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Kapton Tape?

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  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: Bloom County
  • 390 posts
Kapton Tape?
Posted by potlatcher on Monday, November 23, 2009 6:03 PM

I often see references to Kapton tape in DCC install tutorials.  I even recognize it as the translucent yellow stuff (I think).  What are the advantages to Kapton that makes it so popular for these applications?  And, where do you get the stuff?

Thanks in advance,

Tom

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Monday, November 23, 2009 6:21 PM

Here is a link  to Litchfield Station http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/product.php?productid=999003138&cat=0&page=1

It sticks well and does not have that nasty soft gooey glue on it that regular electrical insulation tape has. 

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

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  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
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Posted by tstage on Monday, November 23, 2009 7:03 PM

Everything that Simon just said above.  Bruce Petrarca @ Litchfield Station got me hooked on Kapton tape.  Love the stuff! Thumbs Up  It's terrific for most decoder and lighting installs - except when tape might restrict proper cooling of the decoder.  (My Lenz Silver MP decoder manual states this.)

The other pluses to it is that it's strong and transparent.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, November 23, 2009 7:16 PM

 I simply love the stuff for decoder installs. A little bit goes a long way, too. I used to have a short bit I got through Litchfield, last year one of the vendors at a train show had full rolls for cheap so I now have enough kapton tape to install decoders in locos for half the model railroaders in the world.

                                                              --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:58 AM

 I find it indispensable for decoder installs.  It's so thin you can see through it, yet has a higher dielectric rating than the thick electrical tape.  I purchased a full roll from an electronics supply house (Mouser) several years ago and haven't used even half of it in over 100 decoder installs.

 

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