3 ways to insulate wires at home

insulators Precautions

To begin with, let's talk about the rules that must be observed when insulating conductors with one's own hands. First, it is strictly forbidden to isolate the wires under voltage. You must turn off the circuit breaker in the switchboard. Secondly, in order to protect the connection point, it is necessary to use only those materials that are recommended by the rules of the electrical compatibility test and have passed the appropriate tests of GOST for electric strength, operating temperature, and flammability.

We strongly advise against the use of scotch as insulation.this material does not have sufficient insulating properties. Now we will consider how to properly isolate the wires at home, and also provide you with the most reliable insulating materials.

Survey of insulating materials

To date, it is recommended to use materials such as:

• PVC insulating tape for insulation of bare cores. It has good elasticity, but in a humid environment it quickly deforms and peels off. It is recommended to use for insulation of wires in dry rooms, and also if it is necessary to make a color marking of wires( there is an electrical tape of different colors, which can be used to indicate phase, zero and earth at the end of the conductor).
• HB insulating tape. Cotton material, which is a more reliable option not only for home conditions, but also if you need to isolate the wires from each other under the hood in the car. The advantage of HB insulating tape is that it is more resistant to moisture, low temperatures and dirt.
• Heat shrinkable tubing( HTS).Heat shrinkage is one of the most modern and reliable insulating materials. It is recommended to use it, if it is necessary to insulate the place of connection of electric wires not only in the house, but also in the ground, under water, in the car. Universal insulator, which we recommend to use in everyday life!
• Caps PPE.Isolation of veins with sisami is used in the event that you have made twisting of conductors. The insulating properties, of course, are not the same as those of the heat-shrink tubing, but still allow to protect the bare wires in the junction box, under the chandelier and plasterboard.

Here we have provided the most reliable and popular insulation materials among electricians. Next, we will tell you how to properly isolate the exposed contacts with insulating tape, heat shrinkage and special caps.

Instructions for using insulators

Well, we came to the main issue of the article - the technology of wire insulation by oneself. Since there are several materials, we will stop at each and tell you how to isolate the bare veins.

If you use electrical tape, first you need to make a good twist of the wires. If the wires are stranded, it is recommended to disassemble them further for a more reliable connection. Next twisting bends in one of the sides, as shown in the photo, after which the tape is wound on the bare area in at least 2 layers. This technique is often used in the apartment, even by experienced electricians. The insulating tape can be used when connecting conductors in a junction box, chandelier, when carrying an outlet and even under plaster, if the connection point is in a junction box.

Heat dissipation to isolate bare wires is also not difficult. The main thing to remember is the important nuance - the tube should be worn on one of the conductors before they are spliced. After soldering or twisting, put on a kembrik( it's still called that) you can not do it. When the contacts are connected, the tube needs to be pulled onto the exposed joint, then heated with a construction hair dryer.

If the hair dryer is not at hand, it can be heated with a conventional lighter, make sure that the shrinkage is tightly tightened on the cable. Use the TUT tube is recommended when the conductor is immersed in water( for example, if the power cable on the deep pump is damaged).In addition, heat shrinkage is used when laying the cable underground, if you want to connect underground wiring. It is also recommended to insulate the wires with this material in a bathroom, a wooden house, a sauna or on the street to reliably protect the place of connection from water.

Caps PPE is better to use when installing electrical wiring in the house and apartment. PPEs are compact and can quickly isolate twisting. All you need is to screw the cap onto the wires until it stops, as shown in the photo below.

If it is necessary to protect the twisting of thin wires, for example in headphones, it is not advisable to use electrical tape becauseit will not fit snugly. In this case, you can do without tapes using conventional superglue. All you need to do is gently drop glue onto the bare area of ​​the small conductors. In the 220-volt electrical network, this method is not recommended, becauseglue, in fact, like silicone sealant, quickly fall off. By the way, it's also not worth to isolate the veins with an adhesive gun, for a similar reason.

For additional cable insulation from rabbit, cat or puppy in the house( pets like to gnaw wires), it is recommended to use tin foil. On the other ways to protect electrical wiring from animals, read the relevant article!

So we provided all the existing ways of isolating the bare wires with our own hands. As you can see, it is not so difficult to isolate the wire under the water, in the wall and the ground, the main thing is to choose the right material for insulation. Finally, we recommend you to additionally protect the wiring harness in damp rooms and in the open air, which will further protect the connection point so that water does not get on the exposed contacts.