[RE-wrenches] Taping Splices/Tees

[R Ray Walters]

At this point, there are much better products for splicing than split bolts. The insulated splice blocks don't need tape, and are easy to check later too.
I just don't see a reason to use uninsulated splices anymore. All your time spent wrapping (and unwrapping) will more than pay the difference for the better connector.
Especially after many on this list were advocating for less than 1% volt drop,  you have to use superior connectors to get even close.
My field measurements have shown that wire was usually had less loss than predicted, while resistance across connections was higher.

R. Walters
ray at solarray.com
Solar Engineer




On Apr 25, 2010, at 6:02 AM, Richard L Ratico wrote:

> Peter,
> 
> May be mistaken, but I don't think "Tape" is mentioned specifically anywhere in
> the code. What kind of splices do you have in mind? Not wirenuts I hope? One of
> my pet peeves, sorry.
> 
> I don't have my 2008 Codebook handy. 2005 NEC Article 110.14(B) requires, "All
> splices and joints and the free ends of conductors shall be covered with an
> insulation equivalent to that of the conductors or with an insulating device
> identified for the purpose."
> 
> IMHO it would be unwise to use anything other than a UL listed Tape. Scotch
> brand 33+ is an amazing product. More expensive than most others, but worth  it. 
> 
> Insulating Split Bolts or require lots of tape to build thickness? Use UL Listed
> rubber tape as well. The devil is in the details here. Some "tricks of the
> trade" apply.
> 
> Dick Ratico
> Solarwind Electric
> Bradford, VT
> 
> 
> --- You wrote:
> Can anyone give me the NEC reference for taping UL-listed wire splice
> connectors (indoors)? Does the tape need to be UL listed? Anything else that
> pertains? 
> 
> - Peter
> 
> Peter T. Parrish, Ph.D., President
> California Solar Engineering, Inc.
> 820 Cynthia Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90065
> CA Lic. 854779, NABCEP Cert. 031806-26
> peter.parrish at calsolareng.com  
> Ph 323-258-8883, Mobile 323-839-6108, Fax 323-258-8885
> 
> 
> --- end of quote ---
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