Electrical Tape

Electrical Tape

Electrical tape, a pressure sensitive tape, gets its name because electricians and others use it to insulate electrical wires and other materials that conduct electricity. Although other plastics can be used to produce it, electrical tape is normally made of vinyl, giving it the best stretch, thus the most effective, longest lasting insulation. Because of its stretch and other useful characteristics, such as being easily torn, written on and removed from smooth surfaces, electrical tape is utilized for much more than insulation.

Electrical tape works for a number of color coding, labeling and temporary taping functions; plus it is a great makeshift bandage solution. Electrical tape has become a staple in many areas. Drum line members wrap their sticks with it; rugby players tape their ears back with it to reduce damage that causes permanently distorted, puffy, unsightly “cauliflower” ears later; colorguard members use it to tape up their flags, rifles and sabres.

Electrical tape comes in a range of colors, although black is the standard for insulation because it is ultraviolet resistant. The colored varieties are used to identify the voltage levels and phases of wires, thus the name “phasing tape.” Black indicates a low voltage, phase A wire; red means low voltage, phase B; blue is low, phase C; brown is high, phase A; orange is high, phase B, yellow is high, phase C; green means an earth ground wire; green with yellow stripes means an isolated ground wire; white means low voltage, neutral; and gray means high voltage, neutral.

Standard thicknesses for electrical tape are 7-mil and 10-mil. However, be aware that not every black vinyl tape is safe with electricity; look for ones that are specifically labeled as electrical tape and UL certified.

Electrical Tape Image Provided by Tape-Rite