Tape Talk: What Type Of Electrical Tape Do I Need?

See which type of electrical tape will work best for your application.

Duct tape fixes everything, right? Well, electrical contractors know that it’s a little more complicated than that. If you apply the wrong electrical tape in the wrong environment to the wrong application, it can jeopardize the durability and safety of your project. To help you avoid any sticky situations, use this tool to find the right type of electrical tape for your application.

WHAT TYPES OF ELECTRICAL TAPE ARE THERE?

The type of tape you use depends on what you are using it for. Are you insulating and splicing wire? Sealing a connection? Protecting conduit against corrosion? There’s probably a specific roll of tape that will do the job best. Here are some of the most common types of electrical tape you might need.

Vinyl Electrical Tapes

These vinyl electrical tapes are your basic, general use, do-it-all types of electrical tape. Which one you use depends on the environment it’s being used in, how durable you need it to be and how much you want to spend. For temporary applications in mild environments, you can get by with Temflex 165, but it’s not very durable and won’t stretch or stick in the cold.

A better option is Scotch Super 33+. It’s stretchy and will stick in all-weather applications. It resists UV rays, corrosion, abrasion, alkalis and acids. Plus, if you order at Van Meter, you get 15% more per roll for the same price. If you need color coded tape for phase identification and marking, Scotch 35 will also stay stretchy and conformable in most environments and resists against abrasion, corrosion, alkalis and acid.

Find the right vinyl electrical tape for your application:

	MPN	Description
	7100201470	Scotch Super 33+ Professional Grade Vinyl Electrical Tape	Product Details »
	7000058433	Scotch Super 88 Heavy Duty Grade Vinyl Electrical Tape	Product Details »
	7000031581	Scotch 35 Professional Grade Color Coding Vinyl Electrical Tape	Product Details »
	7100169254	3M Temflex 165 Vinyl Electrical Tape	Product Details »

Insulating and Splicing Tapes

Insulating and splicing tapes are used to build up your wire jacket or connect two cables. These tapes are highly conformable to hold tightly around irregularly shaped objects and seal out moisture from your connections. Which style of insulating and splicing tape you use depends on the environment it is being used in, the voltage and your type of wire and splice.

For high voltage insulating and low voltage splicing, you could use rubber splicing tape like Scotch 130C or Scotch 23. If you are terminating high voltage cables and need something arc resistant, there is Scotch 70 silicone tape that works as protective overwrap against arcing and tracking. The right tape can even prevent disaster. If you have high-energy cables within 18” of other high energy cables, you will want to use Scotch 77 fire and electric arc proof tape to protect cables until limiting devices can interrupt a faulted circuit.

Find the right insulating or splicing tape for your application:

	MPN	Description
	7000006085	Scotch 130C Professional Grade Linerless Rubber Splicing Tape	Product Details »
	7000138529	Scotch 23 Professional Grade Rubber Splicing Tape	Product Details »
	7100004701	Scotch 77 Professional Grade Fire and Electric Arc Proof Tape	Product Details »
	7000089970	3M 2155 Temflex Mid-Grade Linered Rubber Splicing Tape	Product Details »
	7000006225	Scotch 70 Self-Fusing Silicone Rubber Electrical Tape	Product Details »
	7000031629	Scotch 2510 Varnished Cambric Professional Grade Tape	Product Details »

Sealing and Insulating Tapes

When you need to keep moisture and elements out of your splice, you need sealing and insulating tape. Unlike the splicing tapes, these sealing and insulating tapes are thicker to seal out moisture, pad sharp edges and smooth out irregular shapes. Which type you use depends on the voltage of your wire, the environment it is being used in and the shape of your connection or area you want to pad.

Mastic sealing tape like Scotch 2200 is weather resistant, and can seal or pad low voltage connections in temperatures as low as -18° C. For sealing high voltage cables and accessories, you will want to use Scotch-Seal 2229 mastic sealing tape. There’s even electrical insulation putty like 3M Scotchfil that you can mold around splices or bus bars to smooth out irregular shapes and pad sharp edges. Lastly, if your wire jacket needs repaired, you can use Scotch 2234 cable jacket repair tape to seal out moisture and elements where the jacket is damaged and prevent abrasion and chemical damage.

Find the right sealing or insulating tape for your application:

	MPN	Description
	7000057773	Scotch 2200 Professional Grade Vinyl Mastic Sealing Tape	Product Details »
	7000026559	Scotch 2210 Professional Grade Vinyl Mastic Sealing Tape	Product Details »
	7000132544	3M Scotch-Seal 2229 Professional Grade Rubber Mastic Sealing Tape	Product Details »
	7000006227	Scotch 2234 Cable Jacket Repair Professional Grade Tape	Product Details »
	7000006089	3M Scotchfil Electrical Insulation Putty	Product Details »

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GET MORE INFORMATION ON ALL TYPES OF 3M TAPE

It’s a good thing these tapes can protect against abrasion because this is just scratching the surface of the types of 3M electrical tape available. Do you have an application that isn’t covered here? Download the PDF below for a complete electrical tape product selection guide.

DOWNLOAD THE ELECTRICAL TAPE SELECTION GUIDE