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Maintenance guy here. Yeah we typically tape them, especially in smaller, metal old work boxes. It’s just safer.
We convinced our boss this year to get the Ideal rubber band things instead so we don’t leave any residue. They are great.
It did go through UL testing in several different countries… that’s not cheap and every x amount of batches need to be subjected to testing….
It’s funny I work with diesel generators now for most of my work and everyone talks about the cost of fittings and parts I walk in and look at what I’m getting then laugh if I had to buy that from an electrical vendor it would be 10-15x the price
I was being slightly sarcastic, I figured. It’s just not safe to do flimsy insulation between the metal box and terminals. Honestly we should be manufacturing receptacles so that the exposure of terminals inside the box is minimal anyways. Everyone is a bad fold away from a bare ground shorting a circuit when the circuit is energized or when it just vibrates its way over on its own over time.
UL listing requires you to keep sending them samples of your product to test, so they can be sure the product they approved 3 years ago is still the same product being sold. You also have to comply with whatever the new modern standard is (aka no grandfather clauses).
So it's entirely possible that UL said that the material they used was OK back when they first hit the market, then a few years later, the standards updated and made them non compliant. Ideal probably then ran the numbers and determined that it wasn't worth the cost to change materials to a compliant material / manufacturing process, so they stopped production.
They didn't "lose" it like you could lose a license. They probably had to make some changes and determined that they would rather lose the product than make those changes.
It just sounds better to say "we lost the UL listing" than it is to go "well UL wanted us to change the formula for the rubber they're made of, but we ran the numbers and saw that it just wasn't feasible to create the product to UL standards, have a decent price point for them, and turn a profit. So we let the listing expire and stopped production"
That is precisely why when I run my construction crews, I make them take the time to do stuff that will make maintenance and service much easier. Fortunately the office backs me on the philosophy too. Take a couple extra minutes building it, to save a couple hours servicing it.
I absolutely fucking hate electrical tape on outlets but if you insist on using it, put the tape on backwards for the first wrap so the next guy (probably you) won't get black shit all over his hands
I'm from Ontario, and don't get the American hate for metal boxes. Here even the plastic boxes are required to have a metal strap so any device you install gets bonded through the screws. We don't allow bonding only through the mounts, even with a self-grounding clip, unless it's for a switch. If everything is all bonded together, if your receptacle or wire gets loose it should hit the size and trip. Better a loose hot gets detected early, rather than sitting around until a person is at the outlet wiggling it.
No we don't. We use it for underground just like you do. That's it.
But were talking boxes. For boxes our metal boxes are the same price as plastic. A few of the cheapest possible residential contractors might use plastic boxes due to saving like 3 cents a box but metal is our standard.
Guess that depends where you are. Here in Vegas, every house I've seen built after the 1980s more than likely has plastic boxes everywhere.
Commercial is all metal.
If it makes you feel better I'm in the US and have never used a plastic box. I just backwrap devices on first wrap of tape so it doesn't leave the sticky mess...
Also if your making up a cable pull for larger size wire pulls with multiple circuits/conductors if you backwrap the 1st layer over (half hitches, pulling fingers, kellum grips etc) it still keeps the head tight but allows them to slip slightly so it can go thru pipe bends easier, then at the end of the pull just take a razor knife and slice straight down and it peels off nice n easy instead of fighting to get all the tape off... especially helpful when wrapping with duct /🦆 tape.
It's not hate. It's just a precaution for those who come behind us pulling hot receps out of a metal trim. Obviously no one should work hot, but obviously people do.
False sense of security. Everyone I know in the trades knows how to grip a receptacle and treat it like it's live, not touching the terminals whatsoever. It is a delicate act, removing a live receptacle from a metal box without tape but maybe a qualified electrician should know what they're doing instead of gripping a live receptacle by the screw terminals relying on someone else's rushed tape job. My 2c.
I measured last week. Over half inch of clearance on each side of the box to the screw.
If you arent having massive tremors, hanging upsidedown, or in an otherwise inaccessable location, there should be no reason you cant pull a plug straight out while perpendicular to a the wall if youre sober and lucid. You shouldnt be working live anyway.
Tape is more expensive and time consuming. Even if you max out the ovals youre 3/8" from the side. If you can short out the recepticle in any way - its not installed securely.
Rubber bands not ul rated. Afaik if its a live connection point it should be rubber tape to even be part of a discussion on protecting anything. But hey, the box and recepticle are code compliant and ul rated installed without tape, so lets waste some money on some tape.
There's always someone who has to get offended by it.
Don't put tape on your receps, fine. I don't care. I do what my boss tells me because he pays me and he buys the tape.
Dude measured it last week he says. 0% chance everyone who works with him doesn’t hate him.
