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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => LAB Lounge => Topic started by: Timothy J. Trace on March 20, 2014, 02:30:39 PM
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Greetings,
Maybe you guys can help me with this, although it's quite basic. I wouldn't blame you if you flamed me :) but hopefully there's some good advice headed my way.
I need to color-code my mic cables with something more durable than Scotch 35 Color Coding Vinyl Electrical Tape. Over time the tape loosens up and falls off, or maybe it hangs on to the cable but becomes a sticky mess.
All I need to do is color-code the cables. I don't need writing on the labels.
Any suggestions? I'm hoping for something that doesn't make me have to R&R the connectors to slide on heat shrink tubing. Not that I'm afraid of a little solder, just looking to make the job go quickly.
Thank you ---
Tim ==
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Greetings,
Maybe you guys can help me with this, although it's quite basic. I wouldn't blame you if you flamed me :) but hopefully there's some good advice headed my way.
I need to color-code my mic cables with something more durable than Scotch 35 Color Coding Vinyl Electrical Tape. Over time the tape loosens up and falls off, or maybe it hangs on to the cable but becomes a sticky mess.
All I need to do is color-code the cables. I don't need writing on the labels.
Any suggestions? I'm hoping for something that doesn't make me have to R&R the connectors to slide on heat shrink tubing. Not that I'm afraid of a little solder, just looking to make the job go quickly.
Thank you ---
Tim ==
If you can get by without tape...
http://www.audiopile.net/products/Adaptors_Connectors/XLR_Cord_Ends/Colored%20Rings/XLR_Rings.shtml
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Greetings,
Maybe you guys can help me with this, although it's quite basic. I wouldn't blame you if you flamed me :) but hopefully there's some good advice headed my way.
I need to color-code my mic cables with something more durable than Scotch 35 Color Coding Vinyl Electrical Tape. Over time the tape loosens up and falls off, or maybe it hangs on to the cable but becomes a sticky mess.
All I need to do is color-code the cables. I don't need writing on the labels.
Any suggestions? I'm hoping for something that doesn't make me have to R&R the connectors to slide on heat shrink tubing. Not that I'm afraid of a little solder, just looking to make the job go quickly.
Thank you ---
Tim ==
Heat shrink is all I can think of. I have a bunch of colored, red for DMX, blue for everything else. Less for length designation and more for identification: the blue and red ones are mine. I just do a few here and there, when I repair etc. I only use 50' 25' and 10'ish cables.
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I Have been doing the heat shrink thing for a while now, and it works well but I understand the time it would take to pull one connector off each cable would be rather laborious.
There is 4:1 ratio heat shrink out there, though I have not tried it, In theroy it would work, a 1 inch tube would shrink down to 1/4 inch. I think 1" would fit over a connector...
http://www.buyheatshrink.com/heatshrinktubing/4to1adhesive.htm#B
(http://www.buyheatshrink.com/heatshrinktubing/4to1adhesive.htm#B)
It might be worth a try at around $8 per 4 foot section each 1" long marker would cost you about 16 cents, a little better than the neutrik rings.
EDIT: I just noticed the larger stuff only comes in black and clear, so i guess you could just shrink right around your E-Tape with the clear and you would still see it...
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[If you're color coding for length designations, I just use colored velcro. Different color for each length, regards of cable type (power con, IEC, mic, TS,...)
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I just use a thin ring of shrink on the connector itself. On a Neutric, it's Maybe 1/4" long, between the twist-on housing and the latch. It doesn't interfere with the latch, or disassembly of the connector for maintenance. I use it to ID my cables from the rif-raf at festivals and such, not for length marking. I have "my" color on EVERY cable in inventory. XLR, patch, Speakon, AC, DC, Soca, whatever.
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I just use a thin ring of shrink on the connector itself. On a Neutric, it's Maybe 1/4" long, between the twist-on housing and the latch. It doesn't interfere with the latch, or disassembly of the connector for maintenance. I use it to ID my cables from the rif-raf at festivals and such, not for length marking. I have "my" color on EVERY cable in inventory. XLR, patch, Speakon, AC, DC, Soca, whatever.
Care to share your size(s) and supplier? Sounds like a great idea. XLR on the male or female end?
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I Have been doing the heat shrink thing for a while now, and it works well but I understand the time it would take to pull one connector off each cable would be rather laborious.
There is 4:1 ratio heat shrink out there, though I have not tried it, In theroy it would work, a 1 inch tube would shrink down to 1/4 inch. I think 1" would fit over a connector...
http://www.buyheatshrink.com/heatshrinktubing/4to1adhesive.htm#B
(http://www.buyheatshrink.com/heatshrinktubing/4to1adhesive.htm#B)
It might be worth a try at around $8 per 4 foot section each 1" long marker would cost you about 16 cents, a little better than the neutrik rings.
EDIT: I just noticed the larger stuff only comes in black and clear, so i guess you could just shrink right around your E-Tape with the clear and you would still see it...
You should be able to at least disassemble one of the xlr connectors and then the size of heatshrink needed to slide over wont need to be as large. Then the 4:1 ratio shrink should guarantee a tight grab onto the cable. Maybe you use clear with your company name and color coding together underneath.
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Greetings,
Maybe you guys can help me with this, although it's quite basic. I wouldn't blame you if you flamed me :) but hopefully there's some good advice headed my way.
I need to color-code my mic cables with something more durable than Scotch 35 Color Coding Vinyl Electrical Tape. Over time the tape loosens up and falls off, or maybe it hangs on to the cable but becomes a sticky mess.
All I need to do is color-code the cables. I don't need writing on the labels.
