Nelco Blog

Not Just a Color

Electrical tape is available in multiple colors, but not all colors have the same properties. Before using, please read the packaging to ensure the color you are purchasing/using meets your electrical requirements. Below is the information found at Wikipedia.

Black

Usage in US: Insulation in the US: Low voltage, phase A
Usage in UK: Insulation in the UK: Low voltage, neutral
Usage in International: Low voltage, phase B

Red

Usage in US: Low voltage, phase B
Usage in UK: Low voltage, phase A
Usage in International: Sheath, 415 V 3 phase

Blue

Usage in US: Low voltage, phase C
Usage in UK: Low voltage, phase C
Usage in International: Low voltage, neutral; Sheath, 230 V

Brown

Usage in US: High voltage, phase A
Usage in UK:
Usage in International: Low voltage, phase A

Orange

Usage in US: High voltage, phase B
Usage in UK:
Usage in International: Sheath, garden tools

Yellow

Usage in US: High voltage, phase C
Usage in UK: Low voltage, phase B
Usage in International: Sheath, 110 V site wiring

Green

Usage in US: Earth ground
Usage in UK: Earth
Usage in International:
Green with yellow stripe

Usage in US: Isolated ground
Usage in UK:
Usage in International: Earth

Grey

Usage in US: Low voltage neutral; High voltage, neutral
Usage in UK:
Usage in International: Low voltage, phase C

White

Usage in US: Low voltage, neutral; High voltage, neutral
Usage in UK:
Usage in International:

Clearflo® PVC tubing has many uses around the home. One of those is making your own rope LED lighting. You can buy LED strip lighting that is ready to install but for added protection and ease of removal, put the LED strips into the Clearflo® PVC tubing. This will protect the strip and the lights from the elements AND it will make the lights easily removable should you want to paint where they are installed.

1. measure out your project
2. Go on-line or contact your local lighting store and purchase the amount of LED Strip you need.
   • You need cuttable 120V LED Strip
   • Power supply(ies) & connectors: You will need to know how many cuts you are going to have to make before you buy the strips
   • If you buy programmable LED lights, you will need to buy the remote control
3. Purchase a length Clearflo® PVC tubing the next size up from the largest measurement of the LED Strip. For instance, the LED strip is 1/2″ by 3/16″, purchase a 3/4″ diameter tube.
4. Pull the LED strip through the tube by poking a hole in the strip and attaching a string
5. Follow the directions and attach the power components to the end of the strip
6. Use the tube to cover up the attachment and the power cord
7. Attach tube to where you want it by using cable clamps

Enjoy your new lighting.

You know that huge mess of cabling and power cords behind your customers home entertainment system, you know is just going to cause trouble and repeated service calls?  I have the perfect solution to organize it and then hide it. The two products are called Identification Ties and Convoluted Tubing/Split Wire Loom. Using these two items together creates the perfect solution to identifying, organizing, and hiding the mess. And by using split wire loom tubing, you can easily remove cables and cords easily and put them back in the tubing just as easily.

When you connect each component to the receiver, identify the cord with an identifying cable tie close to the back of the entertainment system. Cut off the tail of the cable tie. Cut a piece of split cable tubing to the desired length and wrap it around the cables. Tie it off with a zip cable tie if necessary to hold it all secure.

As with the component cords, identify each power cord at the end cutting off the extra end of the cable tie. Cut a piece of the tubing to necessary length and if possible, open the cable and tack it to a secure spot, such as the baseboard or the wall. Put in the cords and now the customer has a very neat back to their entertainment system and they can easily identify the power cords.

When it comes to protecting property, there are many alternatives to metal locks and chains. Security seals are an excellent way to provide people with superior protection at a low cost. These devices offer protection to individuals by providing tamper evidence as well as some level of security (ex. Luggage security seal). While the seals cannot stop a determined thief, they can offer enough of an obstacle to persuade most into looking for easier targets. They are generally made of plastic or metal and come in two types: pull tights and strap seals.

Pull Tights – These seals are medium strength devices that are designed to protect bags, boxes, cabinets, and other equipment. These seals are also commonly used on fire extinguishers to deter tampering with the safety pin.

Strap Seals – These seals are economical, cost-effective devices that are used for sealing containers, drums, trailers and other enclosed areas.

Both types can be either single use or reusable. They also come in a variety of colors, thus helping many a weary traveler to identify and reunite with their luggage on the baggage carousel.