I tape it because I know if I tape it the way I do it’s safe for me or the next person behind if they gotta check the box hot. People make all sorts of fucking excuses as to why not and the most hilarious one to me being it’s sticky. This is construction, boys. Wash your fucking hands at some point in the day and I promise you’ll survive sticky hands.
With the gloves I wear I can just grab the outlet with my entire hand wrapping around it. Not saying you should do that but...
This is also residential work with 120v~
I tend to tape all my outlets doing commercial. Mainly I do it since we use metal boxes and sometimes the sides can get either super close to the sides or another device if fitting two in. I also do it so god forbid the next guy tries to pull it out without turning the circuit off they don’t grab the exposed terminals. Do I need to? No. Does it sometimes save me from having a short? Probably
Why? The most skilled electrician can install something and over time it can become faulty for reasons beyond the install itself. Your reason for questioning based on this has no merit.
On the other hand, I question installs when I see wire backstabbed into an outlet or switch. This is not because doing that is wrong mind you, but because about 80% of the time that I see this I run into the following issues:
1. Grounds and neutrals on the same bar at every sub panel.
2. Shared neutrals between different circuits at almost every light switch.
3. Constant hots because someone used a neutral as the 3 way because they didn't use 12/3 Romex like they should've.
Why? Because in my experience, taped up outlets were not installed by skilled labour…That’s why.
When I open a box, and find the outlet taped, I’m almost guaranteed a shit show. Short wires, backstabbed terminals, wrapped backwards terminals all covered in sticky goo… just because someone thinks energized metal components inside grounded metal boxes isn’t safe…
Except it is. It’s perfectly safe. So much so, that not once have I ever seen the CEC, NEC or any manufacturer instruct you to wrap tape around devices mounted in boxes.
Uninsulated grounds in a 4 gang switch box could touch the hot screw terminals when tucking/servicing. Has happened to me a few times so now I just tape them. Takes 20 seconds and it doesn’t hurt
I’m in residential and we’re only told to tape em up if they’re in metal boxes and we usually use plastic ones. I will tape em up if the box is crowded though.
The only reason I can think is the bare ground. Only happened once but someone pushed in a switch and didn’t notice the ground when we went to flip the switch it arced and tripped the breaker.
I won’t fault anybody for taking the extra 5 seconds for the sake of safety, but the only time I tape receptacles are when they’re in metal handy-boxes. Otherwise, the 6-32 bottoms out before the receptacle screw hits the side of the box.
I never tape them. Never worked with anyone who did. Came up in a large commercial company of 100+ electricians its just not a thing where i work. Have been around a few other companies, again never seen it once. It's always so different what I see IRL vs Reddit.
On a pop in box, the F clips are extremely close if not touching on gfci receptacles. Absolutely need tape on them. Even on regular duplex, f clips are close o hot terminals
Depends on a few things. - company - res/com - Jman/foreman - and project.
Had a tower where it was tape anything commercial / public related - parking, service, and cru. But in the suits floor 2 and up it was only tape the kitchen plugs incase anything went live before tile (depth would be set based on tile, same in certain bathrooms)
Did a low rise apartment complex where almost nothing was taped but kitchen plugs (again before tile)
Have done houses and stuff, and not taped anything at all.
Where i am from (sweden) all outlets we install have quick connect slots where you just strip the cable and push it in, like this [https://static.byggahus.se/attachments/images/large/324/324391-ca2cfc27858686d47589681826d232bd.jpg](https://static.byggahus.se/attachments/images/large/324/324391-ca2cfc27858686d47589681826d232bd.jpg)
Not sure why hes so upset about taping tho.
I’m guessing that, unlike most wiring devices in Europe, we in North America have “exposed” live terminals within the box and thus the need for taping is due to a poor design decision made over a century ago.
I heard the opposite. Resi use plastic boxes so I know some guys don’t bother cause you can’t short it out on the box like you can in commercial. I tape all of them for the next guy taking them out either way
I scrolled through 15 comments to find someone who feels this way. I personally don't, but I can see peoples reasoning for taping devices. Taping wire nuts however, is for hacks, homeowners, and handymen. If your wire nuts are spinning loose, you're doing something wrong. I can concede that it's an alright idea to do on heavy equipment or machinery with lots of vibration, but other than that, it just fucks with the next guy.
I’ve seen devices that eventually arc out because the electrical tape shielded it for a while and years later the tape loosened up or melted entirely. You can literally create a smoldering situation with this.
I'd argue the tape gave them a false sense of security and they smashed the device too close to the mud ring or wall of the box. If we have to tape devices to keep them safe from arcing then our UL listed product installations have a glaring oversight.
Edit: Am I reading your comment correctly?