Any suggestions? I'm hoping for something that doesn't make me have to R&R the connectors to slide on heat shrink tubing. Not that I'm afraid of a little solder, just looking to make the job go quickly.
Thank you ---
Tim ==
Clear 4:1 heat shrink tubing big enough to slip over an XLR should shrink down enough to do what you want.
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Care to share your size(s) and supplier? Sounds like a great idea. XLR on the male or female end?
I think this is what he is referring to - fits either male or female connectors.
http://audiopile.net/products/Adaptors_Connectors/XLR_Cord_Ends/Colored%20Rings/XLR_Rings.shtml
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You should be able to at least disassemble one of the xlr connectors and then the size of heatshrink needed to slide over wont need to be as large. Then the 4:1 ratio shrink should guarantee a tight grab onto the cable. Maybe you use clear with your company name and color coding together underneath.
I tried that this afternoon with some heatshrink and connectors I had available in the shop. A piece of nominal 3/4" heatshrink will fit over a fully assembled male or female XLR (Neutrik NC3MX, but I think they're all pretty close). But a piece of 1/2" (the next size down, I think), will not fit over just a male insert.
It seemed like a good idea, but it doesn't look like there is anything to be gained by disassembling the connectors, unfortunately.
I use the XXR rings, but they only work if you're using Neutrik XX-series connectors to start with. Apparently, there are some rings that fit the older X-series without having to unsolder any wires, but I've never actually used or seen them, and they look rather thin.
I do know that self sealing wire labels (the ones that wrap around on themselves) do not hold up to any handling, and will quickly become a sticky mess.
GTD
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Care to share your size(s) and supplier? Sounds like a great idea. XLR on the male or female end?
Hi Mark
3/4" Alpha FIT 221 or 3-M FP301 is the shrink that I normally use.
I just measured one of the connectors, and I cut it to 1/4" bands.
I usually ID the female connector. As the shrink ages, it can loosen up a bit. The latch makes sure the band stays in place until I can hit it with a heat gun.
On the front-line mics, the shrink band is pretty well invisible to the audience
* Don't buy green. That's my color ;D
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Greetings,
Maybe you guys can help me with this, although it's quite basic. I wouldn't blame you if you flamed me :) but hopefully there's some good advice headed my way.
I need to color-code my mic cables with something more durable than Scotch 35 Color Coding Vinyl Electrical Tape. Over time the tape loosens up and falls off, or maybe it hangs on to the cable but becomes a sticky mess.
All I need to do is color-code the cables. I don't need writing on the labels.
Any suggestions? I'm hoping for something that doesn't make me have to R&R the connectors to slide on heat shrink tubing. Not that I'm afraid of a little solder, just looking to make the job go quickly.
Thank you ---
Tim ==
How about color tie-wraps, cut very neatly so it's not sharp.
-JR
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How about color tie-wraps, cut very neatly so it's not sharp.
That's all I do. Color-coded zip ties, at the male end so it's not noticeable onstage, backed off enough so that the plug shell can slide back for repairs, and trimmed so it doesn't snag on anything.
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How about color tie-wraps, cut very neatly so it's not sharp.
That's all I do. Color-coded zip ties, at the male end so it's not noticeable onstage, backed off enough so that the plug shell can slide back for repairs, and trimmed so it doesn't snag on anything.
Perfect. Thank you, gentlemen.
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Greetings,
Maybe you guys can help me with this, although it's quite basic. I wouldn't blame you if you flamed me :) but hopefully there's some good advice headed my way.
I need to color-code my mic cables with something more durable than Scotch 35 Color Coding Vinyl Electrical Tape. Over time the tape loosens up and falls off, or maybe it hangs on to the cable but becomes a sticky mess.
All I need to do is color-code the cables. I don't need writing on the labels.
Any suggestions? I'm hoping for something that doesn't make me have to R&R the connectors to slide on heat shrink tubing. Not that I'm afraid of a little solder, just looking to make the job go quickly.
Thank you ---
Tim ==
I started using pieces of cheap colored duct tape. Turns out it lasts longer and actually never gets messy like electrical tape does if applied with a little care. I have yet to roll a cable and end up with sticky hands.
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I use 3/4" colored Velcro, the type that has a slot to loop back on itself, on one end. The Velcro stays forever and is used to secure the rolled cable when packing up. Other handy features are using the same Velcro to secure the cable when rolled out, or looping it over a smaller cable if needed. I also use the 4:1 shrink tube Dave mentioned in his reply which works very well.
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I wonder if spike tape would be a better choice than "cheap colored duct tape"? It is actually gaffers tape in either 1/2 inch or inch wide rolls.
http://www.pnta.com/scenic/tape/spike-tape-5-color-bundle-1-2-yellow-red-blue-green-and-purple/
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As well as the methods suggested here, I have used electrical tape but I apply it differently so it doesn't make the cable sticky.
If you take a small piece and apply it backwards on the end of a longer piece cut to size and then use the tape in the normal way making sure the piece reversed with the non-sticky part is up against the cable - it will not actually be stuck to the cable at all but will stay put and then can be removed without leaving residue behind.
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I wonder if spike tape would be a better choice than "cheap colored duct tape"? It is actually gaffers tape in either 1/2 inch or inch wide rolls.
http://www.pnta.com/scenic/tape/spike-tape-5-color-bundle-1-2-yellow-red-blue-green-and-purple/
What I use when I need to.
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I think this is what he is referring to - fits either male or female connectors.
http://audiopile.net/products/Adaptors_Connectors/XLR_Cord_Ends/Colored%20Rings/XLR_Rings.shtml
The EWI ones always seem to break, I havent seen the Neutrik XX rings, thanks for pointing that out. I do remember the old colored boots for the X series but they required to be installed while fabbing cables.