wiring harness tapes

rsporsche

rsporsche

Moderator
Site Donor $$
Messages
12,635
Reaction score
5,421
Location
Atlanta, GA
so for anybody reworking their harness, what is the preferred tape? i have seen recommendations of TESA, Coroplast. the pics i have seen of Coroplast look like 8550 ... but they make a lot of different types / materials. anybody have recommendations that work great and looks the most correct?
 
I’ve always used Tesa. There are different types I’m sure you know. I like to use the soft fuzzy stuff on interior work. Otherwise it’s the normal.
 
engine compartment is Tesa.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1904.jpeg
    IMG_1904.jpeg
    555.2 KB · Views: 16
thanks guys, here is what i have heard offline, the TESA is good tape, but you will go through a lot of razor blades to install it. i never got a good answer on which Coroplast tape, but i heard that X-Fasten makes a great engine compartment tape for harnesses and you get 5 rolls for like 13 bucks and it looks the part. at that price its worth a try. there are 2, one is not high temp and is 'fuzzy' - that is NOT the right one.

 
WHILE inspecting / redoing my wiring harness, i am inspecting all of the wires in the engine compartment. i am also eliminating wires that will never be used again - especially power wires at the front of the car that could cause an issue at some other time. i get that this is something that makes 'going backward' <read original> much more difficult ... but it makes the car much safer.

here is the reason that makes this exercise so meaningful. this is a wire from the battery to the alternator - it was all shrinkwrapped and hidden. now it is gone and will be replaced with new wires + connectors. i inspected the entire run of this wire (about 18" or so), all of the insulation is not smooth ... so heat has affected it. it will also be replaced with a heavier gauge wire. the wiring diagram calls for a 4.0mm2 wire (11 AWG), but i think i will either put an 8 or 10 AWG wire.

moral of the story, when you get a chance to inspect things - do so and fix them while you are there.
1760818837914.jpeg
 
8 mm2 would be a bigger wire, but that is an 8 AWG wire - the original wire was 4 mm2. i will probably use either 8 or 10 AWG. by comparison, the wire from battery to starter is a 16 mm2 wire (5 AWG)

AWG mm2
4 - 21.15
8 - 8.37
10 - 5.25
12 - 3.31
14 - 2.08
16 - 1.31
18 - 0.82

so most of the wires on the diagram are .75 and 1.5 or 18 awg / 15 awg (but that is not widely available ... so 14 awg
 
Last edited:
Here is a list of wire sizes, and amp ratings associated withe the wire size.

#14 - 15amps
#12 - 20amps
#10 - 30amps
#08 - 45amps
#06 - 65amps
#04 - 85amps
#03 - 105amps
#02 - 120amps
#01 - 140amps
#o - 155amps
 
fyi, regarding the tape used, here are some opinions of others:
eriknetherlands

Thread 'Quest for originality; Cable wiring harness tape & PVC connectors?'

I've purchased some tape to refresh the wiring harness. However seeing it side by side I see difference.
The original is a genuine textile with a warp and weft , the new roll of tape is just fuzzy fibrous.

Does anyone have a source for a textile tape that is matching (better?)
Preferably in the EU....

brands and types suggested:
Coroplast
Tesa (normal and high temp version)
Xfasten
Wurth
Scapa (167 or 1810?)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top