Talk:Electrical tape

What does LX stand for?

In the name LX Tape, what does the LX stand for? Latex? Bergsten 11:47, 13 November 2005 (UTC)

"Lighting Effects Tape"

Attention all trumpet players!!!

It is inevitable. I shall need to get braces soon. I strongly believe braces are an incarnate of Evil. In any case, I recently was told that electric tape can be used to protest lips and teeth from the cutting braces. I was told that it cushions better than wax and is thin enough as not to excessively puff up lips and make it impossible to play (like rubber stoppers). I need advice; please, any trumpet players, come to my aid!!!Ved 19:10, 4 February 2006 (UTC)TRUPET

Did you get this information from Mark Erikson?

DarthSidious 15:05, 15 October 2007 (UTC)DarthSidious

It apparently typically contains carcinogenic chemicals, so I would say definitely don't put it in your mouth. (It is common, if not universal, that the packaging says it contains such chemicals, as does the Ace Vinyl Electrical Tape in front of me.) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.232.12.166 (talk) 01:49, 21 August 2011 (UTC)

Facts?

The fact that electrical tape is slightly stretchy, easily torn by hand, can be written on...

I don't use electrical tape very often, but I've never used any that was easy to tear by hand (too stretchy) or suitable to be written on. These sound like features of masking tape. Prometheus^-X303- 20:50, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

It tears by hand much more easily than other types of tape (e.g. clear sellotape/scotch tape (although perhaps not as easily as masking tape). You can write on it with pretty much any permanent marker (unless it's black tape, in which case the writing is quite hard to read...) and often a ballpoint pen works too. I use electrical tape quite often to label stuff - it's more durable than paper labels (or masking tape) and removes easily when you want it to. (sorry forgot to log in: Tjwood 13:14, 31 January 2007 (UTC))

To tear it, push your nail into the non-sticky side where you want it to cut and pull the section to be cut towards your arm. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 90.216.108.113 (talk) 09:53, 12 October 2009 (UTC)

As an electrician, let me state catagorically that electrical tape is torn by hand by those in my profession. There are days I do this a hundred times. Yes it is stretchy, but will break easily if you follow the instructions in this article. --- ABD, 23 sept 07 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.100.90.13 (talk) 23:17, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

As a quick fix, electrical tape can be used as a toy gun. This can be said about any other tapes as well.

Does anybody care to elaborate on this statement? I'm not even sure what is trying to be said here.--Vaihead (talk) 23:06, 29 November 2008 (UTC)

"Don Karbal"

I've cut this section from the article:

In Lebanon, Don 'Donny' Karbal has been for many years the largest reseller of electrical tape (locally: šĥàrtiţōñ). Known for using the tape in very unorthodox manners and for a wide array of applications, The Don (as he is more commonly referred to) has built what can only be described as a cult following in the country. Local electricians meet with Mr. Karbal bi-annually to learn about new uses and discuss potentially rentable applications for the tape.

Even if Don Karbal exists (he returns exactly zero Google hits), the idiosyncrasies of an electrical tape dealer in Lebanon are not exactly encyclopedic information. I'd like to see a citation, and an argument for why this is notable before we consider restoring this section. A Train ^{take the} 15:10, 15 December 2006 (UTC)

Causes Cancer?

I recently bought some vinyl electrical tape from two different brands (Intertape and Ace Hardware). Both have a warning message on it (derived from CA's Proposition 65), which I'll quote (including italics and bold):

"Warning: This product contains one or more chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling."

I did some Googling and found this PDF document by another company, 3M. It's a Material Safety Data Sheet of their vinyl electrical tape products, written in 2005. It says that health hazards are not to be expected of skin/eye contact or inhalation, but does mention throughout that it contains chemicals that can cause cancer, and recommends avoiding "prolonged & repeated skin contact", among other things. I can't seem to find related documents from other companies, and also can't find any reports of anybody actually having any health problems from it. I'm not sure if its just these brands either (the cancerous chemicals are listed in that report under Section 15, but am not sure if they'd be shared amongst other brands).

