protect outdoor cable connections with silicon tape

[marklyn]

I recently came across a tip buried in a forum thread that I wanted to share. I'm sure some people know about it but I felt it deserved it's own thread.
I've always had a problem waterproofing outdoor network cable connections until I recently discovered silicon tape.
This stuff is golden! It can be found a hardware stores like Lowes or Home Depot. Costs around $6 for a 10' roll.
It's basically 10' of very pliable tacky tape that you use to tape up your outdoor network connections or ends that you don't want water in.
It conforms to the various uneven surfaces of a network cable connection and provides a very good seal.
I highly recommend it!

Stretch and Seal self sealing silicone tape:
Home Depot link: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nashua-Tape-1-in-x-3-33-yd-Stretch-and-Seal-Self-Fusing-Silicone-Tape-in-Clear-1210364/203534911

 

[klasipca]

So what's the name of it or a link? There is no such thing that comes up as "silicon tape"

 

[alastairstevenson]

Over here it's called 'self amalgamating tape', commonly use to seal over coax connectors on sat dish LNBs and other outdoor low-voltage cabling.

 

[spencnor]

Over here it's called 'self amalgamating tape', commonly use to seal over coax connectors on sat dish LNBs and other outdoor low-voltage cabling.

In the electrical industry a popular manufacturer of this tape is 3M, rubber splicing tape #23.

 

[marklyn]

Here is a home depot link for it:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nashua-Tape-1-in-x-3-33-yd-Stretch-and-Seal-Self-Fusing-Silicone-Tape-in-Clear-1210364/203534911

 

[klasipca]

Here is a home depot link for it:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Nashua-Tape-1-in-x-3-33-yd-Stretch-and-Seal-Self-Fusing-Silicone-Tape-in-Clear-1210364/203534911

Yup, got it, I searched by copying pasting your title which was missing "e" and it didn't come up with anything initially.

 

[JMartin]

Found this at my local Harbor Freight for less than $5.00:



I'm going to seal my connectors before putting them in their junction boxes anyway.
Haven't opened the stuff to see how it feels... it claims to not be sticky, but it "adheres to itself."
We'll see this weekend.

 

[stoney7713]

Found this at my local Harbor Freight for less than $5.00:

View attachment 10276

I'm going to seal my connectors before putting them in their junction boxes anyway.
Haven't opened the stuff to see how it feels... it claims to not be sticky, but it "adheres to itself."
We'll see this weekend.

There's a few different types.

The non sticky stuff tends to be live rubber tape and have a backing you peel off before using. It's best to stretch it first before applying. Rubber sticks to rubber really well.

There's a also a silicone rubber tape that has a backing, it is slightly sticky and has a solvent in it that fuses the tape together.

Personally I like live rubber, it doesn't leave a tackiness if you ever remove it from a connection.

Either way it's best to put a final layer of good electrical tape on top of it for extra protection from the elements.