How to waterproof electrical cables

 Water and electrical equipment do not get along well, so if you want to protect your electrical cable from water damage, you need to know the best way to waterproof it.

To waterproof an electric cable, three methods are available. You can waterproof electrical cables with a liquid tape, with a self-fusing silicone tape, or with heat shrink tubing.

Cable waterproofing involves working outside, on the roof, and inside, near the electronic units.

Switching off the power

Whenever working on electrical equipment, the power must first be switched off. This is a basic safety precaution that helps prevent electrocution.

If you do not know how to switch off the power, the process is quite simple.

First, you need to locate the circuit breaker box in your home. This is usually a silver box full of circuit breakers that is located in an electrical room, a maintenance closet or a garage.

All the switches in the box should be labelled so that you know which switches cut the current to which room.

The switch box should have a main switch that switches off the power to the whole house. If you cannot find the best switch to use to cut the power to your project, use this switch.

However, using this switch will cut power to the whole house, so be sure to keep an eye on appliances such as the refrigerator and turn off the computer in advance to avoid running into problems.

If you do not want to turn off the power to the whole house, look for the specific switch for the part of the house you will be working on and turn off the power there.

Check for power in the area by flipping light switches or testing plugs in the room and making sure there is no power.

Choose the sealing method

When it comes to sealing electrical cables, three sealing methods are available.

Liquid electrical tape, self-fusing silicone tape and adhesive-coated heat shrink tubing can be used.

Liquid electrical tape can be purchased at hardware stores and is relatively inexpensive. It must be mixed well and then applied with a brush. 

Call the Emergency Electrician in Dudley. We are available around the clock.