Cable ties can be a garage sale savior in so many ways. Obviously cable ties are useful for all kinds of things, the most obvious being a tool to wrap up and hide the electrical wire behind your home entertainment center. However, these little guys are no longer reserved for home theater installation. You can use them for all kinds of applications to support, secure or tie just about anything. Here are a few suggestions on how to use zip tools to make for a smooth-sailing garage sale.

Sign Protection
Have you ever seen those flimsy, cardboard garage-sale signs, half-blown away by wind or drenched in water? Well forget metal staples and duct tape. Here’s a safe way to secure your sign to the neighborhood light post without worrying about the weather taking its toll. First, be sure to use sturdy cardboard backing. You can buy industrial board at your local hardware shop or cut off the edges of a cardboard box. Next, clearly print your sign in bright colors (black Sharpe marker on bright construction paper works well). Glue your sign to your piece of cardboard and once it’s good and dry, punch two holes in the top and two holes in the bottom. Be sure to map out a well rounded amount of locations where potential customers might be, grab your signs and your cable ties and you’re ready to go.

When you get to the lamp post or telephone pole you wish to use, it might be a bit wide for just one zip tie. That’s okay. Simply zip your ties together until you have one long enough cable tie to go around. Loop one end through the first hole on top, wrap it around the pole, bring it back through the second hole on top and lock it up. It’s simple. Now do the same thing on the bottom so that your sign is fully secured and dare the gale force winds to have a ball!

Product Management
Cable ties also make great labels for your higher ticket products. Stickers are fine for your child’s fifth grade learning books, but you might not want to put anything adhesive on the cherry wood dining set you’re trying to unload. No one wants to remove all that sticky stuff. Enter the cable tie. Not only is it great to use for attaching your price sign to larger objects, but in this case, it’s also a great way to fasten all the pieces together. If you have a five-piece dining set, you certainly don’t want one of your chairs “walking” away. Tie them together for both display and security purposes.

Best Electronics Cable Policy
You have a VCR and believe it or not someone actually still wants to buy it. Great, but do you have all the bits and pieces? It’s highly unlikely that your prospective buyer is going to bother with this relic without the right cable or heaven-forbid remote control. Here’s a smart way to keep all your electric bits in one easy spot. Take any external cables (like RCA cables, speaker wire, etc.), bind them up in a back and forth s-shape, then take those cords and bind them to the main power cord that’s attached to the device. Finally take the remote control and put it with the rest. Using two cable ties zipped together, tightly secure all the components together, making sure the power cord is still attached to the device. Now all the cords and your remote control are right there with your VCR or whatever ancient technologies you’re hoping to get rid of.

Smooth Storage System
When it’s all said and done, you may not have been able to sell everything, and in the privacy of your garage you may admit, there are just some things you’re not ready to throw away. It’s okay; we’ve all been there. Some things are sentimental, and if you’re going to store them, you’ll also want to protect them. So before you head over to the storage unit, be sure to pick up some self locking stainless steel cable ties. These incredible tools are flame retardant with high tensile strength; corrosion-proof and temperature resistant. They are perfect for ensuring the safety of your beloved castaways against the caustic nature of outdoor storage units such as extreme heat, relentless moisture and international ninja junk warriors…that is until your next garage sale.

While I’ve shown some fairly unique and outlandish uses for cable ties in past blog posts, I haven’t said much about other, more realistic and practical uses. This post will be the common man’s post: what to do with cable ties when you aren’t cinching chords or organizing wires and cables. (Or creating lavish garments and works of art, for that matter)

Jewelry – While online, I have seen various people who’ve made actual jewelry out of cable ties. It is definitely surprising to see some of the results. What a great way to make a fashion statement!

Dryer Vent Cover Repair – I was reading online about how one man accidentally ripped the vent cover off his dryer screen. When gorilla glue failed, cable ties saved the day!

Pony Tail Holder – Need a pony tail holder? Don’t get your hair in a bun. Make a statement. A simple cable tie can do the trick.

Hub Cap Repair – I’ve had a college kid or two tell me about how they’ve used cable ties to help hold a hub cap on an older car. While it’s not as glamorous as brand new shiny rims, I’m sure it’s still likely to turn some heads!

Boating – While I’m not an avid boater, I’ve read that cable ties can be very useful for repair or on the water. One man who builds canoes uses them to hold boats together while the epoxy dries.  I’ve also heard they make great depth markers for anchor chains since colored cable ties don’t fade with time.