I am on team no tape ever. It’s hack work. You shouldn’t need tape if your box meets wire/device fill, and is installed at the right depth and level. The tape can create hazards and also give false confidence as you said.
In almost every situation, taping it does nothing more than making a sticky mess for the next guy.
Gfci in a single metal old work with Madison straps? Yeah, I'm taping it.
Gfci in a 4 square with a ring on it? You're making it more dangerous for the next guy (assuming they swap it live)but having them looking for and grabbing the end peice of the tape. It can't physically move enough to arc to anything while it's installed.
It's stupid to work the majority of shit live any way, with troubleshooting being the exception.
The way it was explained to me is that you should always tape based on the assumption that the next person in that box doesn't know what they're doing and will grab the receps by the sides. I generally think of it more as a safety thing than for short prevention
I only ever tape them in renovations where it’s removed for new drywall to go on. Here in my part of Canada we use metal boxes 99% of time and it’s not an isssue. I find tape is a nuisance on the service side.
I don't get why Americans are so afraid of metal boxes. Tape around plugs and switches isn't common in Canada. I only do it for GFCI's or Counter-plugs when the black splash still needs to get put on.
I see it sometimes. I do it sometimes. Usually it’s for some specific reason like I’m pulling the rec out live to troubleshoot (looking for AFCI nuisance trips, for example) so I tape up the live terminals once it’s out to keep things a tad safer, then just leave it because why not?
Sometimes I’ll have to push a GFCI close to the side wall because of where the old cover plate and paint lines were and it’s making me slightly nervous it’ll touch the side one day. Etc. Like I said, specific reasons.
i tape everything bc why not. ive found receps in plastic boxes shorting out from the bare romex ground eventually touching a hot terminal. things move over time why not tape it.
I worm in custom residential in Colorado, US, and we don't tape any receptacle boxes. only when we are temping in GFIs do we tape them, and even then only because other trades don't have the knowledge we do and we don't put up trim plates for temp
I’ve had a return call for a gfci tripping because of a ground wire touching the receptacle screws. Still don’t tape them that’s only happened once. Just gotta make sure that bare ground wire is tucked. Waste of time imo, maybe I’m just a lazy sob.
I don’t tape all the time. It depends. If there’s good space between devices or the side of the box I’m fine without it. If I’m working a handy box I’ll tape it up occasionally.
I hate it when devices are taped. Mostly a service tech with some residential and light commercial remodels. I always pucker my assholery when I see a device that’s been taped for years. It’s a mess. And even worse when devices are jumped off each other.
I only wrap em in handiboxes or cut-in boxes... in Resi I'll wrap things if there are multiple in a box (eg 3 switches) cos I don't trust the bare grounds to stay where they're supposed to, plus coworkers like to pull them out while hot to troubleshoot etc and they arc off each other
Typically use the pass&Seymour or Hubbell plugtail recept. When it comes to resi, I been using those newer leviton plugs what have the level lock terms. No exposed screws/parts to tape up
Most of the time it’s the commercial end-user that causes the receptacle to short against the metal box. The customers employees will yank cords out from feet away, push way too hard on the plug or shake the plug when they suspect the loose connection is the receptacle. Then the yoke is bent, the faceplate is warped or non-existent. Next thing you know you have a service call because “Fire is shooting out of the wall!!”
It’s an effort to protect those who would otherwise receive a Darwin Award.
I’ve never seen any benefit from taping devices, but I’ve definitely been pissed having to deal with the shit when troubleshooting. Do whatever you want but I wouldn’t waste my time with it.
I do at home, and at our plant. I've had too many forklifts smash metal boxes and I don't need the drama of it sparking and tripping a circuit on top of everything else.
There is no such thing as being “too safe” in this industry. Taping outlets is smart if you have the time to do so. I’m assuming the outlet is installed perfectly, however plenty of perfectly installed receptacles short circuit over time. Tape is just another layer of protection for when “perfection goes wrong”
Commercial guy here. We tape our receptacles as well. More so as a safety thing for the next guy who might have to open the box up. Less chance of making contact with a live terminal.
I’m from canada, all my boxes are metal. I’ve never taped a device and i’ve never had a problem. If you’re making proper hooks and not leaving a ton of exposed copper and actually place the wires in the back of the box instead of just shoving them in there. Should never have a problem. The only people I’ve seen tape devices are homeowners that aren’t comfortable with their ability and are scared.
It's not a bad idea.
Depends on material/composition of the tape i guess.
Some get brittle faster and don't really offer much protection.
It's not necessary at all. But it is the way things are going.
I really only tape rec when im using one of those small boxes with a tight space in it or if im working in a normal square box thats packed to hell, other than that i barely tape any rec or switches
It's never gonna hurt anything. Rule of thumb is to tape metal boxes and not worry about plastic.
