dew resistant tape?

lostinnny · Post by **lostinnny** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:42 pm

I'm working on a project that involves attaching/ ?taping? wires onto small coin type watch batteries that are strung in the air overnight, when dew and moisture are an issue.

Does anyone have any suggestions on an adhesive/tape that are resistant to moisture resultant from overnight humidity/temp changes/dew? Something that holds up to moisture...maybe absorbs the moisture, without losing it's adhesiveness.

I will not have the time to glue the parts on...it must be quicky applied, and quickly taken apart, so soldering is not an option. The batteries will be reused night to night and the contacts must be applied at the time the lights are put on at night and taken off in the morning.

Thanks.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:57 pm

Dew? On the playa? Never experienced any dew out there in seven years. Nor here in Utah for that matter. Roach Lake in Southern Nevada in October, yes, but on the playa in High Summer? Ummmm, no.

Still, medical bandage tape seems like it would serve.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:00 pm

I don't recall dew being a problem on the playa. Moisture will only be an issue if it rains. Dust can definitely cause problems with tape adhesion.

I wonder if some sort of clip might work better - maybe clothes pins or binder clips.

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:19 pm

I'm working on a project that involves attaching/ ?taping? wires onto small coin type watch batteries that are strung in the air overnight, when dew and moisture are an issue.

I tape EL wire to our bikes on the playa using electrical tape. As long as the tape wraps all the way around the bike tube and wire so that the tape sticks to itself, it stays all week. No worry about dew overnight on the playa; the big killer is dust. If you tape over dust, the tape won't hold. I suspect that's one reason taping all the way around so that the tape sticks to itself works - the back of the tape is clean. Note that it's hard to get the tape off when it's wound all the way around - good for me when I want stuff to stay all week, bad for you when you want quick dissassembly. As usual, try it at home first.

misfit · Post by **misfit** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:22 pm

duct tape..........

Token · Post by **Token** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:53 pm

Second on the duct tape. It works for patching water hoses with a puncture and sticks to stuff under water.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:15 pm

scotch tape-multiple wraps-cut off with knife-repeat. Test at home.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:11 am

A good 3M electrical tape works but you must stretch it some and wrap around a corner to get a grip.
Velcro may work better.

I like solder.

You want the 33 tape.
It is available in colors.
I use a lot of white tape.

Some gaffer's tape may stick better but is a pain to remove.
And there is stronger tape.
Most will leave a residue which will interfere with contact.

spectabillis · Post by **spectabillis** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:30 am

am i the only one who read it as "dpw resistant tape?"

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:09 am

spectabillis wrote:am i the only one who read it as "dpw resistant tape?"

Now THAT would be some good tape!

Another suggestion- The thick foil-backed duct repair tape used for temporary-to-permanent HVAC repairs. Good adhesive, and sturdy. Use the thicker-than-tinfoil stuff that's about seven-eight bucks a roll, NOT the thin stuff with waxpaper backing MOOP.

Further explaination would help- So, you have to remove the batts daily for charging/replacing? If so, I'd suggest taking a little extra time and making battery boxes or clips as Dork suggests, or soldering per Gyre. (Soldered leads could be attached to all pertinent batteries, and terminated in quick-release ends like automotive wiring.) Depends on how many we're talking about....two? Ten? A thousand?