Wire_Labeling_Best_Practices.pdf
Transcript:
[0m:4s] Hi, I'm Josh Bloom. Welcome to another video in the RSP Supply Education series. If you find that these videos are helpful to you, it certainly helps us out if you could give us a big thumbs up and subscribe to our channel. In today's video, we are going to be talking about electrical wiring and how those wires are identified so that the electricians, operators, or anyone interacting with those electrical circuits knows what they are looking at. I am talking about wire labeling. For the purpose of this video, we're going to be looking at a few best practices when it comes to wire labeling. We will talk about what should be listed on the label, where the label should be located and even what types of labels to use. Lastly, we will talk about some of the hazards that can arise when improper wire labeling techniques are used. As always, the information shared in this video is intended to provide only a basic overview of this topic. With that being said, let's take a look at some of the things that you should consider when labeling your wires and also some things that you should avoid as well. No matter what the situation is, it is imperative that any wire that is run is labeled.
[1:10] Almost just as important as labeling the wire is doing it correctly. Although this seems like common sense, you would be surprised about how many times I have encountered situations where there is no wire labeling at all. Imagine trying to troubleshoot an industrial control panel with hundreds of wires and circuits and no labels. It is almost impossible, not to mention it can be very dangerous. I have shocked myself personally several times in the past because of improper wire labels or wires that were carrying power with no labels at all. So, what are some best practices that you should use when wiring something like a control panel? First and foremost, it is good to identify the types of power that may exist on a wire, if possible. If large amounts of voltage or currents potentially exist on that circuit, make sure the wire label shows that. Sometimes this is done by using a different color label or in many cases the wire itself is a different color, which is a form of identification and labeling.
[2:20] Next, your label should show where the wire is coming from and where it is going to. By providing the origin and destination of the wire, you allow operators interacting with that wire to more easily identify where it is going and how it might be routed. It also allows the operator to more easily eliminate that wire as a trouble spot when trying to troubleshoot electrical issues. The writing on the label should be printed as large as possible to make it easy for the operator to read. Identifying whether a wire is distributing power or if it is a control signal can also be helpful for the operator, and this is sometimes accomplished by using different wire colors as well.
[3:07] Another important point with labeling your wires is to make sure you are using the correct kinds of labels. Too often, electricians simply use a piece of white electrical tape wrapped around the wire with some writing on it. Now, while this is better than nothing, it is not the proper labeling method. The use of electrical wire labels should be used. Heat shrink labels are best as once they are attached and shrunk, they rarely move. Also, label printers allow for the text to be very clear and legible to the operator. Flag labels can be used as well, but are sometimes more difficult to read than sleeve labels. Regardless of the type of label that is used, it is important to make sure that it is intended to be used with electrical wire. Any other type of label will most likely fail. Also, make sure to use the same labeling convention on every label. This allows for continuity in the labels and allows the operator to more predictably read and interpret the information on that label.
[4:19] Lastly, make sure your labels are always oriented in such a way that they can be read without moving or manipulating the wire in any way, as this can lead to wires potentially coming loose and causing potentially dangerous situations. By following some of these few simple guidelines, you will ensure that your electrical wiring is marked in a way that is safe, legible, and will last for a long time to come.
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