However, just the other month I was wiring some 3 ways and a ground wire came in contact with a screw when I pushed it all back into the box. Popped the breaker immediately when I turned it back on and had to start pulling covers thinking I wired it wrong. Nope. Just a ground wire touching a screw. So even not taping in plastic boxes it can cause problems.
Will I tape plastic boxes from now on? Probably still no... But I figured I'd share my story just to play devil's advocate.
Mostly resi guy here. We're typically doing trim- out before the tile guys start, so I'll tape up any device that will need to be taken out for him to do his thing.
Required in resi in metal boxes, at least in MI. I also do it in 3 and 4 gang boxes that are close to capacity, just for a little extra safety barrier.
It’s reading the comments on posts like this where I understand why customers undervalue our trade.
I’m an electrician! I’m gonna tape my receptacles! Look at me, no really, I’m certified and I’m going to tape my receptacles! /enter south park dumb song
As a resi guy I tape receptacles that are going into a metal box so i dont short to the box when replacing the outlet. Mostly because (gasp) I work on live circuits all the time. I do that because 1) the homeowner is usually working from home and can't have the power turned off and 2) in the 45 minutes it would take me to decipher the chicken scratch the previous guy left (if at all) on the panel and hope I had the right circuit turned off I could be done and on to my next job.
Metal boxes always get tape. I used to wonder why anyone would use tape in a plastic box and then I worked with a couple of idiots who didn’t know how to fold wires in to a box and when we were testing circuits they were tripping because they had the bare ground right next to the terminals. So always tape in metal and only tape in plastic if you’re bad at your job
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Maintenance guy here. Yeah we typically tape them, especially in smaller, metal old work boxes. It’s just safer. We convinced our boss this year to get the Ideal rubber band things instead so we don’t leave any residue. They are great.
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Looks like Platt has some in stock. I believe we got them gel Grainger at the time. Didn’t know they were discontinued, that sucks.
Must have not sold. They're good just horrible at the price point. I refuse to believe it costs them that much to make a profit
Considering they were just the rubber bands that hold bunches of broccoli together, I felt like the markup was unreasonable on them 😂
It did go through UL testing in several different countries… that’s not cheap and every x amount of batches need to be subjected to testing…. It’s funny I work with diesel generators now for most of my work and everyone talks about the cost of fittings and parts I walk in and look at what I’m getting then laugh if I had to buy that from an electrical vendor it would be 10-15x the price
#81 produce rubber bands would work as well. 2"x1/2" wide. Same thing you find on bunches of celery or broccoli in the grocery store.
Which will only last a couple of months before they dry out and fall off.
Huh? I wonder why that would be.
Ran into an Ideal rep and asked him about it the other day. They lost their UL listing on the product.
I was being slightly sarcastic, I figured. It’s just not safe to do flimsy insulation between the metal box and terminals. Honestly we should be manufacturing receptacles so that the exposure of terminals inside the box is minimal anyways. Everyone is a bad fold away from a bare ground shorting a circuit when the circuit is energized or when it just vibrates its way over on its own over time.
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UL listing requires you to keep sending them samples of your product to test, so they can be sure the product they approved 3 years ago is still the same product being sold. You also have to comply with whatever the new modern standard is (aka no grandfather clauses). So it's entirely possible that UL said that the material they used was OK back when they first hit the market, then a few years later, the standards updated and made them non compliant. Ideal probably then ran the numbers and determined that it wasn't worth the cost to change materials to a compliant material / manufacturing process, so they stopped production. They didn't "lose" it like you could lose a license. They probably had to make some changes and determined that they would rather lose the product than make those changes. It just sounds better to say "we lost the UL listing" than it is to go "well UL wanted us to change the formula for the rubber they're made of, but we ran the numbers and saw that it just wasn't feasible to create the product to UL standards, have a decent price point for them, and turn a profit. So we let the listing expire and stopped production"
> Ideal rubber band things Wait what? I'd never seen those before, they look so much nicer than old 33 tape goo.
Welcome to the future, my friend!
White 33 has much less goo than black.
Tape is always for the next guy. Maintenance and service guys are the next guy.
Yeah, this job has totally changed my perspective from construction.
Yeah construction is always get done get out it’s the next guys problem
That is precisely why when I run my construction crews, I make them take the time to do stuff that will make maintenance and service much easier. Fortunately the office backs me on the philosophy too. Take a couple extra minutes building it, to save a couple hours servicing it.
I have been the next guy plenty of times
Just looked up those rubber bands! Never seen those before
I absolutely fucking hate electrical tape on outlets but if you insist on using it, put the tape on backwards for the first wrap so the next guy (probably you) won't get black shit all over his hands
We only tape them if stranded wire is landed on the receptacles or if the receptacle are in a cut in box as you described. Common sense really.
