SE cable chewed -- Tape?

[yeldogt]

Up on the ladder this morning .... trimming and cleaning. Noticed the covering on my 200amp service line has been chewed. The wire goes up from the meter and turns horizontal for a few feet before turning again and following the garage roof line. It's in the horizontal area ... maybe 6-8" of the covering . I can see the webbing -- the insulation on the actual wires is not damaged. It's not all the way around -- just on one flat side.

Is there an approved type of tape that I can wrap around the wire?

 

[Bert_]

That's about all you can do. Don't use cheap tape, get some scotch 33 and wrap it neat and tight, it will be almost as good as the original covering. If it's getting brittle from sun exposure then you better just plan on replacing it.

This is why is despise SE cable. It is easily damaged to begin with and after 20 years in the sun the sheath cracks if you look at it wrong.

 

[yeldogt]

I will look up that tape -- the cable is in good shape ... Could be 15 years old. Where it was chewed is the most protected .... would have never noticed unless on a ladder

 

[Bert_]

Scotch 88 is better yet but not always carried at the home stores. Scotch also makes grey marking tape that might blend in better, but again might not be carried at the home store.

 

[Norcal]

SE cable is a NEC recognized wiring method, and there is a lot of it in service, but it is not a recognized wiring method in PG&E's Greenbook, so any SE cable service is at least 60 years old around here, which pleases me because I hate the stuff.


I would agree that taping it is a acceptable fix, and to use a good quality tape + be extra cautious since there is no overcurrent protection on that SE cable & so any mishap will not go well.

 

[Dirtydan69]

I’ve done this numerous times back in my younger days when siding houses in Chicago.

 

[yeldogt]

SE cable is a NEC recognized wiring method, and there is a lot of it in service, but it is not a recognized wiring method in PG&E's Greenbook, so any SE cable service is at least 60 years old around here, which pleases me because I hate the stuff.


I would agree that taping it is a acceptable fix, and to use a good quality tape + be extra cautious since there is no overcurrent protection on that SE cable & so any mishap will not go well.

What do they use?

 

[rlitman]

If this is being chewed by an animal, I'd wrap it in Honda rodent tape.
Otherwise, Scotch 88 is the best electrical tape out there.

 

[kinglew]

Replace with new seecable.call a electrician replace with pvc.taping not good outside exposure

 

[log man]

You can buy liquid tape in a tube also.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-4-fl-oz-Liquid-Electrical-Tape-Black-LTB-400/100119178

 

[theoldwizard1]

Replace with new seecable.call a electrician replace with pvc.taping not good outside exposure

It has been on the vertical section of my SE cable for probably 20 years. Still holding strong. Scotch 33, but I can't swear to it.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

What do they use?

Pacific Gasp and extortion doesnt use anything. They dont install building wire. Theyre a PoCo.

They DO NOT allow SE cable for the service entrance so have to use pipe and wire for the riser between the service drop and meter pan.

 

[theoldwizard1]

They DO NOT allow SE cable for the service entrance so have to use pipe and wire for the riser between the service drop and meter pan.

I think this is common in all parts of the US on both new construction and any kind of upgrade.

 

[yeldogt]

Around me it's all Gray SE cable .... in the city they still require that it be in pipe coming out of the house and up ....until it's above a person head .. then just SE to the service head. The meters are all in the basement.

everything around me is SE ... except when it's in a pipe that goes above a roof on a single story

 

[Dingleburry]

Mostly use Scotch 2228 Rubber Mastic moisture sealing tape at work. Fuses to itself really hard to remove. Its 65mil. 1.65mm.
https://www.3mcanada.ca/3M/en_CA/company-ca/all-3m-products/~/Scotch-2228-Rubber-Mastic-Tape-black-65-mil-2-in-x-10-ft/?N=5002385+8709313+3293735026&rt=rud

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Mostly use Scotch 2228 Rubber Mastic moisture sealing tape at work. Fuses to itself really hard to remove. Its 65mil. 1.65mm.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Agree with what Dingleburry said.
I have some of that 2228. Box says Professional Grade, and Made in USA. It is so much better than regular electrical tape - you will thank us.

 

[Aceman]

Wrap it with this. No need to turn it into a science project.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DPXGSE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Despite what some of the other folks are saying, Super 88 and other similar tapes get used all the time to tape up exposed outdoor overhead connections and splices.

Literally millions of taped connections in service right now. If it's good enough to tape up millions of energized connections on homes and businesses around the country, it's good enough to tape up a few inches of insulated SE cable.

 

[Git]

One of the things that I bought from Amazon Warehouse was a roll of Scotch 'Varnished Cambric Tape"

Never heard of it before, but I paid $6 for it (normally $28) since I figured it may eventually come in handy

Take a look at this video from 3M Training. They use Varnished Cambric first and then a layer of Super 33 (rubber tape will eventually soften)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VB3M9O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rlitman]

Wrap it with this. No need to turn it into a science project.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DPXGSE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Despite what some of the other folks are saying, Super 88 and other similar tapes get used all the time to tape up exposed outdoor overhead connections and splices.

Literally millions of taped connections in service right now. If it's good enough to tape up millions of energized connections on homes and businesses around the country, it's good enough to tape up a few inches of insulated SE cable.

$14.37 on Amazon. LMAO. It's $4.27 at Home Depot.

On a vertical run, start your tape wrap at the bottom, and work up. This will leave the seams on the underside, just like shingles on a wall. If you tape from the top down, you'll have more weather related issues.