# Products to wrap electrical wires for protection and hiding **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 22, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706 "2021-05-22T20:11:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/1 "2021-05-22T20:11:42Z")
I have some wires on a solar panel that I would like to make less obtrusive. They are out in the elements and are designed to be outdoors. I have a red and black wire, and I’d like the covering to be black. I thought wrapping in electrical tape, but my experience with that is the tape fails quickly and loosens up. I thought of heat shrink, but the connectors are large and I’d have to cut them off, then reconnect…and I have about 3 feet…so that might be expensive and I’d rather not cut and reattach the wires to put the wrap on. Is there an alternative? Is there a tape I can use that I can be more confident will hold? Black duct tape did not hold. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/2 "2021-05-22T20:34:54Z")
Cable mold: [https://www.amazon.com/cable-molding/s?k=cable+molding](https://www.amazon.com/cable-molding/s?k=cable+molding) > **[Cable Management - Electronics - The Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Electronics-Cable-Management/N-5yc1vZc64e)** > > Get free shipping on qualified Cable Management products or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Electrical Department. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/3 "2021-05-22T20:38:57Z")
Spiral wrap. > **[Black Spiral Polyethylene Cable Electrical Wire Wrap Tube Computer Manage Cord...](https://alexnld.com/product/black-spiral-polyethylene-cable-electrical-wire-wrap-tube-computer-manage-cord/)** ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/4 "2021-05-22T20:46:25Z")
Ugh…we hates the spiral wrap, don’t we, my Preciouses? @Snowboarder_Bo has the right idea; you can find a wide variety of cable molding and management at any large hardware store or online. I like the PVC floor cord protector because it is very secure and has a big surface to grab or adhere to even if you aren’t running it on the floor. Electrical tape is a bane and should be eliminated from existence, and ‘duct’ tape is barely an improvement. If you need to use tape, proper [gaffer’s tape](https://www.homedepot.com/b/Paint-Paint-Supplies-Tape-Gaffers-Tape/N-5yc1vZcic0) is far better, but I wouldn’t use it as an overwrap on cords because it will eventually unwrap and leave a residue. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/5 "2021-05-22T21:30:40Z")
[Self-amalgamating tape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-amalgamating_tape) (silicone or other rubber) leaves no residue, but note it’s tape that you wrap around something and not a cable duct or floor cord protector, nor an adhesive. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/6 "2021-05-22T22:01:40Z")
will this hold up to weather conditions? It looks like indoor use only ---
**Author:** ![RedSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/67e7ee/32.png) [@RedSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSky)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/7 "2021-05-22T22:13:43Z")
Electrical tape might work if you add some cable ties to stop unravelling, maybe consider painting the majority of the wire and leave the end red for identification. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/8 "2021-05-22T23:20:35Z")
UV resistant Braided flex: [Flexo F6® Braided Wrap-Around Sleeving - Cableorganizer.com](https://www.cableorganizer.com/f6-wrap-around/) [Self-closing Braided Wire Wrap - 6mm x 2m | Jaycar Electronics](https://www.jaycar.com.au/self-closing-braided-wire-wrap-6mm-x-2m/p/WH5630) If you get a tape or a spiral wrap, select one that is UV resistant. [Amazon.com: UV Polyethylene Spiral Wrap Cable Harness, 0.236" OD x 0.157" ID, 0.157" - 1.97" Bundle Range, Black: Industrial & Scientific](https://www.amazon.com/Polyethylene-Spiral-Cable-Harness-0-236/dp/B00CTVNE88) [Amazon.com: Gorilla All Weather Outdoor Waterproof Duct Tape, UV and Temperature Resistant, 1.88" x 25 yd, Black (2 Pack): Office Products](https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Weather-Waterproof-Temperature-Resistant/dp/B08BZQHT1P/ref=sr_1_19?dchild=1&keywords=uv+resistant+tape&qid=1621725544&sr=8-19) ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/9 "2021-05-23T00:13:41Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Flexo F6® Braided Wrap-Around Sleeving - [Cableorganizer.com](http://Cableorganizer.com) boom!. ordered…done. THanks, I hope this works out. I think it will…\>Thanks to all for those great suggestions! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/10 "2021-05-23T00:34:41Z")
“Gaffer” tape is fine for temporary fixing stuff in place. (Lord knows I used my share) it is wholly unsuitable for more permanent installations: it dries out in about a year and even new it is a perfect kindle. — don’t get me wrong: I love gaffer tape, but the stuff has limits. Electrical tape is slightly less likely to start a fire but its mechanical properties are not so nice to work with. It also degrades equally fast in UV. Can you use a pipe? ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/11 "2021-05-23T01:04:18Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > “Gaffer” tape is fine for temporary fixing stuff in place. (Lord knows I used my share) it is wholly unsuitable for more permanent installations: it dries out in about a year and even new it is a perfect kindle. > > — don’t get me wrong: I love gaffer tape, but the stuff has limits. Hence, why I said: > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > …but I wouldn’t use it as an overwrap on cords because it will eventually unwrap and leave a residue. In terms of a means of attachment or protection, all tape should be considered a temporary measure. A conduit or braided wrap is what the o.p. needs to protect exterior cords. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Chickenwrangler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chickenwrangler/32/91_2.png) [@Chickenwrangler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chickenwrangler)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2021, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/products-to-wrap-electrical-wires-for-protection-and-hiding/942706/12 "2021-05-23T05:06:12Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > [Self-amalgamating tape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-amalgamating_tape) (silicone or other rubber) leaves no residue, but note it’s tape that you wrap around something and not a cable duct or floor cord protector, nor an adhesive. My vote for Self-amalgamating tape. Probably got enough stretch in it to also cover the terminal joints so you’ll have one long weatherproof cover for the whole cable length.