Electrical tape on wire
#1
12-30-13, 01:40 PM
Electrical tape on wire
I opened a junction box in my basement and found one of the hot wires had a small piece of tape on it. I turned off the breaker and peeled it off..... the adhesion was all dried up and it pulled right off.
As I feared, there was probably about 1/16"-1/8" or less were the insulation was damaged and copper was exposed. I wrapped some quality electrical tape around it and put it back in service.....
There was not enough wire to cut it back and remake the splice. Is what I did sufficient?
Is electrical tape meant for a permanent fix or should I be looking to repull wire for such a miniscule amount of damage?
As I feared, there was probably about 1/16"-1/8" or less were the insulation was damaged and copper was exposed. I wrapped some quality electrical tape around it and put it back in service.....
There was not enough wire to cut it back and remake the splice. Is what I did sufficient?
Is electrical tape meant for a permanent fix or should I be looking to repull wire for such a miniscule amount of damage?
#2
12-30-13, 01:46 PM
Super Moderator
Although it's not allowed from an inspectors viewpoint, I doubt I'd be concerned in a box where it won't get moved around. You might consider re-doing it with shrinkwrap or liquid electrical tape. No worries about the adhesive drying out that way.
#4
12-30-13, 04:14 PM
I have some heat shrink tubing here but to do that I would have had to pull all the wiring out of the box and remake all the splices. Since it was very small I took a gamble and applied about 4 wraps of some tape called Scotch 33 I bought at the hardware store.
Since that's not acceptable by code, I hope I don't find out why that is.....
Since that's not acceptable by code, I hope I don't find out why that is.....
#5
12-30-13, 05:43 PM
Member
Since it was very small I took a gamble and applied about 4 wraps of some tape called Scotch 33 I bought at the hardware store.
Since that's not acceptable by code, I hope I don't find out why that is.....
Since that's not acceptable by code, I hope I don't find out why that is.....
#6
12-31-13, 12:00 PM
Thanks, I may as well ask here since its sort of related.
Im trying to figure out if some discolorization on a wire is charred insulation or just dirt. Unfortunetly I don't have a photo to show you. Theres a darkened white wire in a box here......its not by the wire nut but rather up about 6 inches. I can still kind of read the the outline of the wire label on the insulation and there is no exposed copper. It doesn't look like the insulation is flaking or melted or anything its just darkened/dirty.
So this is like 60 year old wiring too.
Can anyone describe how charred wiring looks? Perhaps like if there was an overwattage fixture situation going on?
Do you have any photos of charred insulation I can compare it too?
Im trying to figure out if some discolorization on a wire is charred insulation or just dirt. Unfortunetly I don't have a photo to show you. Theres a darkened white wire in a box here......its not by the wire nut but rather up about 6 inches. I can still kind of read the the outline of the wire label on the insulation and there is no exposed copper. It doesn't look like the insulation is flaking or melted or anything its just darkened/dirty.
So this is like 60 year old wiring too.
Can anyone describe how charred wiring looks? Perhaps like if there was an overwattage fixture situation going on?
Do you have any photos of charred insulation I can compare it too?
#7
01-02-14, 01:49 PM
I was hoping someone might take a stab at my inquiry... I know theres no picture though so its all speculation.
If a wire was overheated, would it likely show burn at the splicing point (wirenut etc) or would it be possible to see like a 4 inch darkened portion of the insulation away from the splice?
If a wire was overheated, would it likely show burn at the splicing point (wirenut etc) or would it be possible to see like a 4 inch darkened portion of the insulation away from the splice?
#8
01-02-14, 02:59 PM
Super Moderator
Old wire discolors. I've seen pics of old stuff that you could barely tell whether it was white or brown.
Normally if there is a bad joint...the insulation closest to the joint will discolor...though I guess there could be exceptions.
Normally if there is a bad joint...the insulation closest to the joint will discolor...though I guess there could be exceptions.
#9
01-02-14, 03:16 PM
That's what I was thinking too.
The discolorization is not at the joint, its about 4 inches from there where the wire exits the conduit. The metal in the box is also darkened a bit too.
I don't see exposed copper. I don't see any cracking, bubbling or melting of the insulation. There is no brown either.
The discolorization is not at the joint, its about 4 inches from there where the wire exits the conduit. The metal in the box is also darkened a bit too.
I don't see exposed copper. I don't see any cracking, bubbling or melting of the insulation. There is no brown either.
