Fish tape

Fish tape

A fish tape (also known as a "draw wire" or "draw tape") is a tool used by electricians to route new wiring through walls and electrical conduit.

Made of a narrow band of spring steel, by careful manipulation, the tape can be "fished" (guided) through the confined spaces within wall cavities. Once guided through, the new wiring can be pulled into the wall by attaching it to the end of the fish tape and pulling the tape back whence it came.

Design

Fish tapes are usually stored coiled on a plastic reel. Because of this, they have a natural curvature and it is this curvature that allows them to be guided. By manipulating the reel, the end of the tape can be directed slightly. The tape is rigid enough that it can then be pushed in the direction in which it is pointing. In this way it can be easily guided through an empty wall cavity. Thermal insulation, firestops, pipes, HVAC ducts, electrical conduits, and other obstructions make use of a fish tape more challenging.

Double use

Occasionally, two fish tapes are used from opposite ends of the wall. Because they each have a hooked end, one fish tape is capable of catching the other, and the one tape can then be pulled back, carrying the second tape out with it. Electricians sometimes attach a battery and a doorbell or buzzer to their two fish tapes so that when the ends of the two tapes make contact within the wall, the bell rings.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • fish tape — noun A long strip of stiff metal, frequently kept on a spool, used to guide or draw wires and cables through a building. The installers attempted to thread the fish tape through the conduit, but were unable to reach around the tight bend in the… …   Wiktionary

  • fish tape — noun or fish wire : a flat tempered spring steel tape or wire used in pulling electric wire and cables (as into conduit runs) called also snake wire …   Useful english dictionary

  • fish tape — flexible, flat metal wire used to pull other wires through conduits or wall spaces …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • fish-tape — flexible, flat metal wire used to pull other wires through conduits or wall spaces …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • fish wire — fish tape …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • fish-wire — fish tape …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • Tape measure — plastic tape measure (metric) Self retracting tape measure (imperial) …   Wikipedia

  • fish wire — noun see fish tape …   Useful english dictionary

  • tape|fish — «TAYP FIHSH», noun, plural fish|es or (collectively) fish. a fish with a long, flat body like an eel; ribbonfish …   Useful english dictionary

  • Fish Karma — Infobox Musical artist Name = Fish Karma Img capt = Fish Karma is the pseudonym for musician Terry Owen Img size = Landscape = yes Background = solo singer Birth name = Alias = Born = 1959 Died = Origin = Tucson, Arizona, United States Instrument …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”