dan_m Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Bought a multicolor pack of electrical tape the other day. Makes it easy to tell which plug is which without tracing it back to the tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naz Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Excellent idea, I'll use that one ! Thanks for posting ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksnagel Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 The K.I.S.S. system at work! Great idea, thanks. Mark <>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rthibeau Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 youse just needs to put the plug to your tongue to know if it's plugged in or not................. :wacko: :blink: oh....don't do that !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigred1o1 Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 i use the colored zip ties for any hydraulic connections/hoses to make sure i always hook them back up properly and to keep track of cords i do like the electrical tape idea a bit quicker to set up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia Holmes Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 This is simple and brilliant. Without you i would never have thought of this... haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaughnT Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 We do that at work. Multiple wraps can work as well as multiple colors, too. Three wraps of red on both ends. Or, one red, one yellow on both ends. As long as the combos are the same, you'll always know which line goes where even if the line is long enough that you can't see the other end (works great in houses). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWHII Posted October 10, 2012 Share Posted October 10, 2012 Great Idea! I'm still trying to find a way to keep them all from ending up in a rats nest. Try as I might I can not keep it from happening. I think it is my shop knomes. Pesky little devils they are. <_< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John McPherson Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Harold, I use strips of velcro tape. Little one for the phone charger, big one for the 100' 10ga welder extension cord. You can buy it by the roll and cut it to length, or packs of pre-made strips in black or colors that attach to the cord. Even Horrible Fright sells it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWHII Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 Harold, I use strips of velcro tape. Little one for the phone charger, big one for the 100' 10ga welder extension cord. You can buy it by the roll and cut it to length, or packs of pre-made strips in black or colors that attach to the cord. Even Horrible Fright sells it. Thanks John! I'm guessing that is to keep them coiled up when your not using them. My problem is I have four grinders plugged in at the same time going from one place to another. As I cross back and forth they get turned into a rats nest. My solution to help untangle them is they are all different color cords. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted October 13, 2012 Share Posted October 13, 2012 I purposely put electric reciprocals in the ceiling of the photo studio. Easy to plug the lights into and no loose cords on the floor. Used the same idea in the shop to the side of the work table. Thibeau has a great idea where he hangs the grinder etc from a hook on the ceiling. Cords and tools are out of the way but always handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted October 15, 2012 Share Posted October 15, 2012 Color coding is usually a really good idea I like the tape and it may be less expensive than my old method of buying different colored cords. Howard, it's pretty easy to avoid rats nesting elec cords by keeping them in buckets. Make a hole near the bottom large enough for the male end and just pile the cord in the bucket, the tool will show you where the end is.(wink) Cords, ropes, cables, etc. will NOT tangle if they're just piled and not disturbed, to tangle a line must pass through a loop or two. I didn't think the bucket trick would work so I tried it and it works a treat. Oh yeah, you can hang buckets from hooks on a wall so it's out of the way but handy, the cord doesn't care. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Marti Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 I'll have to use this idea next time I am out in the shop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thingmaker3 Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 This trick can be extended for even more cords. Say you've got four colors of tape. By putting two pieces of tape (or velcro or ties or paint or...) on, you can have up to 16 unique combinations. Five colors gives 25 uniquely labeled cords. A velcro pigtail glued on the cord somewhere keeps the coil tidy in storage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 4 colors If you have 4 colors but just use 2 color wraps you get 4 x 4 = 16 If you have 4 colors and can use 4 color wraps, but only use each color once then you get 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 24. if you have 4 colors and can use 4 color wraps, and use each color more than once then you get 4 x 4 x 4 x 4 = 256. When you finish taping the cords, put a layer of clear package tape over the color tape for protection and to keep it clean and bright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 for a few thats fine I use the Brady label maker and print out the words, but since thats an electricians trade secret I need to charge every one reading this $3.50 each for knowing this now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Knowing what to look for, $3.50 would seem reasonable.Brady BMP21 Label Printer is $142.98Brady BMP21 Label Printer Kit - Printer, Carrying Case, and AC Adapter $191.00Colored Electrical Tape - 5 colors $4.87Your Call (grin) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thingmaker3 Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 You think the Brady Labeler is expensive? Look up the price of the labels themselves! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 lol so true, but in my job there are way too many lines not to have clear labeling in place. too many panels and lines going everywhere, so I use what I have on hand :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thingmaker3 Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I hear you, Brother Stells. Last week I spent about five hours making lables for a data center expansion. But I try real hard not to have that many cords plugged in at home at once. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhblacksmith Posted January 13, 2013 Share Posted January 13, 2013 Lee Valley cord identifiers work well too-under $8 for a package of ten. http://www.leevalley.com/US/hardware/page.aspx?p=68740&cat=3,43597,50658,68740 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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