I have just installed a generator for emergency power backup which requires
8 wirenut splices inside my breaker box (to bring the 8 protected circuits
over to a new transfer switch and breaker subpanel provided by the generator
manufacturer, Generac Guardian). To keep these 8 wires clearly labeled for
future identification, I have tagged each wire with its' circuit with such
names as "Furnace". "Refrigerator", "Sump Pump", etc., using adhesive-backed
paper labels wrapped around each of the 8 wires.

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box, and
wonder if there is a correct way to properly tag wires inside a 200 amp
breaker box which allow for distinct and easily readable marking but are not
in some way violating code or creating some type of fire hazard.

I very much appreciate any recommendations. Thank you.

Smarty

On Nov 24, 11:56 pm, "Smarty" wrote:
I have just installed a generator for emergency power backup which requires
8 wirenut splices inside my breaker box (to bring the 8 protected circuits
over to a new transfer switch and breaker subpanel provided by the generator
manufacturer, Generac Guardian). To keep these 8 wires clearly labeled for
future identification, I have tagged each wire with its' circuit with such
names as "Furnace". "Refrigerator", "Sump Pump", etc., using adhesive-backed
paper labels wrapped around each of the 8 wires.

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box, and
wonder if there is a correct way to properly tag wires inside a 200 amp
breaker box which allow for distinct and easily readable marking but are not
in some way violating code or creating some type of fire hazard.

Something like this:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yaprkl

R

Great solution!!! Looks like 3M and others use a vinyl adhesive backed tape.
My Dymo labelmaker may actually be a good approximation to the pre-titled
vinyl labels which 3M sells.

An excellent approach I had never considered. Many thanks,

Smarty


"RicodJour" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Nov 24, 11:56 pm, "Smarty" wrote:
I have just installed a generator for emergency power backup which
requires
8 wirenut splices inside my breaker box (to bring the 8 protected
circuits
over to a new transfer switch and breaker subpanel provided by the
generator
manufacturer, Generac Guardian). To keep these 8 wires clearly labeled
for
future identification, I have tagged each wire with its' circuit with
such
names as "Furnace". "Refrigerator", "Sump Pump", etc., using
adhesive-backed
paper labels wrapped around each of the 8 wires.

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box, and
wonder if there is a correct way to properly tag wires inside a 200 amp
breaker box which allow for distinct and easily readable marking but are
not
in some way violating code or creating some type of fire hazard.

Something like this:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/yaprkl

R

"Smarty" wrote in message
...
I have just installed a generator for emergency power backup which
requires
8 wirenut splices inside my breaker box (to bring the 8 protected circuits
over to a new transfer switch and breaker subpanel provided by the
generator
manufacturer, Generac Guardian). To keep these 8 wires clearly labeled for
future identification, I have tagged each wire with its' circuit with such
names as "Furnace". "Refrigerator", "Sump Pump", etc., using
adhesive-backed
paper labels wrapped around each of the 8 wires.

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box, and
wonder if there is a correct way to properly tag wires inside a 200 amp
breaker box which allow for distinct and easily readable marking but are
not
in some way violating code or creating some type of fire hazard.

I very much appreciate any recommendations. Thank you.

Smarty




You can use white electrical tape for tagging and labeling the wires.

if you leave paper label wrap with scotch clear tape. over time the
adhersiv will fail and the label fall off

Smarty wrote:

I have just installed a generator for emergency power backup which requires
8 wirenut splices inside my breaker box (to bring the 8 protected circuits
over to a new transfer switch and breaker subpanel provided by the generator
manufacturer, Generac Guardian). To keep these 8 wires clearly labeled for
future identification, I have tagged each wire with its' circuit with such
names as "Furnace". "Refrigerator", "Sump Pump", etc., using adhesive-backed
paper labels wrapped around each of the 8 wires.

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box, and
wonder if there is a correct way to properly tag wires inside a 200 amp
breaker box which allow for distinct and easily readable marking but are not
in some way violating code or creating some type of fire hazard.

I very much appreciate any recommendations. Thank you.

Smarty

The Brother Ptouch labels work well if you print the info twice and fold
the label around the wire like a flag.

Pete C.

In article ,
"Smarty" wrote:

I have just installed a generator for emergency power backup

OK. CO$T is no object. BG

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box

Uneasy from a SAFETY standpoint? Heh!

If things go to hell inside a properly installed enclosure, a few
inches/scraps of paper won't make ANY difference. The issue here is wasted
effort as the labels would eventually degrade and become unreadable.

I have had much success in labeling wiring with the extravagant use of my
Brother P-Touch labelmaker. Extravagant because I make them so the whole
phrase/text is viewable from one side. This requires either a blank side to
back-up the front side's adhesive or, with some experimentation, identical
text on BOTH sides of the tag.

