After spending WAY too long tracing cables (no server room should inspire deep loathing like this), I realized that there has to be something better. There should be network cables that are pre-labeled, whether by colors (e.g. a cable with two brown stripes and two yellow stripes), or numbers, or something. Does such a thing exist? I haven't found it yet.
Pre-labeled cat5/6 cables?
- Thread starter Fat Burger
- Start date
Ooohh... you mean labeled on the outside! Yeah. Go to office despot and get some little, self-adhesive labels.
W_a_w's way is the way we always do it. Write numbers on the wire as you pull it or put on wire labels.
Here is the one I use.
http://www.bradyid.com/bradyid/pdv/...elers/IDXPERT-Labeling-Printers/Overview.html
Here is the one I use.
http://www.bradyid.com/bradyid/pdv/...elers/IDXPERT-Labeling-Printers/Overview.html
https://www.tselectronic.com/3m/std_marker.html?tse_Session=3441e5d1bd723206317fa592b9156c46
What I use. Could also use a label maker as well and tag the wires accordingly. Whatever you do, make sure to make the pattern, document the pattern, and stick to the pattern. Nothing is worse than changing the numbering or color schema and that messes up the whole job in the end.
What I use. Could also use a label maker as well and tag the wires accordingly. Whatever you do, make sure to make the pattern, document the pattern, and stick to the pattern. Nothing is worse than changing the numbering or color schema and that messes up the whole job in the end.
Sp`ange
Flaccid Member
you can't prelabel a whole spool. tagging them or buying different colors would be the way to go.
i've worked on some old low voltage electrical systems that had like, labeled wire sleeves around each end of the wire (though they went through conduits to other parts of the industrial complex.) Those were pretty neat actually. We were able to walk from one panel to the next and know exactly which wire we were looking for.
For a server room though, just get a label maker and a toner (for the unlabled preexisting crap)...
http://www.flukenetworks.com/fnet/e...robe/Overview.htm?categorycode=LANT&PID=50015
For a server room though, just get a label maker and a toner (for the unlabled preexisting crap)...
http://www.flukenetworks.com/fnet/e...robe/Overview.htm?categorycode=LANT&PID=50015
We've used various labels, but they fall off, get dirty, or are under the cable and can't be seen without unplugging it and twisting it around. Oh well, foolish optimism 
Thanks guys!
Thanks guys!
Sp`ange
Flaccid Member
i remember back in my music roadie days we had labels shrink wrapped onto cables at both ends that repeated on all sides of the cable so it didn't need to be turned. i don't remember exactly what they looked like, but i di remember they had to be put on before the cable ends and then hit with a heat gun to shrink in place.
i think the reason you don't see prelabelled cables is because anyone using enough to need labels is usually making their own from one big spool.
i think the reason you don't see prelabelled cables is because anyone using enough to need labels is usually making their own from one big spool.
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here the stuff: you use these numbers http://cableorganizer.com/wire-marker/index.html which wrap around the cable so it's numbered on all sides, then cover it with clear heat shrink tubing... which now appears to have shrink ratios high enough to go on cables that already have ends. Just start at 1 for your first cable and keep working your way up, or get fancy and make the digits mean things like source, destination or whatever.
I just put a lable on each end. I use a white folder lable, fold it over doule, then tear off the excess so there isn't anything easy to rip. Then I abbreviate whatever it's for.