[TowerTalk] Rubber Splice Tape

[N7KA at comcast.net]

Thats is what its called on the wrapper.

Its manufactured by Plymouth (made in USA) and has catalog no. 2002.

Description.  A self-fusing rubber tape for waterproofing and insulating electrical connections.

This stuff is not cheap:  its 3/4inch wide .030 thick and 22ft long roll.  Think it was about $8.00 at either Lowe's or Home Depot. I got this as I was almost out of my original roll of similar tape. The spool of tape has a liner to seperate each layer from the other (remember the self-fusing property stated previously).

I know 3M has a similar tape but did not see it on the shelf and do not know the number. (I am too lazy to look it up, I leave that part to you the reader).  I have even seen this type of tape in MIL-SPEC environments but ITS REALLY expensive.

Hope this helps a few folks.


To keep your connectors clean of any tape residue I start wrapping electrical tape on the coax behind the connector an inch or two.  One or 2 wraps then I twist the tape so its now sticky side out and continue to overlap wrap the entire splice/conn then finish by again twistng tape to get sticky side in and then finish with couple wraps stick side in.  OK it s not for a water seal folks.

Now any the water sealing methods described can be performed REMEMBERING to begin the water proofing beyond the electrical tape directly on the coax or cable..

Years later the connectors will be as nice as new if there is no entrance of water in any form.

I have found that the liquid tape will crack in cold weather so if I use any of it I cover it with electrical tape after it is dry to protect if from the weather and sun.

Arne N7KA