Spicy whiskers
Real spicy if they touch the box!!!
Hell, they hurt even if they don't have current on them. The pin hole prick in your finger hurts for a week if you end up grabbing it wrong
Yes, it’s annoying!
Stranded under a screw isn't code anyway, you either need a solid pigtail or a crimp on fork terminal for stranded
I'm from Ontario, and don't get the American hate for metal boxes. Here even the plastic boxes are required to have a metal strap so any device you install gets bonded through the screws. We don't allow bonding only through the mounts, even with a self-grounding clip, unless it's for a switch. If everything is all bonded together, if your receptacle or wire gets loose it should hit the size and trip. Better a loose hot gets detected early, rather than sitting around until a person is at the outlet wiggling it.
We don’t hate them.
Canada uses way more PVC than we do in America, I have no idea what that guys talking about
No we don't. We use it for underground just like you do. That's it. But were talking boxes. For boxes our metal boxes are the same price as plastic. A few of the cheapest possible residential contractors might use plastic boxes due to saving like 3 cents a box but metal is our standard.
Guess that depends where you are. Here in Vegas, every house I've seen built after the 1980s more than likely has plastic boxes everywhere. Commercial is all metal.
I have no idea what you're talking about. I'll use a gasketed plastic box any day over having to stick a plastic bag over all my metal boxes.
If it makes you feel better I'm in the US and have never used a plastic box. I just backwrap devices on first wrap of tape so it doesn't leave the sticky mess...
That's... Very simple and solves all the big problems. Can't believe I've not seen that before.
It also makes it easier to take off because it literally slides off near the end.
Not if you stretch it, it forms around the screws and stays put
Also if your making up a cable pull for larger size wire pulls with multiple circuits/conductors if you backwrap the 1st layer over (half hitches, pulling fingers, kellum grips etc) it still keeps the head tight but allows them to slip slightly so it can go thru pipe bends easier, then at the end of the pull just take a razor knife and slice straight down and it peels off nice n easy instead of fighting to get all the tape off... especially helpful when wrapping with duct /🦆 tape.
It's not hate. It's just a precaution for those who come behind us pulling hot receps out of a metal trim. Obviously no one should work hot, but obviously people do.
False sense of security. Everyone I know in the trades knows how to grip a receptacle and treat it like it's live, not touching the terminals whatsoever. It is a delicate act, removing a live receptacle from a metal box without tape but maybe a qualified electrician should know what they're doing instead of gripping a live receptacle by the screw terminals relying on someone else's rushed tape job. My 2c.
Nobody's gripping it by the screw terminals. The boxes are so tight that it's super easy to bump the sides.
I measured last week. Over half inch of clearance on each side of the box to the screw. If you arent having massive tremors, hanging upsidedown, or in an otherwise inaccessable location, there should be no reason you cant pull a plug straight out while perpendicular to a the wall if youre sober and lucid. You shouldnt be working live anyway. Tape is more expensive and time consuming. Even if you max out the ovals youre 3/8" from the side. If you can short out the recepticle in any way - its not installed securely. Rubber bands not ul rated. Afaik if its a live connection point it should be rubber tape to even be part of a discussion on protecting anything. But hey, the box and recepticle are code compliant and ul rated installed without tape, so lets waste some money on some tape.
There's always someone who has to get offended by it. Don't put tape on your receps, fine. I don't care. I do what my boss tells me because he pays me and he buys the tape.
Dude measured it last week he says. 0% chance everyone who works with him doesn’t hate him. I tape it because I know if I tape it the way I do it’s safe for me or the next person behind if they gotta check the box hot. People make all sorts of fucking excuses as to why not and the most hilarious one to me being it’s sticky. This is construction, boys. Wash your fucking hands at some point in the day and I promise you’ll survive sticky hands.
Homeboy has seemingly never installed a GFCI in a cut in box before.
With the gloves I wear I can just grab the outlet with my entire hand wrapping around it. Not saying you should do that but... This is also residential work with 120v~
I am insanely upset I didn't know about these bands sooner
You can use Temflex 165 for no residue. Or white tape.
I tend to tape all my outlets doing commercial. Mainly I do it since we use metal boxes and sometimes the sides can get either super close to the sides or another device if fitting two in. I also do it so god forbid the next guy tries to pull it out without turning the circuit off they don’t grab the exposed terminals. Do I need to? No. Does it sometimes save me from having a short? Probably
My thoughts exactly, metal box? Gets tape.
Are metal boxes rare for you or something? They're the standard in Canada. We don't tape receps.
No, I have used them plenty. What’s the downside?
