These tapes tend to be of a lower grade than polymeric electrical tape, but they are also more affordable. Monomeric electrical tape is made with short-chain plasticizers that are economical and effective for light-duty, general-purpose jobs.PolymericĮlectrical tape can be split into monomeric and polymeric based on the material’s molecular makeup. What to Consider When Choosing the Best Electrical Tapeīefore choosing an electrical tape for your home or workshop, take a few minutes to educate yourself on the most important shopping considerations to keep in mind. Use it for insulating areas in your home or on your vehicle where mechanical protection and puncture resistance is necessary. This type of electrical tape is ideal for covering bolts, corners, and other rough edges that might cut through a less durable electrical tape. This is to ensure that it can insulate electrical currents without being damaged by the energy that passes through the wire. Varnished cambric electrical tape is made of straight-cut woven cotton fabric primed with oil and coated with an electrical insulating varnish. This type of electrical tape is able to insulate metals, rubbers, and synthetic cable jackets, while providing a complete moisture seal and even UV resistance, making it ideal for outdoor electrical connection sealing and repairs.
#ELECTRICAL TAPE PROFESSIONAL#
Mastic electrical tape is used regularly by professional electricians because it adheres easily and can be manipulated to fit in tight spaces or around oddly shaped components. You can find mastic electrical tape with a vinyl backing, a rubber backing, or without a backing, giving you plenty of options if you need versatility on your projects. Mastic is the portion of the tape that makes up the spongy center between the backing and the adhesive. Vinyl electrical tape can also be used for repairing minor nicks and cuts in your wires, making it an ideal addition to your wire stripper, cable ripper, and other electrical tools. This type of tape also protects against moisture, though its primary purpose should be as an economical wire and electrical connection insulator. It has an abrasion-resistant PVC backing that is long lasting and flexible, making it ideal for insulating the wires and electrical connections during electrical tapping. Vinyl electrical tape is the most common type of electrical tape for use in the home. Rubber electrical tape also can add water resistance and insulation to electrical connections. This type of tape typically is used for splicing and terminating wires or cables rated up to 69 kilovolts (KV). Rubber electrical tape is usually nonadhesive, which means that to properly use it you will need to stretch the tape and tightly wrap it so that it can physically adhere to itself using the elastic tension of the backing. Photo: Types of Electrical TapeĮlectrical tape comes in four different varieties, including rubber, vinyl, mastic, and varnished cambric.
![electrical tape electrical tape](https://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s--Ul2pTMYn--/h_1170,w_1170,q_60,cs_srgb/blfbtv92dr21ixkqzbwk.jpg)
BEST HIGH-VOLTAGE: 3M 2228 Scotch Moisture Sealing Electrical Tape.BEST FOR AUTOMOTIVE WORK: Tesa 51026 Highest Quality Heat Proof Engine Tape.
![electrical tape electrical tape](https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/2cc50511-052a-4cd6-9911-57950bfacb40_1.a6852ccf00497fecbfd286328ea072e4.jpeg)
BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: TradeGear Electrical Tape Assorted Matte Rainbow.RUNNER-UP: Black Electrical Tape by LYLTECH.BEST OVERALL: Scotch(R) Super 33(TM) Vinyl Electrical Tape.Take a look at the products below to find some of the best electrical tape for your purposes. This helps you easily identify the wires you are working with and where they run through your home. Keep a general-purpose roll of electrical tape for a variety of fixes in your home, and you can add a range of colors that are ideal for labeling your wiring. This type of tape is also made to withstand extreme temperatures and acts as an insulator for the electrical current traveling through the wires. This backing can stretch out while you are wrapping the tape around your wiring and the elastic composition of the tape will provide a naturally secure fit. Electrical tape comes in many colors, though it is seen most often as a narrow, black roll of tape with smooth rubber, vinyl, varnished cambric, or mastic backing.