How do you tag electrical connectors?

[sierradmax]

I'm currently doing a frame off on a Jeep Wrangler. I'm at the point now where I'm going to start removing electrical harnesses and I would like peoples input on identification. I.E., labeling male and female connectors during removal so during re-installation, I'm not scratching my head.

 

[apollo11]

me?
Duct tape and a sharpie

 

[ssdave]

Write on masking tape with a sharpie and wrap it around the wire above the connector.

 

[fsae0607]

Masking tape and sharpie. I like to label with letters: one connector gets "A" on each end, "B" and so on. Go into double letters if you have to.

Oh and I jot down every connection I label. When you button it up, check off each one so you won't miss a connector.

 

[texasprd]

Write on masking tape with a sharpie and wrap it around the wire above the connector.

This! And a wiring diagram helps immensely, if you can get one for your vehicle (repro paper copy, Alldatadiy.com or Mitchell equivalent, Haynes/Chiltons manuals if need be)

 

[dave89iroc]

And if you have connectors that are not used, tape them over/back onto themselves, so you wont think the tape fell off

 

[exranger06]

+1 for masking tape. I usually just write a number on the tape and write what each number is on a separate sheet of paper. Ex:
1 - coolant temp sensor
2 - oil pressure sensor
3- IAC valve
Etc...

 

[tthornto]

I like the twist ties you can write on like they use in the bulk foods section of the grocery store for labeling.

Before removing each connector label each end, snap a picture with your phone showing the connectors, the labels, and the surrounding area. Then when you reassemble you have the labels to tell you which connectors go together, and the picture to show you where they go and how the wires are routed.

 

[unlvrebel]

i like the twist ties you can write on like they use in the bulk foods section of the grocery store for labeling.

before removing each connector label each end, snap a picture with your phone showing the connectors, the labels, and the surrounding area. Then when you reassemble you have the labels to tell you which connectors go together, and the picture to show you where they go and how the wires are routed.

this ^

 

[rattle_snake]

I like to use white electrical tape, as it is more robust than masking tape. That said other colors of electrical tape (other than blk) can be used to group functions or areas.

 

[Slednut]

I've used these but they do hang up on stuff during the install.

 

[CJ7VFR]

+1 for masking tape. I usually just write a number on the tape and write what each number is on a separate sheet of paper. Ex:
1 - coolant temp sensor
2 - oil pressure sensor
3- IAC valve
Etc...

This what I do. Write the same number on a piece of tape on the male and female connectors , and then write on a piece of paper what each number was for.

Also, as others have mentioned, try to take pictures of things before you take them apart. Knowing that male connector "3" connects to female connector "3" is great. But if the wires have to be routed a certain way, and you pulled them all out, and now you have to put them all back in, it can be a ***** to try to remember just how they were routed without pictures, months after you pulled everything out.

Jim

 

[tthornto]

Masking tape is only good if you are going to reassemble within 1 month. If left much longer it will start to leave a sticky mess all over your wiring and anything else it is stuck to.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Tape, be it masking or gaffer/riggers tape.
PHOTOGRAPH the area before you disconnect anything. Email those photos to yourself so you have multiple copies for later. I cannot stress documenting it enough with your cell phone camera.

This works really well also if you're tearing down a set of drum brakes and you're not sure how or where all the springs went and in what order.

 

[crewchief888]

an "old timers" trick to marking multiple hydraulic hoses was to use telephone wire.

 

[dclassical]

I have used those Avery label sheets before. I used the template in Word (two identical labels, increase the number or letters used for identification). One sheet had not plugged on it.

This way just peel, apply, repeat.

 

[OH_Varmntr]

I work in a super dusty environment. When I label wires or cables, I wrap it in white electrical tape then write the description on it. Then I wrap over what I just wrote on, only the first layer of this wrap is sticky side UP, then go back over it sticky side down.

Otherwise you’ll fight with the adhesive removing your writing when you go to unwrap it later. This way it can get however dirty it wants, but when you remove that outer layer of tape, your writing has been protected underneath and is easily legible.


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[sberry]

A lot of auto wiring harnesses only fit one way.

 

[kbs2244]

In the stationary dept of a Staples or such you can get "string ties"
They are tags with strings already attached to be tied around the wire end.
They come in sizes from postage stamp to 3x5 inches.

 

[T_R]

I don't. Wires usually only reach to the right place and connectors only plug in the correct location. Modern cars are foolproof that way.

 

[OH_Varmntr]

I’d tend to believe frame-off restos aren’t performed on modern cars.


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[bob15]

Besides everything listed above, take photos before removing everything (pictures with tags would be even better). In this new world of digital cameras, pictures are awfully cheap and might go along way in help when putting it back together.

