Cable Labelling Best Practices

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Jul 22, 2012

Labelling cables can save a lot of money and headaches. While it is easy to overlook, taking time to label runs during installation significantly speeds up troubleshooting processes afterwards.

In this note, we examine this practice and the ways that it is accomplished, and then analyze the financial case for making it a part of every cable job.

Code *****

***** ** '*************' ******** ****** ********* *** *********** ** ***** cables, ** ** ****** ********** ** ** * **** ********. ******* lacking * **** ***********, **** ********** *** ***-***** **** ***** ******** *********. The ********** **** **** **** *** ** ***** ** *** following ********-******** *********:

  • **** **/**: ******* ******* ******** *********** ** "**** *********** *** ******* mark *** *** ******* ** **** *******" *** ****************** *******.
  • ****/***/*** ***-*: ********* ********** ** ***** ****** ***** ******* ***** ** purpose *** *******, *** *************** ** ***** ********. ** ******** format ** ******** *** ** *********** ** ****, ****** ****** cable ******** ** '**** ********'.
  • *****: *** **** ****** ********** ******** ************ *** *** ******* industry********** ***/*** ***-*** *** ******** ******** *** ***** ********.

*********** **** ** ***** ********* *** ******* **********, ***** ******* these **** **********:

  • *********: ****** ******** ****** **** ** *****, *** **** ** clearly *******.
  • **** ** ****: ****** **** ** ***** ****** **** **** *** ** read ** *** ***** ***.
  • **** **** ** ******: ** * *******, **** **** **** ** ******, *** marking ****** ** ****** ****** ****** ** **********.
  • ********: ***** ****** ****** ** ************ *** ******* ** *** same *** ** ***** *****.

****** ****** ** *********** ******** ** ***** ****** ******* **** number, **** ** ****** *********** **, *** *** ********. ** a ***** ** * ********* ** ******* ****** ** ****, then * ****** ********** *** ************ **** ****** ** **** at ****** ****** *** ***/*** *********. ** ******* ****** ******** commonly **** ** ** ********** ** ******* ***** **** ****:

"*** ***-* ******** ****** ************** *********** ** *********** ********** ** naming *********** ****** (******** ** *** **), **** ** ***** designations *** ******. ************ ************ *** ******, ****** *** ********* in ***-*, *** * ** *** ******** ********* ** ***-* to *********** ******** ** *** ****** **** ************ ***********. ******** identify ********** ** *** ****/***/***-***-* ********.

* = [*****] ******* *********(*) *********** *** *****

* = ***** [*******] *********(*) ******** *********** *** ****************** *****

* = *** ** *** ***** ********** ******** *********** *** patch *****

* = *** ** **** ******* ********** *********** *** ****"

*******

** *** ******* *****, ** ******* *** **** ****** ******* used ** **** ******:

******* ******:*** ******** ******, *** **** ***** ** **********, ** ***** an ********* *** *** ** ********* ****** ** ***** ******* or ***** ****. **** *** ********* ** *********** *******, **** marks *** ** ******** *** ****** *** ** *********, *** tags *** ** **** ** *******. ***** *** ****** ****** of ******** ***** ****, **** ****** ***** *** ******* ****** of ****, *** ** *** ******* ******** ****** ** ***** of ***** *** *********. ******* *** ***** ***** *** ** purchased *** ***** $*. *** ***** ***** ***** ** ******* of **** ******:

****** ****: ***** ***-******* **** ******* ** ******* **** **** **** a ******** ****** ** *** ****** ******** *** *******. ***** tag ********* ******* ***** ****, **** ********** **** **** ******** configured *** ******, ********** ****** ****** *** ** ******* **** quickly. **** ******* *** *** ******* ****** ** ************ ******* before *** ********** ************ ** ******* ********, *** **** ********** still ****** **** ****** *** *** ***** *** ***************. * sleeve ** ********* ** **** *** ** ********* *** ***** $20. *** ***** ***** ***** ** ******* ** **** ******:

******* ********: ******** ****** '***** ******', **** ****** **** ********* ******** ******** ***** ******** **** *** ** ******* ** ***** jackets. ***** ******** *** ******** *** ***** ***** *** ******* in ********** ***** ******, *** *** ******** ** **** *** more ********* **** *** ***** *******. * ****-*** ******* ******* labeler *** ***** ***** *** ** ********* *** ***** $**. The ***** ***** ***** ** ******* ** **** ******:

Cost/Benefit ********

***** *** ********'* *** ****, **** ********** ***** ******** *** pay **** *** ********** ** * ****** *************** ********. *** instance, ** * ** ****** *******, ******** ****** **** ~$** USD, * ***** ***:

  • $*.** *** ***** + ** ******* ** ***** (*.* ****** * $**/** = $*.**) = $*.** *** *****
  • * ****** *** ***** = $*.**
  • ** ***** * $*.** *** ***** = $**.**

** **** ****, * ****** ******* **** ** **** ** minutes **** **** *** $**.** ***** ** ********. *********** **** technicians *** ***** **** ******* ***** *********** ******* ** **** size, **** ****** *** **** ***** ***** *** ******* ****. Certainly, *** ****** **** *** ****** **** *** **** ** 5 ***** ** ****** *********** **** ******* **** ******* ******.

