Cable labelling - tips?

[Donkmeister]

Does anyone here label cables as they are installed? I am in the midst of 1st fix and to make inspection easier I labelled cables with paper labels. But, these are starting to peel off. I would like to install some sort of permanent label to make sure I can fully identify cables.

The scheme I am using is a letter to designate the circuit, followed by a 2-digit number to designate the circuit segment (i.e. the first cable in circuit A is labelled A01 at either end, and then the next cable on circuit A is A02) - that way it's easier to check which length of cable is being tested.

I think what I need is either the "snap-on" markers or some sort of pre-printed heat-shrink. While I'm at it, I thought I might as well get something permanent.

Any experience of such markers? Suggestions on where to get them?

 

[Alarm]

Some here

http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/br...ionLocale=en_UK&catalogId=&prevNValues=204071


Or here

http://www.maplin.co.uk/self-adhesive-wire-markers-26843

 

[bernardgreen]

I use these when necessary.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/cable-markers/4436475/

bought a set of 0..9 and several letters a few years ago for a big project and still have plenty left.

 

[17thman]

depends on install

for me with first fix where plasterers are coming in, because you dont know what motivates them, i put three indents in the pvc with nippers for switch wire, two for identifying important ends and non for loop.

at the cu. 1 indent for down lights, 1 for down sockets, etc

a sharpie pen does it too, with your own codes

 

[SimonH2]

The write-on self laminated markers (Farnell link above) are brilliant.

You write on them with a ball point or fine marker, then the clear bit wraps over the white bit and protects the writing so it can't be rubbed off - handy when you have to dig them out of the plaster. Stick like s**t on a blanket as well.

I've never been a fan of the numbered strips (Maplin link) as I've only ever seen them peeling off after a while.

And alternative, particularly for temporary marking for first fix, is just to write on the cable itself with an indelible marker. However, even indelible markers seem to be very delible on PVC cables

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Do you really need it to be permanent (whatever that means)?

Those wrapover labels are good, but they aren't cheap.

What Simon says about "indelible" markers is sort of true - they don't necessarily rub off but they can sort of soak into PVC and become indistinct.

Professional permanent OHP pens, e.g. Staedtler Lumocolor or Stabilo166P are pretty good, and in fine or superfine size will let you write on small cables.

A good way to work around the problem of them becoming blurred is rather than write names or numbers, draw up a coding scheme for circuit IDs based on combinations of coloured dots - get pens which come in sets of different colours, and put 2 or 3 dots on the cable - they won't become impossible to read for a long time. 6 colors, 3 dots gives you 216 combinations, or you could devise a hierarchical system where the first dot identifies the type of circuit and the others the actual circuit within that.

 

[thedigger]

+1 for a Sharpie marker. Writes on anything, doesn't rub off (even when buried in plaster), plus you (or anyone else working on the same site) don't have to decipher any codes - "downstairs lighting" or "floor 1 ring" should be self explanatory

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Never used Sharpie brand - anybody here used them and Staedtler or Stabilo and can compare? My guess is that they'll all be pretty much the same.

 

[SimonH2]

I bought a couple of tubs of Mini Sharpies to dish out as crimbo pressies a couple of years ago. They are quite handy to keep in the toolbox (small enough to keep several colours), but are quite a coarse point and it's difficult to write small neat text with them - OK for 2.5 T&E and above, but getting a bit tight for 1.0 T&E on lights I'd say.
A fine or ultra fine point would probably be OK, but that's not what the Mini has, and I haven't tried them.
There's a comparison on their website

I also have a Staedtler fine tip marker in my box for labelling duty - mostly for writing on self laminating markers.

Edit: Forgot to add, based on my experience with the Mini and it's fairly blunt tip, I'd be happy to use a fine point version as I've found the ink quite tenacious in most applications. It's only the size of the coarse tip that makes the Mini a poor choice for small writing.

 

[seasickstevie]

Breaking News ............. BAS announcement .........based on a GUESS

 

[ban-all-sheds]

More breaking news:

The word "guess" appears on this site over a third of a million times.

 

[Chri5]

Brady label have been used for decades in large comms / data instals- Try wiring a 576 port rack with 576 data cables not marked

I still use them to mark bonding wires gas / water and cu at the MET. I wouldn't waste them on 1st fix and have used Sharpies for 5 plus years without any issue. Cost co do 30x in a jar for £10 and that bundle is a few years of use.

With Brady labels do be careful of the ink type used, ball pint is best, because when some inks are over wrapped with the clear part of the label the ink reacts with the adhesive and blurs.

In the Data world be use to have a pc template, set the labelling format and print them.