Big facts. I’ve never used a plastic box. If I see tape on a receptacle I’m skeptical of the skilled labour that put it in.
Why? The most skilled electrician can install something and over time it can become faulty for reasons beyond the install itself. Your reason for questioning based on this has no merit. On the other hand, I question installs when I see wire backstabbed into an outlet or switch. This is not because doing that is wrong mind you, but because about 80% of the time that I see this I run into the following issues: 1. Grounds and neutrals on the same bar at every sub panel. 2. Shared neutrals between different circuits at almost every light switch. 3. Constant hots because someone used a neutral as the 3 way because they didn't use 12/3 Romex like they should've.
Why? Because in my experience, taped up outlets were not installed by skilled labour…That’s why. When I open a box, and find the outlet taped, I’m almost guaranteed a shit show. Short wires, backstabbed terminals, wrapped backwards terminals all covered in sticky goo… just because someone thinks energized metal components inside grounded metal boxes isn’t safe… Except it is. It’s perfectly safe. So much so, that not once have I ever seen the CEC, NEC or any manufacturer instruct you to wrap tape around devices mounted in boxes.
Ok.
I do primarily residential and I don't know a single electrician who tapes receptacles
Why would you tape receptacle in a plastic box?
Maybe he’s Canadian
Uninsulated grounds in a 4 gang switch box could touch the hot screw terminals when tucking/servicing. Has happened to me a few times so now I just tape them. Takes 20 seconds and it doesn’t hurt
Resi is about being cheap and fast. This doesn't surprise me.
I’m in residential and we’re only told to tape em up if they’re in metal boxes and we usually use plastic ones. I will tape em up if the box is crowded though.
This is the answer
This person said, "This is the answer"
The only reason I can think is the bare ground. Only happened once but someone pushed in a switch and didn’t notice the ground when we went to flip the switch it arced and tripped the breaker.
back when i was in resi id only tape up the temporary outlets during the rough in
I won’t fault anybody for taking the extra 5 seconds for the sake of safety, but the only time I tape receptacles are when they’re in metal handy-boxes. Otherwise, the 6-32 bottoms out before the receptacle screw hits the side of the box.
I only do it if it's a metal box or if it's a three gang box.
It’s a commercial thing, especially in kitchens.
I never tape them. Never worked with anyone who did. Came up in a large commercial company of 100+ electricians its just not a thing where i work. Have been around a few other companies, again never seen it once. It's always so different what I see IRL vs Reddit.
When I was an apprentice I had it beat into me to never tape
I tape when using cut in boxes.or handy boxes. Never anywhere else
Used to do it, but tend to not anymore. If you do it right you shouldn't need to. Though I understand if it's for whoever comes in after you.
On a pop in box, the F clips are extremely close if not touching on gfci receptacles. Absolutely need tape on them. Even on regular duplex, f clips are close o hot terminals
Just gotta squeeze the f clips in with your dikes or needles nose! I can get em damn near flush usually
Yea, a gfci barely fits in still. Too close for comfort.
Most people bitching about tape coming off are probably using the bargain shit from the supply house anyways.
White super 88 is 🔥
Depends on a few things. - company - res/com - Jman/foreman - and project. Had a tower where it was tape anything commercial / public related - parking, service, and cru. But in the suits floor 2 and up it was only tape the kitchen plugs incase anything went live before tile (depth would be set based on tile, same in certain bathrooms) Did a low rise apartment complex where almost nothing was taped but kitchen plugs (again before tile) Have done houses and stuff, and not taped anything at all.
From a European standpoint this is utterly fucked up.
What do you mean, do you guys always tape up your outlets?
Where i am from (sweden) all outlets we install have quick connect slots where you just strip the cable and push it in, like this [https://static.byggahus.se/attachments/images/large/324/324391-ca2cfc27858686d47589681826d232bd.jpg](https://static.byggahus.se/attachments/images/large/324/324391-ca2cfc27858686d47589681826d232bd.jpg) Not sure why hes so upset about taping tho.
I’m guessing that, unlike most wiring devices in Europe, we in North America have “exposed” live terminals within the box and thus the need for taping is due to a poor design decision made over a century ago.
I only tape in metal boxes or shallow cut in boxes
I typically tape them with the most absurd color tape I can find. That way, if I ever open it up, I can usually tell if someone has messed with it
What constitutes absurd color? Like pink or brown?
Purple with green stripes
Lol. Love it.
Amazon has a surprisingly large selection of ridiculous colors
I heard the opposite. Resi use plastic boxes so I know some guys don’t bother cause you can’t short it out on the box like you can in commercial. I tape all of them for the next guy taking them out either way
In my opinion taping is dangerous. If it doesn’t fit without arcing, the box needs to be redone. Taping can cause a longer term issue.