******, ** ****** *********** **** ******** ** ******* *** ****, the ******* ** **** ******* *** ******* *********** * '*********.' ** *** ****** ** ****** *********, *** **** *** cost ** ******* ** ******** ****************************, ****** *** ******** **** **** ******** ** ****** ********.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports on Cabling

April 2018 IP Networking Course on Apr 19, 2018
This is the last chance to register for our IP Networking course. Register now. NEW - 2 sessions per class, 'day' and 'night' to give you double...
Network Racks For Surveillance Guide on Mar 21, 2018
In this guide, we look at network rack infrastructure, one of the fundamentals of IP video surveillance. Inside, we cover: What is a rack unit...
Access Control Course Winter 2018 on Jan 04, 2018
Learn more below about the Winter 2018 IPVM Access Control Course. Register here. IPVM offers the most comprehensive access control course in the...
Cabling Best Practices Guide on Jan 03, 2018
Surveillance cabling can be a major problem. Poorly installed and maintained networks are often costly, lengthy, frustrating ordeals to...
2018 IP Networking Book Released on Jan 03, 2018
The new IP Networking Book 2018 is a 228-page in-depth guide that teaches you how IT and telecom technologies impact modern security...
STP vs UTP for Video Surveillance Tutorial on Dec 20, 2017
For many video system designers, deciding which ethernet cabling to use is a quick decision: go with the cheapest.  However, this overlooks the...
Selecting Access Control Readers Tutorial on Nov 09, 2017
Given the variety of types available, specifying access control readers can be a daunting process. However, focusing on a few key elements will...
Average IP Camera Cable Run Distance on Nov 07, 2017
Estimating cable lengths can be tricky, seemingly either all guess work or requiring each and every run to be measured, a time consuming task.  To...
IP Camera Cabling Testing Statistics on Aug 22, 2017
Test and certify, or crimp and pray? Some integrators certify every cable they run, while others only inspect cables that have video issues. 130...
Cat 5e vs Cat 6 vs Cat 6a Network Cable Usage Statistics on Aug 16, 2017
Cat 5e? Cat 6? Cat 6a? What do integrators use in practice, today? 140+ integrators told IPVM. Here are the results: For those who want to...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Favorite Access Control Manufacturers 2018 on Apr 26, 2018
150+ Integrators told IPVM "What is your favorite access control management software/system? Why? Unlike the 2016 access favorites where a group...
Last Day Save $50 - May 2018 Camera Course on Apr 26, 2018
Today is the last day to save $50 on early registration. Register now (save $50) for the Spring 2018 Camera Course This is the only independent...
Hikvision DarkfighterX Vs Darkfighter PTZ Tested on Apr 26, 2018
Hikvision has focused on improving low-light performance for PTZs, an area that has traditionally been a problem, even more so than fixed cameras,...
Digifort VMS Profile on Apr 25, 2018
Digifort, a Brazilian company, has a strong presense in their home country. In a crowded and mature Enterprise VMS market, will they be able to...
Death Of A Dummy Camera Manufacturer on Apr 25, 2018
5 years ago, IPVM gathered insights from a dummy camera manufacturer, who was then the top selling dummy camera provider on Amazon and 3rd in all...
Hikvision Critical Cloud Vulnerability Disclosed on Apr 25, 2018
Security researchers Vangelis Stykas and George Lavdanis discovered a vulnerability in Hikvision's HikConnect cloud service that: just by...
The Yolo Bro And The Death of Journalism on Apr 24, 2018
There's an old quote: The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable Unfortunately, the opposite is more...
DMP Adds Ring Video Doorbell Integration on Apr 24, 2018
Video doorbells have become one of the hottest items for security systems. After several years with no doorbell, DMP has announced integration with...
Milestone 2017 Financials Examined on Apr 24, 2018
For ISC West 2018, Milestone released ... their financials, touting "strong revenue growth in 2017". However, there were discrepancies with the...
Chinese Manufacturer Kickstarter Campaign Huge Success (EverCam) on Apr 23, 2018
In a week, a Chinese manufacturer's expertly done Kickstarter campaign has received $1.4 million in pledges, an incredible amount for a video...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact