Alternatives to electrical tape

[82DMC12]

Hey guys, I'm installing a new fuse box and I have my electrical bay all taken apart. PO unwrapped the main loom. Instead of using sloppy electrical tape, how else can I wrap all these looms to give it a clean professional look when I'm done? I was at Fleet Farm and saw silicone fusion wrap. I know there's wider, better stuff out there just don't know what I'm looking for.

Andy

[DMCMW Dave]

Hey guys, I'm installing a new fuse box and I have my electrical bay all taken apart. PO unwrapped the main loom. Instead of using sloppy electrical tape, how else can I wrap all these looms to give it a clean professional look when I'm done? I was at Fleet Farm and saw silicone fusion wrap. I know there's wider, better stuff out there just don't know what I'm looking for.

Andy

There is an automotive loom tape made specifically for this job. It looks like black tape but has no glue on it at all, and is slightly stretchy. Hard to find (professional stuff) but it is really what you want.

[jawn101]

I saw that same silicone fusion stuff today and was actually going to come ask if it was the stuff everyone's always talking about for re-wrapping looms. Guess not... anyone have a ready source for the right stuff?

[TTait]

http://www.elecdirect.com/catalog/c4e2092c-eba2-4bc2-bc0f-93860ca13c8a.aspx

Heat shrink tubing can also work well. There are some heavy duty and large diameter choices here...

[jawn101]

http://www.elecdirect.com/catalog/c4e2092c-eba2-4bc2-bc0f-93860ca13c8a.aspx

Heat shrink tubing can also work well. There are some heavy duty and large diameter choices here...

Yeah, but heat shrink is no good if you want to wrap looms that have oversized connectors at either end or that disappear through bulkheads, etc. Rewrapping the bundles in the relay compartment comes to mind. You can't slip large diameter tube over those without major surgery, and if all you're after is cosmetics....

[vwdmc16]

Hockey tape. Its a cloth material, however it may not last as long as the vinyl in electrical tape. Just another alternative.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Why wrap it in the relay compartment. I just used Ty-wraps. Now my engine harness, I found the good stuff on Ebay.

[82DMC12]

Trouble you for a link? I want to wrap it because I'm just anal like that.

[Spittybug]

You want E-Z Fuse Tape from the original Superglue people. It is a silicone tape that is flexible, waterproof, UV resistant, insulates to 8,000 volts, etc.... Not cheap stuff, but it isn't sticky except onto itself. It doesn't let go! Comes in different colors. http://www.supergluecorp.com/original-super-glue/ez_fuse Google it, you can get it any number of places. Awesome stuff to have on hand for repairs too.

[Dangermouse]

From my previous life in industrial electrical maintenance, I try to use 3M Super 33 electrical tape when I can - much better quality than the generic types, but more expensive too.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Marine/Home/Products/Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECIE20S4K7000000_nid=GSB1HN6 6PFbeVB2NDGZBTHgl

Use Super 88 if you are in colder climate.




I haven't used it in the car, but spiral wrap may be suitable in the relay compartment. Not sure about the engine bay - don't think it is heat resistant

http://randrplastics.com/services/Picture%20001.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Panduit-T25F-C-SPIRAL-WRAP-reel/dp/B000R86M16

[David T]

Eastwood sells the black tape without glue. You have to know how to wrap with it since it does not have glue, you do it just the way it was done by the factory. Short of that the 3M Super 33 is the best bet. The only problem with that is when it gets hot the glue gets all sticky. The quickest and easiest option is the plastic loom stuff especially in an area where it can't be seen. Try to use something which can be undone, someday someone may have to go back over this work. The silicon tape can be difficult to remove.
David Teitelbaum

[dmc6960]

I used this stuff for my harness re-wraps...

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/DOR4/85274.oap?ck=Search_cold+shrink_-1_-1&keyword=cold+shrink
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Help-1-in-x-10-ft-black-cold-shrink-tape/_/N-255s?itemIdentifier=47156

Its a cold-shrink tape. You stretch it when wrapping it and when it tries to retract it fuses to itself. It kinda becomes a "solid" piece afterwards and will not unwrap easily if you need to undo it later. It'll need to be cut/torn off. The plus though it that it doesn't have any adhesive so your wires will still stay nice. I've used it in my engine compartment for a few years now.

[Chris 16409]

I've been using black silicone tape to wrap the wires in the relay compartment and engine bay. Works nicely with no sticky mess.

[mluder]

Slightly off topic - Does anyone know where to find the extra insulative pieces that certain parts of the rear wiring harness has?

Specifically, the line that goes to the oil pressure sensor (light), number 3 here - http://store.delorean.com/c-269-1-2-0-oil-pumpfilter.aspx has a rubbery-plastic sheath over the wire. Mine is melted and messed up. I'm going to replace the female spade on the end an a section of wire that the insulation is worn through on and want to also replace that sheath.

I'm not even sure if it's necessary but just in case...

