Bare Copper Tapes
Copper is used for most earthing installations due to its high conductivity, anti-corrosive properties and its flexibility for use in-air, in-earth and in-concrete – bare copper tape is available in a range of conductor sizes to meet differing current ratings

Thorne & Derrick stock and distribute the most extensive range of Copper Earth Tapes – this includes bare copper and covered tapes in a selection of coloured oversheathing used to provide earthing protection and connect metalwork, switchgear and transformers within LV, MV & HV substation buildings and outdoor compounds.

Typically, copper earth tapes are used as LV-HV electrodes for standard earthing arrangements on ground mounted LV MV HV substations – the earth tape functions as a perimeter electrode installed to the outer edges of the foundation in direct contact with the soil and connected to the switchgear earth bars. The earthing will provide protection to exposed and normally un-energised conductive metalwork within the substation perimeter fence including panels, kiosks, lighting towers and oil tanks.

Within substation buildings, metal trench covers are indirectly earthed typically using bare copper earth tape (25mm x 3mm) installed along one edge of the trench top edge.

Where copper tape within the site is to be buried under proposed cable routes care should be taken to ensure it is buried deep enough into the ground or protected in cable duct to avoid damage during cable installation.AN Wallis Part Number Earth Tape W x H Copper Cross Sectional Area (CSA) / Thickness Weight Per Metre Standard Copper Coil Size
TC 121 12.5mm x 1.5mm 18.75sqmm 0.17kg 100m
TC 123 12.5mm x 3mm 37.50sqmm 0.33kg 100m
TC 201 20mm x 1.5mm 30sqmm 0.27kg 100m
TC 203 20mm x 3mm 60sqmm 0.53kg 100m
TC 251 25mm x 1.5mm 37.5sqmm 0.33kg 100m
TC 253 25mm x 3mm 75sqmm 0.67kg 25m & 50m
TC 254 25mm x 4mm 100sqmm 0.89kg 50m
TC 256 25mm x 6mm 150sqmm 1.33kg 40m
TC 302 30mm x 2mm 60sqmm 0.53kg 50m
TC 303 30mm x 3mm 90sqmm 0.80kg 50m
TC 304 30mm x 4mm 120sqmm 1.07kg 40m
TC 305 30mm x 5mm 150sqmm 1.33kg 40m
TC 313 31mm x 3mm 93sqmm 0.83kg 50m
TC 3154 31.5mm x 4mm 126sqmm 1.13kg 40m
TC 316 31mm x 6mm 186sqmm 1.65kg 30m
TC 383 38mm x 3mm 114sqmm 1.01kg 50m
TC 385 38mm x 5mm 190sqmm 1.69kg 30m
TC 386 38mm x 6mm 228sqmm 2.02kg 25m
TC 403 40mm x 3mm 120sqmm 1.06kg 40m
TC 404 40mm x 4mm 160sqmm 1.42kg 30m
TC 405 40mm x 5mm 200sqmm 1.78kg 25m
TC 406 40mm x 6mm 240sqmm 2.16kg 25m
TC 4063 40mm x 6.3mm 252sqmm 2.24kg 25m
TC 503 50mm x 3mm 150sqmm 1.33kg 40m
TC 504 50mm x 4mm 200sqmm 1.78kg 30m
TC 505 50mm x 5mm 250sqmm 2.22kg 20m
TC 506 50mm x 6mm 300sqmm 2.68kg 10m & 20m
TC 5063 50mm x 6.3mm 315sqmm 2.80kg 20m
TC 508 50mm x 8mm 400sqmm 3.60kg 15m