 

[cthulu]

White electrical tape and a sharpie, faster/cleaner than duct tape and takes up less room. Masking tape will wear away eventually, once the sharpie dries on the white electrical tape you have to apply some effort to remove it.

 

[Tim C]

Write on masking tape with a sharpie and wrap it around the wire above the connector.

This is what I do when I build a harness, such as for a fuel injection swap. I use blue or green painters tape and a ultrathin point sharpie. When youre done the tape is real easy to rip off with usually no residue or pieces left over.

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[gtsgarage]

I use blue painters tape and a sharpie. Most of my projects have color coded wiring as I tend to go with factory original or high quality reproduction.

 

[RVDan]

https://www.cableorganizer.com/wire-marker/

 

[jloehlein]

All of the methods mentioned make sense for temporary labeling. If you're looking for something more permanent, I like these.

 

[Mr. D]

Take lots of pictures

 

[rburke65]

Brady markers. Numbered peal off labels.

 

[M35A2]

I always use these when I build a harness.

 

[mx500]

white or colored electrical tape and sharpy.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

an "old timers" trick to marking multiple hydraulic hoses was to use telephone wire.

Yeah, but in today's wireless age, you can't hardly find any!


I usually only label stuff where there's identical ends that could get mixed up more like hydraulic hoses are that are all the same size and length. A harness that branches off legs to individual unique connectors, I don't bother, 'cause .....well...you can't screw it up when the connector only fits one component. In this case, something like a complete OEM engine harness needs no labeling, because each sensor / sender is unique and usually even places where multiple connectors are the same, like a row of injectors, each branch comes off the main harness where it will only fit one particular place.

For stuff that needs labeling, I keep colored wire ties handy 'cause there's virtually no way they can get obliterated or knocked off the way oil / fuel can eat tape / cause ink to run. If I run out of colors, then I denote differences by leaving the tail of the tie or cutting it off.

 

[CJ7VFR]

...This works really well also if you're tearing down a set of drum brakes and you're not sure how or where all the springs went and in what order.

Another trick for doing drum brakes is to tear down and work on just one side at a time. This way, you can use the other side as your "go-to" for how to put things back together.

Jim

 

[SVE Performance]

Seeing as the original poster says he is doing a frame off on a Wrangler he is talking about a modern vehicle. Seeing as the first Wrangler was built in 1987. And while not a strictly frame off restoration I have replaced frames on newer Wranglers than that . As far as the wiring there will not be many connectors in that harness that you would need to label as the connections are self explanatory .Bill

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Usually white electrical tape or masking tape and a marker. For stuff I may be removing often I'll print out nice labels with my labelmaker and stick them on. Not worth it for a one time deal though.

 

[Spareparts]

+2 on wire marking tape, either the tablet form or they make a plastic carrier with rolls of numbered tape 0 to 9, they make for easy idenification, different colered tape works well but in one case were I was removing a rotation joint on a hydraulic boom truch I disconnected about a dozen Hyd hoses I used different colors of electrical tape to identify where the different hoses went, the shop foreman sent me on a field repair. I told him that every thing was disconnected and marked and he looked at it and just gave me a blank stare, then remarked I am color blind. Guess what was waiting for me when I got back to the shop

 

[oldwino]

I like the wire marking tape from Ideal and others (normally used by sparky’s to mark circuits going to a Panay board). About 1/4” wide with numbers printed all around so they are always visible. Nice cause you can leave markers on the wire

 

[gearhead1]

Used to use tape and label them, but as someone else mentioned, I just take off what I need and push out of the way. Once you lay the harness back on the engine, the lengths get you close and the connectors only fit the one they’re supposed to with the newer cars.

If I’m going to refit a different engine in there, I’d definitely use tape and label so you know what that wire was for as I figure I’d be reusing some of them.

 

[Slednut]

I always use these when I build a harness.

Maybe they are better now but I used them a lot 15 years ago (marking fiber optic buffer tubes) and over time the adhesive gets gooey and the label falls off. Even in manholes where the temps are cool.

I now use these.


http://www.brother-usa.com/mobile/mobile-printing/field-service/durable-wire-cable-labeling.aspx

 

[crasher98]

Funny you should ask, this is how I spent my day today:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/album.php?albumid=6046&pictureid=79458

I like yellow tape + sharpie, and I mark everything -- connecters, hoses, ducts, whatever -- because I have zero confidence in my ability to get everything back together again correctly, especially if I end up sleeping more than once between disassembly and reassembly. Good luck with your jeep! I'm currently driving my '98 wrangler while my subie is sprinkled w/ yellow electrical tape; I'm noticing that the jeep needs some attention too but it's going to have to wait...