Wire labels

[tmsnyder]

Slowly working on the pieces needed for my GM TBI fuel injection. One missing puzzle piece was how to label the myriad of wires.

One solution is to print a label out 2x as long as needed and fold it onto itself around the wire, leaving the label hanging out like a flag.



With the number of wires involved, this would turn into a real mess IMO.

Brother does make a label maker which can print labels on a cassette of their shrink tubing. It prints out flat like tape, but it's tubing. You open up the tubing, slide it over your wire and heat shrink it. Pretty slick! I like it!



It uses a P-Touch style cartridge. I have a P-Touch label maker, but it won't work with it.


If you have no label maker, you could buy the special printer and be in business right away. I wanted to use my old one, and think I've landed on my solution.

I ordered a cassette of 1/4 inch (4 for $14) and a roll of 3/16 inch clear shrink tubing (41 ft for $21).

Print the label, stick it on the wire, slide the shrink wrap over it, and heat it. Here's how it came out:



With this combination, I should be able to label wires clearly as I assemble the GM TBI system.

Maybe this will help someone else out.

 

[Christo]

Slowly working on the pieces needed for my GM TBI fuel injection. One missing puzzle piece was how to label the myriad of wires.

One solution is to print a label out 2x as long as needed and fold it onto itself around the wire, leaving the label hanging out like a flag.

View attachment 18246

With the number of wires involved, this would turn into a real mess IMO.

Brother does make a label maker which can print labels on a cassette of their shrink tubing. It prints out flat like tape, but it's tubing. You open up the tubing, slide it over your wire and heat shrink it. Pretty slick! I like it!

View attachment 18244

It uses a P-Touch style cartridge. I have a P-Touch label maker, but it won't work with it.
View attachment 18245

If you have no label maker, you could buy the special printer and be in business right away. I wanted to use my old one, and think I've landed on my solution.

I ordered a cassette of 1/4 inch (4 for $14) and a roll of 3/16 inch clear shrink tubing (41 ft for $21).

Print the label, stick it on the wire, slide the shrink wrap over it, and heat it. Here's how it came out:

View attachment 18247

With this combination, I should be able to label wires clearly as I assemble the GM TBI system.

Maybe this will help someone else out.

Just be sure to use the laminated vs non-laminated version so that it'll be heat/fade resistant. Believe it or not the laminated version is known as TZe tape -- so it should be perfect for use with our coaches!!! The non-laminated version is the M series.

 

[Kendra]

TZe tape is for GMC.
M tape is for Sprinter vans which look good new but are less durable.

 

[Tybalt39]

If you like shrink labels, you can also use white shrink tube and a black sharpie. Write on the tube, insert the wire, then shrink. You now have a "permanent" wire label.

Otherwise, you can buy sheets of Brady (or similar) labels; LAT-18-361. 49 labels per sheet. Print them on your laser printer, peel, then wrap onto your wire. The clear part of the label protects the printed white part of the label. MS Word (or similar) has the template.


My workplace has been building industrial cables for decades.....

 

[tmsnyder]

Just be sure to use the laminated vs non-laminated version so that it'll be heat/fade resistant. Believe it or not the laminated version is known as TZe tape -- so it should be perfect for use with our coaches!!! The non-laminated version is the M series.

Yes it's the TZe tape, the printer we have at home for decades now (?) is a Brother PT-1700 which prints on laminated tape. It's very handy and I can't justify buying a new printer that can handle the shrink tube.

 

[pvfjr]

I've been using a Dymo Rino 4200 for a few years for shrink tube and labels. No complaints, although it's best if you buy a power adapter instead of chewing through batteries when it sits on a shelf.

The shrink tube labels are very satisfying, but best used on larger diameter stuff I think. I don't really like having to stock the various sizes/colors I want for the smaller stuff. On a big bundle of 18ga wires, I really don't mind a bunch of flag labels--I did most of my EFI harness that way. Although I turn the text sideways so I can print along the entire length of the flag, both sides. I do find it annoying when a flag has a blank side and you have to try flipping it to read it. There isn't always enough space for that. I don't really have to worry about a few characters getting rubbed off either.

 

[tmsnyder]

The world's slowest efi install continues LOL

I have my '747 ECM harness shortened, labeled and terminated in multiple Deutsch connectors for Ignition Module, IAC, ALDL, Sensors, and Power/Ground related.

This way I can get running on the OE GM '747 ECM and then swap over easily to another ECU in the future if needed.

This is going to go on a board under the passenger seat alongside a fusebox and some relays:



Here is how the labels look:

 

[Mike_H]

Nice tip. I've tried all kinds of methods to label wires. I finally just broke down and bought a Brady label maker. The one that will turn text 90 degrees, has all kinds of symbols pre-loaded, etc. Yes, its expensive, but gosh, its nice!

 

[sailor man]

See my explanation on Then & Now.