In my line of work (Technician for high power transmission lines 12.5kV-345kV) we always use 3M Super 33. Very good stuff, not sure the cost since my company just hands it out like candy to us.

 

No kidding? I carry the same stuff in my toolbox for random low-voltage stuff (I don't use it all that often- mostly for protecting cable jackets from chafing and whatnot), I'd have never imagined that it would be usable for distribution or transmission lines.

It's quite cheap. About $6 at Fry's if I recall correctly.

 

LOL, oh no, I don't actually use the stuff on the high power lines, we use them on the secondary voltage side (low voltage). I was only suggesting it for the OP's intended purpose as it holds up well in a more rugged environment. I will also say that the 3M Super 37 stuff is crap compared to the Super 33.

 

Ok. I was having a hard time envisioning what a lineman would be doing with black tape, but then I've never had to climb a pole, so what do I know?

I'm not sure if I've ever used Super 37. I'd have to go rummaging around through the garage to be sure, but I know that I always have a roll of 33+ in my toolbox, and I want to say that I have some Super 88 rolling around somewhere as well.

But like I said, I hardly ever use electrician's tape for its intended purpose. Anything that I can possibly use heatshrink on, I do that instead. Tape is mostly for when I need to do something stupid, like run a white wire as hot or thread a group of unjacketed wires through a knockout and I don't have (or can't fit) a nipple or anti-short bushing. And, of course, it's an excellent expedient bandaging material.



One thing I found interesting while working in Germany is that their electricians use white electrical tape for nearly everything. There doesn't appear to be anything special about it from a dielectric standpoint, it just happens to be white. This, of course, beings with it one amazingly beneficial incidental property- you can write on it with a pen! No need to carry around a separate roll of labels, you can just jot a note directly onto a piece of electrical tape.

 

Use a white pen.

 

Super 33 is awesome for nearly any purpose. I can't imagine buying a cheaper store brand or bottom of the barrel tape when Super 33 is only a few dollars more.

 

There are 3 different 3m electrical tapes I like to use depending on what I'm doing in the car. I cant remember right now which series is which. 1 basically permanently bonds to the wires after it sits for a while. 1 comes off easy since it only sticks to itself, and the other one is in the middle of the road, but doesnt leave goopy ---- everywhere.

 

[sarcasm]Ah, yes. I'll remember to pick up a few of those the next time I'm at the store that sells white pens. [/sarcasm]

I'm aware that you can purchase fine-tipped markers which dispense white paint from art/craft stores, however they're not neither as convenient nor as ubiquitous as either sharpie-type markers or traditional blue/black ball-point pens.

 

I have a complete assortment of colored 3M electrical tape. When pulling larger single conductor cables, its much easier to have red/white/blue tape on the end rather than having to actually label them.

Most of us at my job wrap their tools in a specific color tape to signify ownership. Unfortunately I got the purple color....

 

I've only had 1 kind of the 3M stuff and wasn't overly impressed. I've since used the HPX brand electrical tape (as well as their black ducttape, near match for mazda brilliant black) is it's awesome and cheap.

 

"Why do I have to be Mr. Pink?"