Heat tape, tape question.

Good evening all:

For my income tax present to myself, I ordered new heat tape for my racks(and the one I'm building).

Whilst taping earlier today, I noticed that the tape I'm using (electrical) to hold the heat tape down is already frilling up.

So my question is, what type of tape do you guys use to keep the heat tape for your racks locked down in place? I'm not a huge fan of foil tape, as its rather hard to peel up if needed, and I've not had the best of luck with it in the past.

So any input would be awesome because before I put everything back I want to make sure the tape doesn't frill up, and its good for awhile.

Thanks!

A/c duct aluminum tape. I use the 3m version, it's not a traditional foil tape. It peels up much easier

I heard blue painters tape but I use electrical too

I do use foil tape, and find that it works best for me. However, I have a hard time using it in the standard width you get a Home Depot, so I hit on a trick a couple years back. This only works for the kind that has the paper backing. I generally work with 18 inch long strips because that's how long my cutting board is, and I find the tape pretty easy to manage at that length. Then I use a straight edge and Exacto knife to split each strip down the middle, width wise. This makes the whole thing a lot more user friendly, and makes the tape go twice as far.

A little embarrassing story, the main reason I don't like foil tape is because when I first used it, I had taped it wrong, and every time I touched it I would get a nice big jolt. What about regular duct tape? I plan on keeping the electrical tape still underneath whatever other tape I choose.

I'll have to look for the AC duct tape. Home Depot I'm assuming?

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Originally Posted by Montypython696

Home Depot I'm assuming?

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That's where I've always purchased mine.

Not sure about the standard duct tape. It can leave some pretty gnarly residue also, and I'm not sure how it would react to the heat over time.

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Originally Posted by Slim

That's where I've always purchased mine.

Not sure about the standard duct tape. It can leave some pretty gnarly residue also, and I'm not sure how it would react to the heat over time.

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Good point, I didn't think about that. So foil tape would have to be the best bet. Now, is there a special way to insulate the tape, I don't want to make the same mistake I made last time. (The shocking myself part) Would electrical tape, then foil tape be my best bet?

I'm not sure I have the answer to your question, but in my case, I don't run the tape anywhere near the electrical connector clips, and I've never been zapped. I might just be lucky, but I've always said I'd rather be luck than good :P

The metal connectors are all covered by insulation, that reptile basics provided. So hopefully that'll be enough.

I've always used RBI racks and heat tape. Rich and his crew do an outstanding job wiring up everything the right way.

Make sure to put a little fold of electrical tape on the end of the bus bars on the far end opposite the clips.

Foil tape.

Double sided carpet adhesive tape

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by dillan2020

Make sure to put a little fold of electrical tape on the end of the bus bars on the far end opposite the clips.

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THIS. And don't cover the bus bars with foil tape. ONLY tape the clear edge down, being careful not to contact the bus bar/heating elements, and you shouldn't get shocked. I'm a newbie, just built my first, and it's not shocking me......:D