The different types of wire markings

When workplaces get many cables and wires, it’s important to know the function of each wire labels. If you connect a network cable in a wrong port, you will have troubleshooting problems. The grounding wires that get disconnected can cause huge deadly fires.

It’s important to buy labelled wires for your project to be able to choose the right products. Numbers, wording and letter labels carry important information. These include wire material, wire size and insulation type.

The insulated cable containing bundle wires and individual insulated wires have labels. The cable labels also carry the construction or the cable type and the number of wires in a cable.

The wire marking system

The most effective way to prevent switched cables and relevant accidents is to mark them. A good marking system will enable you to identify a cable at a glance. It will help you tell the connection type of the cable, where it’s going, and its use. To achieve this, you need to combine written details and cording color.

Color coding

Color coding enables easy identification of wires. However, several standards apply to the same wiring in different situations. The color code you use for one purpose will not match with the other one used in a separate facility. If you use color codes, make a description of your posted system near the wires affected.

Written details for wire making

Written details are for more specificity. You can mark a cable with a description of its destination or origin. The labelling might also avail a reference code or number to look up for in a wiring schematic. The detail level is critical with many similar wires where color-coding couldn’t help. The written labelling is only useful if you can read it.

Types of wire markings

Use two methods of color marking to show the cable connection type. You can mark wires and cables using wire wraps, shrink tubes or flag labels.

Flag labels

They have that name since they fold around the wire with suck together wire ends that make it unique. It offers adequate space for written information that is helpful for small wires. The flag is eye-catching to make a wire unique among the other dozens of wires.

Flag labels can get caught on other enclosures or wires. It can get torn, lost or worn out.

Wire wraps

They are the best approach for the permanent marking of cables. The transparent tail of the wire goes around the wire and overlaps the top printed material. You can use the transparent part that has the following functions:

• Works as a protective shield.
• Works to keep wires from worn out.
• Winding around again.
• You can securely fasten the label type.

In rare circumstances, wire wraps even outlast the wires they are wrapping.

Shrink tubes for marking wires

Shrink tubes are of special polythene materials that shrink after heating. It’s possible to create tube-shaped labels, split them on the cable ends and then tighten them up using a heat gun. The shrink tubes are very flexible than wire wraps. They don’t have any residue if you remove them and later on re-label them.

The shrink tubes are professional and clean, perfect for cables that will be visible in a system. The disadvantage of the shrink tubes is that you need to get to the cable end for marking. For a wire wrap, it’s possible to include a long wire in the middle. You won’t need to disconnect their ends like in shrink tubes.

Conclusion

The above are the common wire markings that you can use with ease. Choose the best to make your work easier and safer.