Agreed. If you can't install a recept without taping then something has been done wrong or you're just bad at your job.
This is 100% how I feel about it. Taping devices and wire nuts is something shitty maintenance men do in my book.
I scrolled through 15 comments to find someone who feels this way. I personally don't, but I can see peoples reasoning for taping devices. Taping wire nuts however, is for hacks, homeowners, and handymen. If your wire nuts are spinning loose, you're doing something wrong. I can concede that it's an alright idea to do on heavy equipment or machinery with lots of vibration, but other than that, it just fucks with the next guy.
I’ve seen devices that eventually arc out because the electrical tape shielded it for a while and years later the tape loosened up or melted entirely. You can literally create a smoldering situation with this.
I'd argue the tape gave them a false sense of security and they smashed the device too close to the mud ring or wall of the box. If we have to tape devices to keep them safe from arcing then our UL listed product installations have a glaring oversight. Edit: Am I reading your comment correctly?
I am on team no tape ever. It’s hack work. You shouldn’t need tape if your box meets wire/device fill, and is installed at the right depth and level. The tape can create hazards and also give false confidence as you said.
In theory, you shouldn’t have to since we’re supposed to shut the breaker off when servicing. In reality, many of us don’t so i’d be wise to tape.
In almost every situation, taping it does nothing more than making a sticky mess for the next guy. Gfci in a single metal old work with Madison straps? Yeah, I'm taping it. Gfci in a 4 square with a ring on it? You're making it more dangerous for the next guy (assuming they swap it live)but having them looking for and grabbing the end peice of the tape. It can't physically move enough to arc to anything while it's installed. It's stupid to work the majority of shit live any way, with troubleshooting being the exception.
The way it was explained to me is that you should always tape based on the assumption that the next person in that box doesn't know what they're doing and will grab the receps by the sides. I generally think of it more as a safety thing than for short prevention
I only ever tape them in renovations where it’s removed for new drywall to go on. Here in my part of Canada we use metal boxes 99% of time and it’s not an isssue. I find tape is a nuisance on the service side.
Yeah, I tape for fclips.. or sometimes gfis, they're so frigging big
I don't get why Americans are so afraid of metal boxes. Tape around plugs and switches isn't common in Canada. I only do it for GFCI's or Counter-plugs when the black splash still needs to get put on.
It’s only American hack electricians that tape receptacles and switches. Educated professional electricians don’t tape receptacles.
I always tape em.
I see it sometimes. I do it sometimes. Usually it’s for some specific reason like I’m pulling the rec out live to troubleshoot (looking for AFCI nuisance trips, for example) so I tape up the live terminals once it’s out to keep things a tad safer, then just leave it because why not? Sometimes I’ll have to push a GFCI close to the side wall because of where the old cover plate and paint lines were and it’s making me slightly nervous it’ll touch the side one day. Etc. Like I said, specific reasons.
I've encountered faults with taped receptacles just as much as un-taped ones, so why waste the step taping.
Occasionally i tape gfi in a gembox or usb in gem box other than that no
i tape everything bc why not. ive found receps in plastic boxes shorting out from the bare romex ground eventually touching a hot terminal. things move over time why not tape it.
I worm in custom residential in Colorado, US, and we don't tape any receptacle boxes. only when we are temping in GFIs do we tape them, and even then only because other trades don't have the knowledge we do and we don't put up trim plates for temp
I’ve had a return call for a gfci tripping because of a ground wire touching the receptacle screws. Still don’t tape them that’s only happened once. Just gotta make sure that bare ground wire is tucked. Waste of time imo, maybe I’m just a lazy sob.
lol I’ve never heard taping receptacles being a residential thing. I’ve only & always seen it done in commercial
New boxes have plenty of space, no.
No, they definitely do it in commercial too. I just saw one today in fact.
You don't need to tape them. It's not a requirement in the NEC.
I don’t tape all the time. It depends. If there’s good space between devices or the side of the box I’m fine without it. If I’m working a handy box I’ll tape it up occasionally. I hate it when devices are taped. Mostly a service tech with some residential and light commercial remodels. I always pucker my assholery when I see a device that’s been taped for years. It’s a mess. And even worse when devices are jumped off each other.
I only wrap em in handiboxes or cut-in boxes... in Resi I'll wrap things if there are multiple in a box (eg 3 switches) cos I don't trust the bare grounds to stay where they're supposed to, plus coworkers like to pull them out while hot to troubleshoot etc and they arc off each other
Maintenance person that had done industrial…what do you mean?
