Suggestions for method/materials for labeling conductors

A

ags0000

New member
I have a megatree with somewhat complex and numerous connections to be made (98 of them). I'd like to label the conductors (with alphanumeric text) to reduce the chance of error and make things easier during setup. Last year (first time with this new build) I tried using standard homemade labels (using the typical "Brother" brand label maker). What I found out is that the label wants to return to its flat shape, and unwinds from the conductor. Then they fall off and are lost. I realize that if I had it to do again. I could use the homemade labels, and then cover with clear heat shrink tubing to keep it on. Problem is that at this point I have connectors attached and cannot fit heat shrink tubing over them (either end of the cable).

I was wondering if anyone has come up with a neat approach to this. Color-coding isn't an option since I have more connectors than colors I can distinguish between.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
 
That is a lot of connections. Mine has 8 (Data) that are position sensitive and 8x4(Power) that are pretty much insensitive to how I connect them (Other than proper V+/V-)
 
Use a paint pen or electric label sheets from Home Depot.

I use a black paint pen for the white connectors and a white paint pen for the black connectors. They are cheap from Walmart.
 
I'm assuming you don't want to drop the money on a dedicated wire labeler. That's really the best way to do it. But it's certainly expensive. The brady wire label machines are the gold standard for this. Anyone in the telecom/low-voltage business should have one. Perhaps you can borrow one?

The Dymo wire labelers are ok. Better than the P-Touch, but not as good as the brady.

If you want to do it with a P-Touch, they make special wire labeling tape for it with extra strong adhesive. Though I've found that even that has the same problem with the uncurling. it just takes longer to happen. The other way to use the P-Touch is to make flag labels instead of wrapping around the wire. instead of coiling around the wire, put the center of the label on the wire and bring both sides together on the other side forming a flag. This puts the adhesive sides of both ends together and ends up holding rather well. The only down side is that the flags aren't the neatest thing when managing the wires. But it does allow you to use a bigger font so they're easier to read.
 
oldandslow said:
Use a paint pen or electric label sheets from Home Depot.

I use a black paint pen for the white connectors and a white paint pen for the black connectors. They are cheap from Walmart.
Click to expand...

Good idea (I have paint pens in my toolbox) - but I don't think I have a place to write on where it would be legible.
 
jchuchla said:
I'm assuming you don't want to drop the money on a dedicated wire labeler. That's really the best way to do it. But it's certainly expensive. The brady wire label machines are the gold standard for this. Anyone in the telecom/low-voltage business should have one. Perhaps you can borrow one?

The Dymo wire labelers are ok. Better than the P-Touch, but not as good as the brady.

If you want to do it with a P-Touch, they make special wire labeling tape for it with extra strong adhesive. Though I've found that even that has the same problem with the uncurling. it just takes longer to happen. The other way to use the P-Touch is to make flag labels instead of wrapping around the wire. instead of coiling around the wire, put the center of the label on the wire and bring both sides together on the other side forming a flag. This puts the adhesive sides of both ends together and ends up holding rather well. The only down side is that the flags aren't the neatest thing when managing the wires. But it does allow you to use a bigger font so they're easier to read.
Click to expand...

I've never heard of the Brady line before now. I did a quick search and see that they are definitely specializing in wire labeling. It seems they do lots of the calculations for the user related to wire size (diameter) - something valuable to a tradesperson doing it all day. While that would be nice to have, my main concern is keeping the labels on the wire. Other than using something like this I suppose the big issue is the label and adhesive. Using a Brady labeler with the wrong label material may not work well - but I'm wondering if I could use my cheap P-touch labeler with good labels and get the desired result. I found these as recommended by Tasdad below. I wonder how well they will stay on (or how long, as you pointed out with even the better type of label material).

Thanks for the reply.
 
jchuchla said:
I'm assuming you don't want to drop the money on a dedicated wire labeler. That's really the best way to do it. But it's certainly expensive. The brady wire label machines are the gold standard for this. Anyone in the telecom/low-voltage business should have one. Perhaps you can borrow one?

The Dymo wire labelers are ok. Better than the P-Touch, but not as good as the brady.

If you want to do it with a P-Touch, they make special wire labeling tape for it with extra strong adhesive. Though I've found that even that has the same problem with the uncurling. it just takes longer to happen. The other way to use the P-Touch is to make flag labels instead of wrapping around the wire. instead of coiling around the wire, put the center of the label on the wire and bring both sides together on the other side forming a flag. This puts the adhesive sides of both ends together and ends up holding rather well. The only down side is that the flags aren't the neatest thing when managing the wires. But it does allow you to use a bigger font so they're easier to read.
Click to expand...

I am actually looking at one of these to label my Network wiring,Christmas wires,etc. Any suggestions on which model? I'm sure it going to get used a lot.
 
I use Brady wire numbers and use clear heat shrink to protect them.

Sent from my SM-T710 using Tapatalk
 
I've got way too many label makers at the shop.

I've got a few of the older brady models that were dot matrix based. Aside from the batteries that don't last long, they make awesome labels on anything from self laminating labels, to heat shrink tubes. I believe they were about $800 when they were new. looks like the BMP61 is the closest current model.

I also have one of the BMP21 models. I'm not a big fan of that one.

On the Dymo side, their Rhino series is decent. I've got an older version of the 4200 type. I'm pretty sure it's the nylon labels that work the best. They also have heat shrink tubing cartridges that work well.
 
jchuchla said:
The other way to use the P-Touch is to make flag labels instead of wrapping around the wire. instead of coiling around the wire, put the center of the label on the wire and bring both sides together on the other side forming a flag. This puts the adhesive sides of both ends together and ends up holding rather well. The only down side is that the flags aren't the neatest thing when managing the wires. But it does allow you to use a bigger font so they're easier to read.
Click to expand...

This is my way of labeling for the past 4 years. All my flags are holding up extremely well. Works much better than trying to label the connectors themselves.
 
ags0000 said:
Do you do anything to keep them attached? (e.g. in harsh outdoor environment, indoor storage heat, over multiple seasons of use?) Looks promising.
Click to expand...

Genreally they hold well, but occasionally I will have one that curls up a little. I've found that some quality packing tape works.
 
I found some 4:1 shrink ratio clear glue lined heatshrink on ebay that was just big enough to go over the connector on some installed pigtails that was still able to shrink down onto the round 3core cable. Can check size when home.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top