Ok, we all know you're 'supposed' to use electrical tape when twisting wires together, then taping them. BUT, I admit, I DO use duct tape! I did use electrical tape for a while but it seems like over time it always had a habit of shrinking/sliding on the wires and leaving a horrible sticky film on the wires that would never come off. With the duct tape, it'* wide, covers more surface area, does not shrink, nor does it slide off of the wires. So, what exactly is so wrong with using duct tape on wires? Just wondering. I've actually been doing this for 6 years now and have never had a problem doing this..

Personally, I usually use black electrical tape, and I put it very well, and never had an issue.

I also use duct tape if I don't have the black tape, and if you are using the good duct tape, and not the dollar store special, ....you'll probably find the duct tape works as good, or better.. like I say, steer clear of the dollar store crap..

I don't know if there'* a corrosion issue or anything chemical to be concerned about, but I have taken black tape off a connection, and found it to have corroded anyways..

My friend was notorious for keeping dead cars running way past their life, with duct tape and toggle switches as his main parts...

Duct tape can eventually dry out and fall off, thus exposing the splice. And it'* not as "formable" as electrical tape. By that I mean, if you stretch the electrical tape the way you're supposed to, it will form fit to the splice. Duct tape wont....

Other than that, as long as it'* non-conductive, just about any tape will work. For a little while, anyway.....

Yeah...what MOS said. I'd like to stress the conductivity part. No use in taping it unless the tape is nonconductive. Personally the best ways to splice are either solder and heat shrink or electrical tape OR the installer way of using strippers to pull back some wire, a pick to make a hole in the strands, put other wire through and wrap around. Then tape over connection area.

Get a soldering gun + Heat shrink. I use electrical tape more as an insulator now.

You'll never go back!!

Strangely enough, there is probably already about 3 feet of duct tape in your car right now. Every factory splice in the car is crimped, kinda soldered and then duct taped to complete the splice.

Duct tape? come on

It sounds like you don't believe me. Tisk tisk tisk





The pics above are of three splices within the headliner harness and are typical of the rest of the splices in the car. The duct tape on the left splice in the first pic is peeled back a little to show the adhesive side.

Dirty..... :?