ECN Forum Forums Code Related Discussion NEC & other Code issues split bolts

is rubber tape mandatory for split bolts or is black electrical tape just fine?

h2o

Its mandatory if you work for me, or better yet, on planet macmikeman we always wrap the bolt with Scotch #2200 vinyl pads first before using electrical tape to finish up the job. However once you leave planet macmikeman the rules sometimes change.

thanks mac.

Use rubber tape every time! It protects against heat and vibration much better than electrical tape.

That is unless you use the whole role of electical tape on the one split bolt. (seen it)

I burned my first motor when the vibration in the unit plus the heat of the motor put a hole through the tape and shorted the leads to ground.

Not long ago it was rubber and friction tape, I think soon to be a dead art.

Many people including myself have moved on to insulated lugs for most stuff, like say in a can. I still kearny service's.

Also, ironicly, did some CuAl kerney's today for a 200a service. Noalox, 3M slicing putty (1/4" thick), and friction tape.

IMO vinyl or plastic tape exposed to UV and weather breakes down over time. Good friction tape is getting harder to find though.