The reason I'm asking, personally, is that I have an interest in vinyl tape for aesthetic and fashionable use (including application on my own skin from time to time), so I'm a tad worried about that. I'm curious whether anyone knows any more information on this matter, and if this information should be added to the Wiki article? Thanks! =) -- Shadowolf 07:04, 23 June 2007 (UTC)

(Applies to earth only)

Applies to earth only... WHAT?!? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.27.33.230 (talk) 05:28, 4 March 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, I'm going to go ahead and delete the (Applies to earth only) phrase. Even if it serves some purpose, that purpose is unclear.--Vaihead (talk) 23:01, 29 November 2008 (UTC)

Liquid Electrical Tape

"Liquid Electrical Tape" is widely used and has been around for a long time, and as such surely deserves some treatment in the article. (I came here looking for information on it as I am considering buying some.) Please would someone knowledgeable add some info ? Darkman101 (talk) 17:52, 13 February 2014 (UTC)

@Darkman101:Great idea! Being *knowledgeable* is not required nor important to adding content. Find a source and add the info! You can do it since you did the research for your own use! Dlotts (talk) 15:20, 4 May 2020 (UTC)

UK colour codes right?

The single-phase mains colours in the UK are:

Protective Earth: green/yellow (NOT green) neutral: blue phase live: brown

I don't know about phasing colours for 3-phase, but insulating tape is commonly sold in these colours.

[background, decades ago the UK colours were green/black/red for PE/N/L, but these colours are completely obsolete now, in particular green is never used for earth] — Preceding unsigned comment added by MarkTillotson (talk • contribs) 17:54, 27 August 2014 (UTC)

UK fixed wiring (i.e. the stuff that connects to sockets etc inside the walls) until 2004 (became available)/2006 (had to be used) was coloured Red (live), Black (Neutral),Green/Yellow (Earth), up until the 1970s green was still being used for earth marking

Flexible cords went to brown, blue and green yellow somewhere around 1962/1963, however as with anything there was still a crossover period

3 phase colours pre 2006 were Red, Yellow, Blue (also used commonly for 2 way lighting,i.e. to work the light at the top of the stairs)

This is why any house built before 2004 and which has had any alterations done to its fixed wiring should have a sticker that says "This installation has wiring colours to two versions of BS 7671.

Great care should be taken before undertaking extension, alteration or repair that all conductors are correctly identified"

As Black - the "old" neutral, became a phase colour and blue, one of the old phase colours became the "new" neutral. Therefore by sticking it on the fusebox, any electrician (and anyone else) would be so warned that the installation had work done to both the old and new colours, so that someone did not connect neutral to live or live to neutral and place themselves or others in danger

I was an electrician up till recently. Mrfuzzydwagginz (talk) 23:43, 12 June 2018 (UTC)

High and Low Voltages

The colour code table states diffrent colours for high and low voltages. What are the highs and lows?? Jake9wi (talk) 06:58, 31 December 2019 (UTC)

Considered unprofessional

I was reading The Art of Electronics and picked up a notion that electrical tape is generally frowned upon:

Components to avoid. We advise against using components like these, if you have a choice (see text if you need convincing!). Top row, left to right: [...] electrical tape (“just say no!”). (AoE v3, p. 63)

It is a good idea to insulate all exposed line-voltage connections inside any instrument, for example by using polymer heat-shrink tubing (the use of “friction tape” or electrical tape inside electronic instruments is strictly bush-league). (AoE v3, p. 632)

Can somebody confirm this or is this an unpopular opinion strongly uphold by the authors? In my field of work AoE is considered as a very reliable compendium of electronics knowledge. Still, I can't find concise reasoning on why to avoid electrical tape so I'd like to gather more sources before adding a Downsides paragraph. 24.134.53.165 (talk) 12:52, 4 March 2021 (UTC)

Could you read and post text for convincing? Darsie42 (talk) 09:18, 22 May 2022 (UTC)