Labeling cable/wire

[stanalyst]

I'm looking for a better way to label wires.

I've found labelers from Dymo (RhinoPro 3000 & 5000) & Brady (IDPal & IDXpert).

Does anyone have experience with any of these? Any recommendation for one over another?

[Nathan J]

I've had good experience with the Dymo labelers. Those Rhinos are cool in that they can print directly on heat-shrink.

[[Admin] PHugger]

Brady is prettty much the industry standard for cable labelling. I've used them a lot. They have special labels just for cables of various sizes.



PCH

[GCC]

man, call me redneck, (cause I am) but I think Duct Tape and a marker work GREAT!

[Gene]

Originally Posted by GCC

man, call me redneck, (cause I am) but I think Duct Tape and a marker work GREAT!

They work great if you never want to take the label off, but heaven help you if you do...

[Carl Godsoe]

Same idea as the Duct Tape, except I use little Ty-Wraps with a label on them to write on. (They look like Stan's help sign)

[sempei13]

There's a type of tape called "paper tape". It's white and 1/4" wide. It's easily torn and since it's "paper" tape, easily written on. When I worked at the tv station we used it to make all the tape labels.

I use a Brother to label my cables at church.

Paul

Originally Posted by GCC

man, call me redneck, (cause I am) but I think Duct Tape and a marker work GREAT!

i am from the deep north and use gaff tape and a sharpie, 2 things i would give my eye teeth for on tour

well on my ministry budget, 2 buck duct tape that might stick forever, and a cheap marker...or whatever is on sale at dollar general

[Brent Bauman]

I have used the Brady labels, some self laminating laser printed labels, etc.

I am not a fan of:

- labels that smudge when applied
- labels that start to come off the cable after a few months, and
- labels that can't be printed on with some form of computer printer.

That being said my preference for labels at this point are Thomas and Betts WES1112 labels.

These are a self-laminating label. This means that there is a white tab (where the printing goes) and a clear portion that (once the white tab is stuck around the wire) covers the white tab and seals nicely to itself.

This produces a label that will last for years and has enough space for three lines of text (although I would try to avoid that much info on the wire). They also work fine for video cable (RG59, RG6, 1505, and 8281 video blue) and audio cable (8451, 5500FE, or what have you), control cables, etc.

http://tnblnx10.tnb.com/WES1112.pdf

Sorry if this sounds like a commercial. I have tried other labels... they just don't match the quality of these.

[[Admin] PHugger]

The type of labels that Brent describes is what a Brady labeller uses (part clear and part white). The labels come in different sizes for different sized cables. The Brady labellers are quite portable and perfect for using in a construction environment where a PC is inappropriate. The Brady has all sorts of functions to print long runs of sequential IDs. The PC solution is probably cheaper for shorter runs or where you have easy access to a PC (ie, non-construction environment). You only have to purchase the labels and software - Brady labellers can be pricey.




PCH

[stanalyst]

Originally Posted by sempei13

I use a Brother to label my cables at church.

Do you use special labels that are designed for wire/cable? Or just standard labels?

[kingslightproductions]

I use white electrical tape for nom perminant marking....stays a long time without the residue from....arg....duct tape....(I've been known to break fingers if someone uses duct tape on my cables)...but anyway....Using a brother label maker...then using clear heat shrink when your doing new cables...(Soldering the ends)..works great..looks realy pro and all....NO DUCT TAPE...or using quality electrical tape...different colors and what not....plus you can color code your cables...great for traveling churches...for example....we have several different people who own things....we assign them a ownership color...so the piece of tape next to the connector is ownership...then we have a color code for length...the nect piec of tape is how long it is....so if I look into a mess of cables and.....(connector - red - green ---------) then I know that it's my cable and it's 25' long.....NO DUCT TAPE....did I mention I hate Duct Tape... I think I need counseling.....