Electrical tape is a type of tape used to insulate electrical wires and other material that conduct electricity. It can be made of many plastics, but vinyl is most popular; it stretches better, giving a more effective and longer lasting insulation.

When used by an electrician, the tape is sometimes color coded to indicate the purpose of a wire, like power ground.

The tape is usually available in hardware stores. The fact that it is often more UV-resistant than other tapes and its ability to stretch has led to a wide range of uses beyond insulation.

Not all black vinyl tape is safe for electrical usage, some are not even labeled as electrical tape. UL listed tape is certified to not catch fire and burn when overheated, meanwhile non-UL listed tape may contribute or start a fire and burn like a petroleum product.

Alternative Usage

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Electrical tape is often also used to secure lighting cables to the truss in stagecraft, and is also commonly known as LX tape for this reason.

Electrical tape is often used by front rowers in rugby to tape back their ears. This is to prevent abrasion from causing cuts or problems like cauliflower ear.

Electrical tape is also used by youths in cricket playing nations to wrap around tennis balls to make them look and/or act or like cricket balls.

Before the introduction of mass produced roller hockey pucks, certain brands of electrical tape were used as a puck substitute as traditonal Ice Hockey pucks are poorly suited for use on concrete and asphalt. Scotch 88 tape, in particular, was commonly used even in organized leagues during the 1990's.

In the case where electrical tape is readily available, it can be used as temporary bandaging for minor cuts until proper treatment can be administered (often referred to as a Mandaid).

The fact that electrical tape is slightly stretchy, easily torn by hand, can be written on, is available in a number of colours and generally removes from smooth surfaces cleanly makes it useful for a number of other applications, including colour coding, labelling and temporarily taping things together.

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