#COLORED ELECTRICAL TAPE PDF#
#COLORED ELECTRICAL TAPE INSTALL#
#COLORED ELECTRICAL TAPE CODE#

Gray: High-voltage neutral applications.Brown: High-voltage phase A applications.Black: General usage, including for low-voltage phase A applications and insulation.(The colors and usage requirements listed here fit standards for the United States). Unlike duct tape, where the colors and patterns are for fun or for matching the item where you’re applying the tape, electrical tape colors signify different features.

Mastic tape is resistant to moisture and to UV rays, so it works well for outdoor applications.īestReviews Best features in electrical tape ColorsĪlthough black is the most common color for electrical tape, several other colors are available.

The backing on mastic tape can consist of vinyl or rubber, but some versions of mastic tape have no backing. This gives mastic tape impressive flexibility for use in tight spaces. Mastic electrical tape uses a soft or spongy layer that sits between the adhesive and the backing. Rubber tape offers water resistance, which is helpful when the tape may have exposure to high-humidity environments.

#COLORED ELECTRICAL TAPE INSTALL#

By keeping the tape taut while applying it, it creates the tension needed to install it. You wrap the rubber tape around a wire, taking care to overlap the tape so that it touches itself. Instead, it uses its own elastic tension to hold itself in place. Rubber electrical tape typically doesn’t have any adhesive on one side. Some people refer to vinyl and PVC tape as the same type of tape, even though they differ in how they operate in cold weather. It works well for outdoor applications, as it can withstand low temperatures. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) tape is very similar to vinyl electrical tape in that it has plenty of flexibility and uses adhesive. It’s waterproof, but it doesn’t perform well in low temperatures. It’s a highly flexible type of tape, which makes it easier to apply the tape tightly to the desired surface. It has adhesive on one side to attach to the object or electrical wire. Vinyl is a durable and long-lasting tape. Vinyl electrical tape is the most common type of tape in use for a wide range of projects. Learning more about the types available and having product recommendations ensures you end up with the best tape for the job you have at hand.īefore vinyl plastic became available in the 1940s, electrical insulating tape consisted of cloth tape. Shopping for the right type of electrical tape can be a bit of a challenge for the non-professional since so many options are available. When you need to color-code certain wires at a junction box or light switch, you can apply a ring of colored electrical tape near the end of the wire.īeyond electrical uses, some people use this tape for arts and crafts or on sporting equipment because of the different colors available and because of the natural flex that it has. This type of tape works to insulate wires, separate wires, secure wires, or repair minor damage to wires. Electricians rely heavily on electrical tape, as it performs tasks that other tapes simply can’t do safely. It insulates wires and other electric-conducting materials. People's Republic of China and the Former USSR (Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan) (per GB 50303-2002 Section 15.2.Although electrical tape may not be as well-known or versatile as duct tape, it still remains one of the most important types of tape.

#COLORED ELECTRICAL TAPE PDF#

UK until April 2006, Hong Kong until April 2009, South Africa, MalaysiaĪustralia and New Zealand (per AS/NZS 3000:2007 this link is a pdf download) The EU and all countries who use European CENELEC standards April 2004 ( IEC 60446), Hong Kong from July 2007 (Here is where we drop our shameless plug: Merco M809 Colored Electrical Tape comes in 9 colors to meet most all coding requirements.)

#COLORED ELECTRICAL TAPE CODE#

Please check with your local code enforcement authority. and Canada, different color codes are used for grounded (earthed) and ungrounded systems. Colors used may adhere to International Standard IEC 60446, older standards, or to no standard at all, and may vary even within a single installation. Conductors of a three-phase system are usually identified by a color code, to allow for balanced loading and to assure the correct phase rotation for induction motors.

Colored electrical tape