Tapes.

2. Choose vinyl tapes for low-voltage primary insulating.

Before you start your low-voltage splicing (600V and less) project, ask yourself where the splice is going to be.

If it’s in a sealed box, or in an environment that is always dry, vinyl electrical tape is the best choice because it has excellent dielectric strength and durability.

If the splice will be buried or could become wet, vinyl electrical tape alone won’t be enough. To ensure the longevity and durability of the application, you will also need to seal the splice. The easiest way to do this is by using a rubber tape first and then covering it with vinyl electrical tape.

Here is what you need to know when choosing a 3M™ Vinyl Tape:

Watch this video on how to apply Scotch® Professional Grade Vinyl Electrical Tape Super 88.

3. Choose rubber tapes for medium-voltage primary insulating and waterproofing.

If you need to splice a primary cable and for whatever reason using a cold shrink product like 3M™ Cold Shrink Splice QS-III is not an option, a splice can be made of tape as long as the proper steps are followed.

To do this, you will need two different types of rubber tape: Scotch® Electrical Semi-Conducting Tape 13 to rebuild the semi-conductive layers, and Scotch® Linerless Rubber Splicing Tape, 130C to rebuild the insulation. When installed correctly, these two rubber tapes self-fuse without leaving any air gaps behind – and this is key in these applications. You can cover the splice using rejacketing tapes or vinyl tapes.

Watch this video on how to apply Scotch® Linerless Rubber Splicing Tape, 130C.

Learn more about the right tape for your application.

Try the 3M Electrical Tape Selector Tool to help you choose the right tape for your application.

 

About the Author

[enBio=Paolo Rocca is 3M’s renewable energy expert; he works directly with customers and end-users – helping provide solutions to their problems. Paolo is focused on actively driving and developing change within the electrical industry, by testing new solutions to customer problems and adapting current products in new innovative ways. Over the last few years, Paolo has authored eight inventions, several of which are now filed as a patent.],[enJob=Renewable Energy Specialist, Electrical Engineering, 3M Canada],[frBio=Paolo Rocca est l’expert en énergie renouvelable chez 3M. Il travaille directement avec les clients et les utilisateurs finaux en les aidant à trouver des solutions à leurs problèmes. Paolo se concentre à favoriser et à opérer le changement de manière active au sein de l’industrie de l’électricité, en mettant à l’essai de nouvelles solutions pour résoudre les problèmes des clients et en adaptant les produits actuels de manières novatrices. Au cours des dernières années, Paolo a mis au point huit inventions, dont plusieurs sont désormais en cours d’obtention d’un brevet.],[frJob=Spécialiste en énergie renouvelable, génie électrique, 3M Canada]

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