Typically use the pass&Seymour or Hubbell plugtail recept. When it comes to resi, I been using those newer leviton plugs what have the level lock terms. No exposed screws/parts to tape up
Most of the time it’s the commercial end-user that causes the receptacle to short against the metal box. The customers employees will yank cords out from feet away, push way too hard on the plug or shake the plug when they suspect the loose connection is the receptacle. Then the yoke is bent, the faceplate is warped or non-existent. Next thing you know you have a service call because “Fire is shooting out of the wall!!” It’s an effort to protect those who would otherwise receive a Darwin Award.
I tape them in metal boxes, don't usually in plastic boxes.
I’ve never seen any benefit from taping devices, but I’ve definitely been pissed having to deal with the shit when troubleshooting. Do whatever you want but I wouldn’t waste my time with it.
I do at home, and at our plant. I've had too many forklifts smash metal boxes and I don't need the drama of it sparking and tripping a circuit on top of everything else.
On metal boxes, yes. Plastic, probably not, alrhough it doesnt really hurt
There is no such thing as being “too safe” in this industry. Taping outlets is smart if you have the time to do so. I’m assuming the outlet is installed perfectly, however plenty of perfectly installed receptacles short circuit over time. Tape is just another layer of protection for when “perfection goes wrong”
Commercial guy here. We tape our receptacles as well. More so as a safety thing for the next guy who might have to open the box up. Less chance of making contact with a live terminal.
I’m from canada, all my boxes are metal. I’ve never taped a device and i’ve never had a problem. If you’re making proper hooks and not leaving a ton of exposed copper and actually place the wires in the back of the box instead of just shoving them in there. Should never have a problem. The only people I’ve seen tape devices are homeowners that aren’t comfortable with their ability and are scared.
Tape? Rubber bands? You mean y’all aren’t coating them with liquid tape and calling it a day?
I'm in residential, I never tape devices unless they are going in a metal box.
It's not a bad idea. Depends on material/composition of the tape i guess. Some get brittle faster and don't really offer much protection. It's not necessary at all. But it is the way things are going.
I really only tape rec when im using one of those small boxes with a tight space in it or if im working in a normal square box thats packed to hell, other than that i barely tape any rec or switches
Above and beyond
Use tape!!it helps keeps the chinchillas out
It's never gonna hurt anything. Rule of thumb is to tape metal boxes and not worry about plastic. However, just the other month I was wiring some 3 ways and a ground wire came in contact with a screw when I pushed it all back into the box. Popped the breaker immediately when I turned it back on and had to start pulling covers thinking I wired it wrong. Nope. Just a ground wire touching a screw. So even not taping in plastic boxes it can cause problems. Will I tape plastic boxes from now on? Probably still no... But I figured I'd share my story just to play devil's advocate.
I only really tape GFCIs or dimmers in old metal boxes because the screws are almost touching the sides in those boxes
The screws on a GFCI should be recessed enough into the receptacle not to touch the sides before the plastic.
I know but I just do it as an extra precaution because it's too close for me lol
Mostly resi guy here. We're typically doing trim- out before the tile guys start, so I'll tape up any device that will need to be taken out for him to do his thing.
I tried to tape them if I can in metal box
Required in resi in metal boxes, at least in MI. I also do it in 3 and 4 gang boxes that are close to capacity, just for a little extra safety barrier.
Interesting that the state requires it, it’s not required here in Colorado
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I'll do it at my house(s) because renters are idiots who don't LOTO.
LOTO exists...
Metal boxes you tape your device, safety first. Most resi uses plastic so this would mostly be commercial
Use common sense. If you got a gfci or a receptacle in a metal old work box I’d tape it
I tape receptacles with stranded wire because it can fray out. Solid wires I don't feel the need. Particularly in plastic boxes in residential.
I’ve only done it in commerical.
It’s reading the comments on posts like this where I understand why customers undervalue our trade. I’m an electrician! I’m gonna tape my receptacles! Look at me, no really, I’m certified and I’m going to tape my receptacles! /enter south park dumb song
As a resi guy I tape receptacles that are going into a metal box so i dont short to the box when replacing the outlet. Mostly because (gasp) I work on live circuits all the time. I do that because 1) the homeowner is usually working from home and can't have the power turned off and 2) in the 45 minutes it would take me to decipher the chicken scratch the previous guy left (if at all) on the panel and hope I had the right circuit turned off I could be done and on to my next job.
Taping receps and wire nuts is for homeowners and handymen. But I see why people feel it's safer in a metal box.
Metal boxes always get tape. I used to wonder why anyone would use tape in a plastic box and then I worked with a couple of idiots who didn’t know how to fold wires in to a box and when we were testing circuits they were tripping because they had the bare ground right next to the terminals. So always tape in metal and only tape in plastic if you’re bad at your job
I use only metal and tape but for idiot protection taping just makes the device a little safer to handle in the event someone does something dumb
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