What labeling method actually survives heat, dust, and time?

[ZekeVonGenbu]

I opened a junction box in my garage this weekend and I realized my old labels were basically useless. The marker faded and the tape got dusty and peeled, so now it is just mystery wires again. It made me want to redo labeling the right way while everything is still accessible.

What do you all use that actually holds up in panels and junctions years later. Do you like a label maker with specific tape, write on the panel directory only, tag the cables, or all of the above. I would love a best practice that is boring but lasts so future me is not guessing.

 

[Ortega_Aliahan]

I do two labels. One on the wire and one on the box cover or inside the lid. If one gets trashed, the other usually lives.

 

[PGB1]

Brady ID Pal & M210 labels. although expensive, last forever and stick well to even the clear jacket on THHN. They don't fade or fall off outdoors, either. Unfortunately they are hard to remove if ever desired.

If you are so inclined, Brady also makes very good heat shrink wire labels. Pemasleeve is their name for them. An alternative is any label with anyone's shrink tube over it.

Paul

 

[dmildram]

For the cover (flat metal) labels, Brother P-Touch adhesives stick very well. To get the font down to a reasonable size (just using "AUTO" font setting), if you want to write more than a few characters , you type maybe 8-12+? characters for a "top line of text", hit Enter which does NOT complete your full (multi line) label text, and keep typing the bottom line with a similar amount of characters. The sad part is the half inch or so on both sides? waste of label material every time you finish and make the cut.

Prices of a new P-Touch label maker have dropped! Was over $100 US many years ago...now less. There are more choices now though including handheld more expensive ones.

 

[Arthur]

I’ve had best luck with heat shrink labels on the wires plus a printed panel directory inside the box. Cheap label tape always fades or peels but that combo actually survives years of heat and dust.