Cable Identification Selection Tips

In a line system, it is impossible for operation and maintenance personnel to memorize all the devices and lines one by one. In order to avoid omissions during inspections, line identification management is essential. So how do we choose cable identification? Or follow me to find out!

How to choose cable identification

Mark the terminal before or after it is done:

Covered with protective film cable label: It can be used before or after the terminal is connected, and the content of the label is clear. The label wraps completely around the cable and has a clear film wrapped around the print. It can effectively protect the printed content from scratches or corrosion.

Sleeve Identification: Only used prior to terminal connection, sleeved over the wire through the open end of the wire. There are ordinary sleeves and heat shrinkable sleeves. The heat-shrinkable sleeve can be easily replaced with the logo before heat-shrinking. After heat-shrinking, the sleeve becomes a permanent logo that can withstand harsh environments.

What is the diameter of the cable: The diameter of the cable determines the length of the wrap-around label or the diameter of the sleeve required. Most wrap-around labels are suitable for cables of all sizes. Brady wrap labels are available in a variety of different diameters. For very thin cable labels (such as fiber patch cord labels), flag labels are available.

Are you going to print your own logo or buy a pre-printed logo:

On-site printing of labels: users can print labels with a variety of content according to their needs; we have a variety of label materials available for portable printers, thermal transfer printers, dot matrix printers, laser or inkjet printers; can be suitable for printing longer characters; and there are label sizes suitable for different application requirements.

Pre-printed logos: There are a variety of pre-printed content for users to choose from; if the user has a relatively large demand for logos, products with customized pre-printed content can also be provided, which can be bound into card style, book style and sleeve. formula, etc.; pre-printed logos are easy to use and transport, and are suitable for various applications.

What is the application environment of these cable markers:

Will it come into contact with oil, water, chemicals or solvents? Does it need to be flame retardant? Is there an outdoor environment? Are there any special government regulations or other regulations for this? Is it used in clean or other environments? For various special applications The environment needs to select the corresponding materials to maintain the value requirements.

Wiring Engineering: Identity Management Is Just as Important

The transmission medium has developed from copper cable to the current twisted pair and optical fiber, and the transmission speed has developed from 10 megabits and 100 megabits to gigabit. The international test and acceptance standard has also been updated from TIA568 to TIA/EIA-568B. However, the promotion and application of TIA/EIA-606 "Commercial Building Telecom Infrastructure Management Standard", which was launched at the same time as the TIA568 standard, is very slow in China. The main reason is that both parties A and B of the wiring project and the project supervisor are mainly concerned with the quality of the project, such as whether the cable laying meets the standards, whether it can pass the test and acceptance, whether the project cost exceeds the budget, etc. Close web documentation and tag identification are often overlooked. What often happens is that when network operation and maintenance personnel enter the computer room, they find that the labels attached to the cables and related equipment have fallen off, and the user line information has nowhere to be found.

Pay attention to wiring management

With the popularization of integrated wiring projects and the continuous improvement of wiring flexibility, the frequency of users changing network connections or jumpers is also increasing. Then, how to realize the management of network wiring through effective methods, so that the network management personnel have a clear network maintenance work interface? This requires wiring management.

The so-called wiring management, there are generally two ways. One is logical management and the other is physical management. Logic management is realized through wiring management software and electronic distribution frame. Through a set of document recording and management software based on database and CAD graphics software, it realizes functions such as data entry, network modification, and system query, so that users can have updated electronic data files at any time. The logical management method requires network management personnel to have a strong sense of responsibility, and it is necessary to enter information into the database in a timely manner according to network changes. In addition, the one-time investment required by the user is relatively large.

Physical management is an identity management system that is commonly used today. According to the TIA/EIA-606 standard, namely "Commercial Building Telecommunications Infrastructure Management Standard", there are clear numbering standards and methods for transmission rooms, equipment rooms, media terminals, twisted pairs, optical fibers, and grounding wires. Usually, the construction personnel will put labels on the cables to ensure the correct termination of both ends of the cables. Users can identify cables on patch panels and panel sockets by the unique code of each cable.

Since the user uses the wiring system every day, and the user is usually responsible for the maintenance of the wiring system, the simpler and easier to identify the logo, the easier it is to be accepted by the user. General logos are identified using simple letters and numbers. Although many manufacturers now produce panel sockets with the words "telephone," "computer," "fax," etc. pre-printed, we recommend against using these icons on panel sockets. Because, first of all, the identification information is incomplete and cannot achieve the purpose of management; secondly, the cabling infrastructure will no longer be universal. In the TIA/EIA-606 standard, there are clear regulations on how to mark, what kind of mark to use, how to record, what should be included in the record, system diagram, floor plan, etc., and will not be described in detail here.

Irregular cable identification

Taking cable marking as an example, there are still many construction units and users using the following non-standard marking methods:

Identify cables and fibers by means of mouth-pull labels or writing on stickers. However, these labels are very small, and technicians with different writing habits write various irregular characters on them, which makes it difficult for other personnel to read and distinguish.

Another method for technicians to identify cables is called "tagout". When you use this method, the labels hanging from the cables are often messed up during moves, additions, and modifications due to the fact that the labels are hung from the cables.

Technicians also often use a type of printer to print symbols directly on the cable. However, the digitizer can dirty the cable and make it difficult to change the identification information.

There are also some technicians who choose the wrong material when making cable identification, such as using a harder and elastic polyester material or ordinary polyethylene material. In this way, no matter what kind of sticking method you take, the characteristics of its material will affect the durability of its sticking. The identification of these materials is only suitable for flat identification such as patch panels, assets, panel identification, etc.