5-6 years ago, using Brother's laminated TZ tape, I posted a label on a fence
post that faces south and the label has yet to fade. That bodes well for
long-term reliability when labeling either side of a breaker panel.
--

JR

No project too small
All projects too big

On Fri, 24 Nov 2006 23:56:42 -0500, "Smarty"
wrote:

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box, and

Why? So you think it's going to burst into flames?
Did you ever notice how romex has the bare wire wrapped in brown
paper? Guess what, that is in your breaker box.....

Smarty wrote:
Great solution!!! Looks like 3M and others use a vinyl adhesive
backed tape. My Dymo labelmaker may actually be a good approximation
to the pre-titled vinyl labels which 3M sells.

An excellent approach I had never considered. Many thanks,

Smarty

1. Word processor (or even edit.com)
2. Sheet-fed stick-backed paper in printer
3. Scissors

Thanks to all for the excellent variety of suggestions. I was not sure if
code makes paper labeling illegal, even if the real hazard does not exist.
As an electrical engineer, I am occasionally amazed at how bizarre some of
the electrical code rules are, and thought that paper labeling inside a box
was perhaps prohibited.

I like the Romex and Sharpie approach as well as vinyl labels. I'm going to
try both and see which one works better for one of my 8 wires, and then do
the rest using the better looking method.

Thanks for all the excellent help
!

Smarty
wrote in message
...
On Fri, 24 Nov 2006 23:56:42 -0500, "Smarty"
wrote:

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box, and

Why? So you think it's going to burst into flames?
Did you ever notice how romex has the bare wire wrapped in brown
paper? Guess what, that is in your breaker box.....

Write on the Romex jacket with a sharpie. Another good one I have seen is
using a regular Dymo label, and then covering it with clear shrink tube.





"Smarty" wrote in message
...
I have just installed a generator for emergency power backup which requires
8 wirenut splices inside my breaker box (to bring the 8 protected circuits
over to a new transfer switch and breaker subpanel provided by the
generator manufacturer, Generac Guardian). To keep these 8 wires clearly
labeled for future identification, I have tagged each wire with its'
circuit with such names as "Furnace". "Refrigerator", "Sump Pump", etc.,
using adhesive-backed paper labels wrapped around each of the 8 wires.

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box, and
wonder if there is a correct way to properly tag wires inside a 200 amp
breaker box which allow for distinct and easily readable marking but are
not in some way violating code or creating some type of fire hazard.

I very much appreciate any recommendations. Thank you.

Smarty

On Nov 25, 9:44 am, wrote:
On Fri, 24 Nov 2006 23:56:42 -0500, "Smarty"
wrote:

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box, andWhy? So you think it's going to burst into flames?
Did you ever notice how romex has the bare wire wrapped in brown
paper? Guess what, that is in your breaker box.....

I don't know anything about the Romex paper. There are chemical
treatments to add substantial fire-resistive properties to paper.
Maybe they added some chemicals, and maybe it's just a brown paper bag
reincarnated. Better safe than sorry. I'd go with the vinyl labels or
the Romex sheathing tags.

R

On Fri, 24 Nov 2006 23:56:42 -0500, "Smarty"
wrote:

I have just installed a generator for emergency power backup which requires
8 wirenut splices inside my breaker box (to bring the 8 protected circuits
over to a new transfer switch and breaker subpanel provided by the generator
manufacturer, Generac Guardian). To keep these 8 wires clearly labeled for
future identification, I have tagged each wire with its' circuit with such
names as "Furnace". "Refrigerator", "Sump Pump", etc., using adhesive-backed
paper labels wrapped around each of the 8 wires.

I feel a bit uneasy about leaving paper labels inside my breaker box, and
wonder if there is a correct way to properly tag wires inside a 200 amp
breaker box which allow for distinct and easily readable marking but are not
in some way violating code or creating some type of fire hazard.

I very much appreciate any recommendations. Thank you.

Smarty



How about wrapping them with colored electrical tape, and keep a list
outside the box? Something like red-blue for the furnace.
--
30 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"I have found Christian dogma unintelligable. Early
in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies."
-- Benjamin Franklin

On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 00:57:13 -0500, wrote:
I see a lot of electricians simply using a short piece of Romex
jacket, slipped over the wire and marked with a sharpie pen.

Using a piece of romex jacket is great. Since it is a tube slipped over
the wire it cannot just unstick and fall off the way any kind of
adhesive label might. Also, it is readily available when doing the
related work. No added cost or equipment.

I do prefer using a regular ballpoint. That ink seems to bleed into the
plastic jacket whereas the sharpie seems to be mostly on top and to rub
off. Plus, I write better with a regular ballpoint, and there are
plenty of them around. Sharpies mush up the point, and aren't quite as
readily accessible.

sdb

--
Wanted: Omnibook 800 & accessories, cheap, working or not
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