A Complete Guide on Electric Cable Labels

Define the needs before choosing the electric wire labels. Will the wire be exposed to
chemicals or abrasion or adverse climatic conditions? What are the accessibility challenges?
Should the label be visible from all sides? Find answer to these questions. This should help to
optimize the required label. Here are certain factors to consider while selecting the right
electric wire and cable labels.
Why cable labels?
Every electric cable is different from the other. They come in different sizes, shapes,
materials and designs. The differences help to meet the needs of the project. Thus, it is
essential to customize electric wires and cables. This is done with the help of labels.
Which label?
There are different types of electric cable labels. They are wrap – around labels, flag labels,
foldable labels.
Wrap – Around Labels: They are ideal for curved wires. They are abrasion – resistant. They
come with self – laminating feature. This provides extra protection to the cable information.
Especially against chemicals and weather. They are highly durable and stable. There are laser
printing, thermal printing and inkjet printing options. The wrap – around labels allow to print
1D and 2D barcodes.
Flag labels: They are professional – grade cable labels. They leave no adhesive residues
while wrapping around electric wires. It has an adhesive – free tail. This tail loops around the
wire or cable. The flag labels minimize the risks associated with removing wires and cables.
The flag labels are sandwiched between two printed areas. This allows the label to display the
data clearly. The flag label design allows firm placement of the label. It minimizes the risks
associated with removing cable labels and electrical wires. They allow 1D and 2D barcode
printing. The flag labels are ideal for fiber optic cables, shielded, unshielded, coaxial, twisted
– pair, communication and USB cables. They are best suited for tight spaces. Also, they are
recommended for places where scanning and readability are required.
Foldable Labels: These labels are easy to read. They are durable. They are highly
recommended for large printing surfaces. It allows to print 1D and 2D barcodes. They come
in different sizes.
Why is cable labelling important?
It helps to locate the other end of the cable easily. The electric cable label talks about the
length of the cable, type, what is connected to it, etc. It saves time of tracing the cable
especially amid the mass of other cables. If the cables are not labelled it leads to high rates of
stress, fatigue and irritation. It can even lead to life – threatening safety issues.
How to choose the right labels?
The labels should be at least five times the diameter of the wire. The print – on labels provide
good flexibility and great quality as compared to pre – printed markers.
How to apply the labels?
The wrap on label is the most easily applied label. It is applied by peeling the end. Always
apply with clean hands. If applied with dust, the label might become unreadable or might face
difficulties in staying on the wire.
Use the sleeve identification method to apply the labels. Fold the carrier. Expose the
ends. Insert the cable or wire into the sleeve. Now remove it from the carrier. Adjust the
sleeve after terminating the wire. Shrink it using a heat gun.
Few Tips
A good marking system should have cables that are identified at a single glance. Use color
coding and printed information to make the identification system strong. Ensure that the size
of the text in the label is large and easy to read. If half of the texts are on the other side of the
cable, it becomes difficult to read!