Ornery Christmas Ornaments – Sometimes that ornament of St. Nick is just too heavy for the hook (probably from eating too many cookies). When all else fails, nothing restrains an overweight Santa like a cable tie. Just make sure its green. Hanging your stockings by the chimney with care? Try a cable tie!

Clear cable ties can also add a unique frosty look to any wreath (see below)…making your ordinary wreath extraordinary!

What are some other practical, yet possibly unorthodox ways you’ve used cable ties?  Feel free to post them in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing about what you’ve done!

Whether you’re a professional electrician or a do-it-yourself homeowner, braided expandable sleeving is an exceptionally versatile cable and wire sleeve solution perfect for use in a wide assortment of electrical wiring projects both around the house and on the job site!

Regardless of the application, expandable braided sleeving is simple to utilize virtually anywhere, providing wires of all types and sizes with a superior, unbeatable level of protection against heat and moisture, even in the hottest and most extreme environments. (Easily withstanding constant temps of up to 125°c!)

One of the strongest, most durable wire protection solutions available, braided expandable sleeving is made by tightly braiding ultra-heavy-duty polyester monofilaments into one singular, virtually indestructible tubular sleeve. Offered in a tremendous range of sizes and colors, making it perfect for color-coded wire identification, expandable sleeve is most commonly used to effectively jacket and protect wire components, cable assemblies, wire harnesses, as well as a variety of other commonly used industrial tubes and hoses.

With our fully-stocked inventory of top quality braided expandable sleeving here at Nelco Products, we are certain to have just what you need to meet the unique needs of just about any project, of any size. Have questions about expandable sleeve or which sleeving solution is right for you? Feel free to contact us at any time!

Coming up on May 9-10 at Milwaukee’s Frontier Airlines Center, the very latest in products and technology for the electrical wire harness, wire & cable processing, and related industries will be showcased at the 11^th annual National Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo.

Attendees of the expo will have the opportunity to meet over 100 world-class suppliers of equipment, instruments, tools, materials, and supplies used in wire & cable harness assembly, inspection, repair, and other related applications.

New this year, the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo will coincide with the Electrical Manufacturing & Coil Winding Expo 2012 to run side-by-side events with cross-over admission for all expo attendees. What a great way to see some of the exciting new products and technologies available in the cable and wiring industry!

More information on attending the expo can be found here.

The astounding creativity of some people never ceases to amaze me. Who knew there were so many unique uses for cable ties? I’ll admit I was impressed with the cable tie dress and wall art , but you won’t believe some of the phenomenal creations that I’ve stumbled upon this time.

Nicknamed the Sea-Urchin Chair, this striking piece of furniture is not your typical living room chair. Given its name for obvious reasons, it was designed and constructed by Oooms Studio and Dutch designer Rachel van Outvorst, who utilized more than 8,000 black cable ties to hand-make this extraordinary work of art. I’m not sure how comfortable it actually is—but it looks absolutely incredible!

Think that was remarkable? Check this out!

Made of more than 20,000 meticulously arranged white zip ties, this life-size bear was created by Design Office Takebayashi Scroggin. Named the Zip Tie Massimal, this stunning creation is part of a larger project of animal abstractions, all built out of a singular material, that are intended to examine how physical form can engage the public realm.

Now I don’t know much about that. But I do know that this has to be the most spectacular use of cable ties I’ve ever seen. I wish I could see it in person!

Some may see it as just a roll of tape—but in fact; electrical tape is so much more! Whether you’re a professional electrician or a DIY homeowner, a good supply of electrical tape can come in handy in an incredible number of everyday wiring projects and applications!

Versatile, durable, lightweight, moisture/heat-resistant, and easy-to-use virtually anywhere—electrical tape is intended for use as a quick and reliable wire insulator. Ideal for wrapping wire spices and connections, as well as securing loose or exposed wires, electrical tape is also perfect for a wide range of other useful purposes as well!

Available in a vibrant assortment of colors, electrical tape can be used to color-code important wires and cables for fast and easy identification. (Great for helping to ensure safety) Additionally, electrical tape can be utilized as labels for hand-written identification, floor markings, as well as for temporarily securing objects in place.

Interesting fact: Created by the 3M Company in the 1940’s, electrical tape can be made from an array of different plastics, though the most common and widely used material is vinyl, primarily because of its exceptional elasticity and insulating capabilities.

Stock up on electrical tape today to make certain that you will have it when you need it!