"decent" generic Fuse Board circuit labels

[Octopus]

I can be a bit OCD when it comes to labeling up changes and/or replacement fuseboards - and the labels supplied never seem to have what I need

Can anyone suggest suppliers of labels?

Thanks

 

[Andy78]

I have heard the Brother E550 printer is a decent bit of kit. Can print out a full domestic CU info in one strip on a wide label. Not sure of the cost of refills though.

 

[LankyWill]

As above get a labeller, brother do an Electrical one which can print cu labels and other electrical symbol.

 

[Dobes_88]

Like you Murdoch very ---- with labels, picked up a Brother E55ow and it is a game changer!

Find myself applying the heat shrink labels to bonding conductors etc now which is incredibly sad...!

 

[ferg]

+1 for Brother label printer.

 

[Midwest]

I got one of those labellers, mines a Dymo. I use the accompanying software to make up CU circuit labels on my laptop.

All I would say, is the label cartridges can prove expensive, and you have to be creative with circuit nomenclature, to fit the text inside a typical device width (mcb etc), without making the text is too small to read.

That said, they're a much more precise professional finish, than the hand written or generic manufacturers efforts.

 

[Rpa07]

We were shown the 550 at ELEX - very difficult not to buy one there and then.
It may take a little time to input and get what you want it to portray but the final strip in place across your breakers was very impressive.
I was under the impression that it was just a 12 or possible 18mm tape so some money BUT it will last quite a few applications.
I agree that the generic labels are poop!

 

[Wilko]

For poor me - I bought a set of labels (5 for £5) from TLC.

 

[Midwest]

I was under the impression that it was just a 12 or possible 18mm tape so some money BUT it will last quite a few applications.
I agree that the generic labels are poop!

I use a 24mm tape (height) for circuit labels. Guess all the labellers have that

 

[davesparks]

Wherever possible I type up a circuit list, print it and fix it to wall in a frame next to the CU.
Yes it terribly old fashioned but I can list exactly which rooms each circuit covers if it’s not as simple as ‘Sockets-first floor’ etc

 

[Midwest]

Wherever possible I type up a circuit list, print it and fix it to wall in a frame next to the CU.
Yes it terribly old fashioned but I can list exactly which rooms each circuit covers if it’s not as simple as ‘Sockets-first floor’ etc

Excellent idea for commercial etc. For domestic I fear that picture frame destined for a Sunday car boot sale.

 

[Daniel Oake]

Wherever possible I type up a circuit list, print it and fix it to wall in a frame next to the CU.
Yes it terribly old fashioned but I can list exactly which rooms each circuit covers if it’s not as simple as ‘Sockets-first floor’ etc

Would you be able to attach a photo, interested in your style

 

[Andy78]

Would you be able to attach a photo, interested in your style

He's not that good really

 

[pirate]

Boring bas**rd here...
Brother labels on every cable, every 5m, and a laminated page with full description affixed to CU/DB...and, saddo that I am, each socket/fcu/outlet labelled with breaker number...
I really need a holiday!

Never mind, I did a plumbing job today for a friend, where I was called in to fit a shower enclosure because the tiles used were incredibly hard...and I mean they were impossibly hard! I bought a £30 diamond drill bit, and each hole took 20 minutes...
Wife said "Well, did you manage to drill Anne's holes?"
I let that one go...

But no, I was too busy fitting the shower!

 

[Mike Johnson]

For poor me - I bought a set of labels (5 for £5) from TLC.

View attachment 43506

And the MK version has circuit pictures for you to add in the strip, plus I draw up a circuit diagram and get it laminated and tape it inside the CU door.

Mike

 

[Marti]

Picking up an old thread here. One for the silver tops please.
When you are doing a board swap and faced with a snake's nest of twisted and age hardened cables - how are you identifying them before ripping out the whole sorry mess?

I've tried wrapping normal sticky labels around the lives and pairing up the rings but always seen to end up with something amiss. In addition, I'm not sure adding anything to the inside of a CCU is a good idea WRT fire risk.

Your experience would be appreciated.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Picking up an old thread here. One for the silver tops please.
When you are doing a board swap and faced with a snake's nest of twisted and age hardened cables - how are you identifying them before ripping out the whole sorry mess?

I've tried wrapping normal sticky labels around the lives and pairing up the rings but always seen to end up with something amiss. In addition, I'm not sure adding anything to the inside of a CCU is a good idea WRT fire risk.

Your experience would be appreciated.

Sharpie

 

[SparkyChick]

I typically just 'label' the cables using a Sharpie, very often with just a number of rings corresponding with the old circuit list. If there is enough sheath label, label that.

As for things inside the CU, I usually stick a label with the torque settings on in there, label the bonding/earthing conductors and maybe anything else that is not clear, and then pair any rings using coloured tape with a Sharpie band to indicate one of the legs.

 

[telectrix]

i've a stock of these. label each conductor according to the circuit numbers what i'm going to stick them in.500 PIECE CABLE MARKER CASSETTE COLOUR CODED 2.5 - 5.0mm, 0.75 - 4.0mm BA1 | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/500-PIECE-CABLE-MARKER-CASSETTE-COLOUR-CODED-2-5-5-0mm-0-75-4-0mm-BA1-/201507627006

 

[Andy78]

Sharpie stripes on the conductors, corresponding key written on old board lid next to circuit description.

 

[buzzlightyear]

How was the hoiday mad max ,i hope you put your feet up making out labels for cUs , i aways keep labels for old jobs and stick them on when reqired or write them with on the board perm fine maker pen.

 

[static zap]

.....perm fine maker pen.

Un branded " Sharpie " ?
(My son has educated me in ways "Sh....." - talking to the younger generation)
-- Info may be useful outside UK !--

 

[telectrix]

using a perm marker that's not a sharpie ia almost as bad as fitting protek.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Sharpie

ultra fine one I use.

 

[telectrix]

only prob with ID with sharpie on sheath is if there's a lot of cables ans esp.if the sheaths only just come into the box, might not see the markings, once box is stuck on the wall.i prefer to ID each conductor.

 

[Marti]

only prob with ID with sharpie on sheath is if there's a lot of cables ans esp.if the sheaths only just come into the box, might not see the markings, once box is stuck on the wall.i prefer to ID each conductor.

This was my issue, and I do recognise it's unique to putting a shiny new CCU on some one else's "variable" wiring but the sheath was invariably just reaching into the case. Hence my sticky labels to ID the lives.

I suspect there is no prefect solution. I'm going with sharpie sheath (ooh err...) and the numbers on conductors as test and see how it goes. Like a lot of this job, it's thinking on your feet to solve the problem.

 

[PJH2903]

Brother E550W label printer for me for labelling board and cables with their printable heat shrink

 

[Mike Johnson]

Even when you label them all, if the cable is old with hard outer sheathing the labels fall off, to help I usually take a photo with my phone to help identify the lone cable sitting in amongst the others, saved head scratching a number of times, other than that a set of coloured pens to mark each set individually, I have a lot of pens.

 

[R-fur]

4/5mm coloured heatshrink makes old conductors as good as new. Then mark with a sharpie or I recently 'discovered' laundry pens very fine very permanent markers designed for writing kids names or their clothes and dose'nt come off in the wash.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Just picked up a Harger Two row CU and it has a transparent clip inside the door for documentation, they also have some free software to produce labels for their CU units called "Semiolog"