Labeling wires?

[shponglefan]

In an effort to keep wiring tidy, i like labeling the wires so I know what is what.  However, I've found the labels I've used tend to come apart after awhile and fall off.  I was using standard printer labels (Avery I think?).

Does anyone have any good solutions for labeling wires?  Or is it something people even bother with?

[Nephasth]

I don't label any wires, and I use all black wiring. I do make pinout sheets for the Molex connectors I use in my harnesses though.

[BadMouth]

I used Neo Geo colors in the last couple projects.
The red wire goes to the red button, the blue wire goes to the blue button........
(the rest require some quick testing to determine  )

[chopperthedog]

I can't read.


good day.

[PL1]

Not something I worry about for my projects, but if you want something designed for this application, try Radio Shack Write-On Self-Laminating Cable Markers (24-Pack) P/N 278-1616 -- their website doesn't have the link now.

Wayback machine link here.

If you can't find those locally, plug "Write-On Self-Laminating Wire And Cable Marker" into search on Amazon and you'll find some promising products like this or this.



Protip: Write on the white part near the long clear "tail" so you don't wrap white over your writing when you wrap the clear part around to protect/laminate it.

These are usually used for coaxial cables, but might work for smaller gauge wire in a CP -- write small.


Scott

[sharpfork]

Back when I used to do padhacker, I used a labeler with sticky paper:

[danny_galaga]

What's wrong with using coloured wires? Nothing to wear/fall off 

[shponglefan]

Right now I only have red, green and black wires.  I'll guess maybe I'll just get some more colours to work with.  Seems the easiest solution...

[PL1]

If you're ordering from Paradise, check out their pre-crimped 8-color 16-wire sets -- .187", .110", or .250" QD sets and individual wires available.




Scott

[BobA]

Don't discount dymo labels.  They have come along way from the stiff plastic impression labels.  If you use a mylar type label not paper it will last forever and the glue will not separate. Great for marking wires or terminal strips.  Paper are good for short term labels. Most of the companies the supply terminals and wiring connectors also sell much higher priced guns (eg. Molex).

[yaksplat]

When I want to label wires, I just use a booklet of Ideal wire markers that I picked up at Lowes.  They're just numbers, but that's good enough for most of my needs.

[HaRuMaN]

When I want to label wires, I just use a booklet of Ideal wire markers that I picked up at Lowes.  They're just numbers, but that's good enough for most of my needs.

+1, except I get the Ideal booklet that has letters & numbers

[ChadTower]

Even cheaper.

I use 1/2" masking tape and fold it over the wire.  I write on it with a sharpie.

Works really well.

[Drnick]

Dymo Lable printer all the way.  We use it on all our Networking cables at work. Once its stuck to itself there's none for easily removing it.

[jasonbar]

Even cheaper.
I use 1/2" masking tape and fold it over the wire.  I write on it with a sharpie.
Works really well.

Ugh. World really well...for how long? Masking tape gets funky over the years: dries out & gets crumbly, gets gooey & yucky, Sharpie or ball-point pen bleeds/fades/spreads, etc. I used to use masking tape & pen for all sorts of labeling, but no more!

For my home entertainment system, I got a fancy smart strip (receiver is master, TV & a few other things are slaves...I think it's a Rocketfish(?)) It came with a sticker sheet to label power cords. Awesome. My Onkyo receiver also came with a sticker sheet for speaker wires & inputs. Also awesome.

On both of these sheets, there was plenty of margin around the pre-printed stickers for me to Sharpie my own text & then cut out a rectangle & wrap it around a cable. Again, awesome.


For my arcade cabinet, labels were key, as I have so very many USB things inside & I needed to remove the CP from the cab to get it out of my old home. Setting it back up in the new place was a breeze. I used a P-touch label maker for all of the important cables in my cab. Once more, awesome.

Thanks,
-Jason

PS--for my I-PAC, I took a photo of my control panel, pasted it into PowerPoint, overlaid the keystroke for each switch, noted the I-PAC terminal block location for that switch's wire, printed it out on big ledger-sized paper, & tucked it into my cab's coin box.

[mgb]

I'm not big on marking the wires, but these type work well
http://www.lsdinc.com/content/product_details/69

or just simple Brady markers

[Nephasth]

I don't label any wires, and I use all black wiring. I do make pinout sheets for the Molex connectors I use in my harnesses though.

I made these schematics in the early phases of designing the Beast, back when I originally planned on using an IPAC4 and 3 LED-Wizs instead of the  Lono⁽²⁾ and 2 PACLED64s.

[Nephasth]

More...

And the pinout sheet I made for the final wiring. (Reserved for future use came in handy. )

[jasonbar]

Nephasth, those diagrams are far too professional. You're making the rest of us look bad!   

[Nephasth]

That was over 2 years ago. My enthusiasm has kicked back a notch since.

PL1 (Scott) is the master of diagrams these days.

[PL1]

PL1 (Scott) is the master of diagrams these days.

Wow.  If that's the case, the standards are really going downhill.   


Scott

[yaksplat]

I considered busting out a copy of OrCAD to create all of the diagrams for my machine.  Had I done so, the wiring may have been a little cleaner.  I may still do this after seeing yours.  In fact I think I have to now....

[Nephasth]

I considered busting out a copy of OrCAD to create all of the diagrams for my machine.

I used Visio to create those schematics, as well as the prints and .dxf files for the CPs of the Beast. Great little program. I've never gotten my hands on any CAD software...

[ChadTower]

Ugh. World really well...for how long? Masking tape gets funky over the years: dries out & gets crumbly, gets gooey & yucky, Sharpie or ball-point pen bleeds/fades/spreads, etc. I used to use masking tape & pen for all sorts of labeling, but no more!

I have some that has been there ten years without a real problem.  Yeah, it dried all out, but it's still there and the Sharpie didn't fade.

We aren't building airplanes here.  If we were, as mentioned above, we'd do the job right by using colored wires and putting a schematic in a plastic bag taped inside the device.  Using labels is a shortcut.  Let's not pretend it's the best method.   

[DaOld Man]

...  putting a schematic in a plastic bag taped inside the device. ...

Dang it! I was thinking of doing that on A Little Rage!
Since you dont like that idea, is it safe to say that I didnt steal it from you?

[mgb]

Ugh. World really well...for how long? Masking tape gets funky over the years: dries out & gets crumbly, gets gooey & yucky, Sharpie or ball-point pen bleeds/fades/spreads, etc. I used to use masking tape & pen for all sorts of labeling, but no more!

I have some that has been there ten years without a real problem.  Yeah, it dried all out, but it's still there and the Sharpie didn't fade.

We aren't building airplanes here.  If we were, as mentioned above, we'd do the job right by using colored wires and putting a schematic in a plastic bag taped inside the device.  Using labels is a shortcut.  Let's not pretend it's the best method.   

agreed.
wiring these cabinets is not very complicated.
you keep your wiring neat and remember what goes where and its good.

[ChadTower]

...  putting a schematic in a plastic bag taped inside the device. ...

Dang it! I was thinking of doing that on A Little Rage!
Since you dont like that idea, is it safe to say that I didnt steal it from you?

It's not my idea.  People have been doing that for decades.  Open up your dishwasher, washing machine, or fridge and you'll probably find a baggie taped inside with some schematics.

agreed.
wiring these cabinets is not very complicated.
you keep your wiring neat and remember what goes where and its good.

Usually making good connectors is sufficient.  Write down what each connector pin is for and that's enough to make a new interface.  You don't have to make a full out schematic if you use in line connectors the way a commercial cab does.