Cheers
Steve

[dmc6960]

Specifically, the line that goes to the oil pressure sensor (light)

I used heat-shrink tubing on mine. After I cut off the end for replacement, I slid some heatshrink tubing over the length, and attached a new end. Its held up well so far.

[mluder]

I used heat-shrink tubing on mine. After I cut off the end for replacement, I slid some heatshrink tubing over the length, and attached a new end. Its held up well so far.

I was kind of thinking that's what I'd end up doing but I thought I'd ask.

Cheers
Steve

[Spittybug]

I used a small length of fairly rigid PVC tubing like you use for ice maker lines. Has the added benefit of allowing you to orient it away from the hot stuff and it will hold the geometry.

[mluder]

I used a small length of fairly rigid PVC tubing like you use for ice maker lines. Has the added benefit of allowing you to orient it away from the hot stuff and it will hold the geometry.

Ahhh... Good idea - where can I find that? Home Depot or Lowes have that or do I have to go to an appliance parts store?

Cheers
Steve

[Exolis]

Zip ties and Mesh Tubing is great. Use them quite often at my work for making custom harnesses. Plastic Tubing harness is good for wires outside.

[Spittybug]

Ahhh... Good idea - where can I find that? Home Depot or Lowes have that or do I have to go to an appliance parts store?
Cheers
Steve

Lowes. It's cloudy white, 1/4" or so diameter. Mine is in a PET loom (the kind inside computer cases) which I used for my entire custom wiring harness in the engine compartment. I used shrink tubing for sealing ends and joining sections.

[Bitsyncmaster]

My wrapping tape is:

ET 301
ELLIOTT tape

It has no adhesive and is very stretchy. Wrapping and unwrapping a harness is easy.

[DMC5180]

Andy,

If you want that factory look: Here's the stuff plus other options

http://www.britishwiring.com/Harness-Tape-3-4-Wide-Grey-p/c459.htm


FWIW, I have some of this in Black. It wraps great but when you want to secure the cut tail, it doesn't hold to itself like the factory wrap. There might be a trick to wrapping the end that addresses this though. I would inquire with the Britishwiring guy for preferred method. Worst case would be you have to finish the wrap with a small piece of Adhesive backed tape or silicone fusion tape.

[jawn101]

Andy,

If you want that factory look: Here's the stuff plus other options

http://www.britishwiring.com/Harness-Tape-3-4-Wide-Grey-p/c459.htm


FWIW, I have some of this in Black. It wraps great but when you want to secure the cut tail, it doesn't hold to itself like the factory wrap. There might be a trick to wrapping the end that addresses this though. I would inquire with the Britishwiring guy for preferred method. Worst case would be you have to finish the wrap with a small piece of Adhesive backed tape or silicone fusion tape.

Nice find Dennis. Good price too. My wiring all seems to be wrapped with black, I know everyone says the grey is the factory look... is the black tape an early car thing like cold start wiring? :)

[DMC5180]

Nice find Dennis. Good price too. My wiring all seems to be wrapped with black, I know everyone says the grey is the factory look... is the black tape an early car thing like cold start wiring? :)


AFIK all the external harnesses are wrapped in black. The Interior (main harness is Grey wrapped) in the relay compartment. But I think I've seen it Black wrapped too.

[jawn101]

AFIK all the external harnesses are wrapped in black. The Interior (main harness is Grey wrapped) in the relay compartment. But I think I've seen it Black wrapped too.

Yeah, all my interior wrap is definitely black. Ah well. Snowflake cars, gotta love em.

[Bitsyncmaster]

I finish the wrap with a small piece of sticky tape. You start or continue the wrap just by back wrapping a little. I think the original wrapping was also done this way.

[82DMC12]

Wow lots of options.... I found the Super 33 at Grainger. I didn't buy it yet. I'll look at the cold wrap O'reillys has later this week. I won't get to finish the fuse box until the weekend... Too hot outside this week! No fun cramped up and sweaty. I'll post a pic of the finished project here when I finish it.

Andy

[MikeWard]

I've used Tesa Tape on my car in place of sticky electrical tape.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tesa-cable-harness-industry-Insulation-special-tape-1-roll-/150861918482?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2320123112

Works pretty well.

[outatym2001]

I mention this in the thread I started below.
Self Fusing Tape - Used in motor vehicles to wrap wire bundles
http://order.waytekwire.com
On the Waytek wire site inside the Product Search box type in, Self Fusing Tape

My Favorite DeLorean Web Sites Part II of II
http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?198-My-Favorite-DeLorean-Web-Sites-Part-II-of-II

[82DMC12]

Went to O'riellys and got the tape Jim linked to. Worked great but yes the ends are a little loose. I will have to secure with regular electrical tape. I'm sure I'll be glad I used the cold stuff If I ever have to unwrap it again. Here are before and after pics of my electrical bay. The before pic was from about 10 min into my new fuse box install, hense the loose box and no fuses.

http://img.tapatalk.com/ae7ec285-9c8c-b3fb.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/ae7ec285-9cca-35c5.jpg