Taping Wire Connectors

[iwire]

2. Experienced electricians do it when necessary.

There are cases where wire nuts want to spin off.

Then a wirenut is the wrong choice for the job.

 

[Fulthrotl]

If the splice is done correctly there is no need for the tape. In many cases it screams of an amateur or DIY connection.

i do a fair amount of work in food processing plants. on motors in
washdown locations, i tape the wirenuts. it's a 480 volt situation,
and people who work in food packing plants, doing washdown and
sanitation, are not, in my experience, rhodes scholars generally.
they will stand there with a pressure washer using steam, and
aim it right at the touchscreen on a control station, for example.
they love to clean the motors *really well*, so if they can get one
to fail, they get to stand around and don't have to work while it
gets fixed.

if i'm using a single gang metal cut in box, i tape devices with
energized side screws.

 

[kwired]

i do a fair amount of work in food processing plants. on motors in
washdown locations, i tape the wirenuts. it's a 480 volt situation,
and people who work in food packing plants, doing washdown and
sanitation, are not, in my experience, rhodes scholars generally.
they will stand there with a pressure washer using steam, and
aim it right at the touchscreen on a control station, for example.
they love to clean the motors *really well*, so if they can get one
to fail, they get to stand around and don't have to work while it
gets fixed.

if i'm using a single gang metal cut in box, i tape devices with
energized side screws.

I have worked in food processing plants also, taping wire nuts in a motor only holds more water in the connector, it eventually gets in there. Better practice is to make sure that the open side of wire connector is down. Raceways to motors in washdown areas are only asking for more water to get in. We always used cords for this reason.

There used to be a code section that allowed flexible cords in this type of location but I am not finding it - maybe it is no longer there.

 

[Cow]

I have worked in food processing plants also, taping wire nuts in a motor only holds more water in the connector, it eventually gets in there. Better practice is to make sure that the open side of wire connector is down. Raceways to motors in washdown areas are only asking for more water to get in. We always used cords for this reason.

There used to be a code section that allowed flexible cords in this type of location but I am not finding it - maybe it is no longer there.

We used to fight this all the time. Unless I'm in a house or somewhere VERY DRY, wirenuts ALWAYS get pointed up and drainholes get put in. Half the time the peckerhead is missing the gasket or it's that dried out cork that doesn't seal anymore or the flex is coming in the top. I don't care what the manufacturers say about their fittings, eventually water gets in. The best you can do is make it shed water once it gets in.

At one onion plant, we used to have some motors in a freeze tunnel that slowly filled with water when they went into defrost, then it'd freeze up when they ran again. When the OL's started tripping, you just knew ice had filled the peckerhead!

 

[Strife]

As stated by others I think the tape helps water staying in more than preventing it.
Use silicon filled wire nuts if you're really concerned of water going in. Keep in mind they're a one time deal though

i do a fair amount of work in food processing plants. on motors in
washdown locations, i tape the wirenuts. it's a 480 volt situation,
and people who work in food packing plants, doing washdown and
sanitation, are not, in my experience, rhodes scholars generally.
they will stand there with a pressure washer using steam, and
aim it right at the touchscreen on a control station, for example.
they love to clean the motors *really well*, so if they can get one
to fail, they get to stand around and don't have to work while it
gets fixed.

if i'm using a single gang metal cut in box, i tape devices with
energized side screws.

 

[iwire]

As stated by others I think the tape helps water staying in more than preventing it.

I agree with that as well