# wiring Q's: planning schematics and labelling. **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [March 18, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769 "2010-03-18T15:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/1 "2010-03-18T15:18:22Z")
I am looking to tackle the wiring on my car and I wanted to make it easier to repair and troubleshoot if needed. I was wondering what programs people have used to draw up schematics and also if anyone knew how wires were labeled similar to in the following picture: ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/b16crxkid/White%20Crx%20K20/Crxbuild025.jpg?t=1268950662](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v739/b16crxkid/White%20Crx%20K20/Crxbuild025.jpg?t=1268950662) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/2 "2010-03-26T13:26:24Z")
no one? ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 1:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/3 "2010-03-26T13:30:27Z")
You can purchase shrink-wrap that you can write on from places like [newark.com](http://newark.com), [digikey.com](http://digikey.com), [alliedelec.com](http://alliedelec.com). That works for marking wires before you crimp connectors on. The ones in the picture are like that, but are run though a speciality label-printer first. Afterwards its more difficult and the only thing I can think of is getting the zip-ties with the “flags”/tabs on them you could write on. As for Schematics, all the ones I’ve done have been in AutoCAD or MS Visio. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/4 "2010-03-26T13:35:16Z")
interesting, Im looking for printed ones exactly like in the picture. Does anyone sell them pre-labeled? I’ll have to look for my old copy of viseo, I don’t think i’ll be using autocad ever again. I probably could do it in solidworks but its not really setup for it. ---
**Author:** ![Hass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/51bf81/32.png) [@Hass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hass)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/5 "2010-03-26T13:45:31Z")
I always used to buy these uhm… I don’t really know what they’re called. I think they’re used for printing envelope mailing address labels at home. you buy them by the computer stuff in walmart and such. just sticky labels basically. I write on it then wrap it around. it’s how i label all my electric stuff. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/2X/b/b7170c8eddc0b95ece6b88172b2f416a08489a45.png) [@system](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/6 "2010-03-26T13:49:04Z")
I was looking for something a bit more permanent than return labels. I assumed the ones in my picture were some sort of plastic. ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/7 "2010-03-26T13:51:43Z")
The ones in the picture are just a pre-printed Heat-Shrink. If you get a list of what you want printed and contact Luke\_L he maybe willing to run you some off at his work… although you’ll have to work that out with him. I used to work with him… so I know they have the equipment there. But your best way is to just go to one of the places I suggested and get the ones you can write on; then just neatly write whatever you want/need to write on them. We did it all the time for stuff like that. Use a super-fine point sharpie, and the txt actually shrinks with the heatshrink and looks very professional. ---
**Author:** ![LUKE\_L](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/luke_l/32/7462_2.png) [@LUKE\_L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LUKE_L)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/8 "2010-03-26T15:10:39Z")
> [@97FormulaWS-6](#): > > If you get a list of what you want printed and contact Luke\_L he maybe willing to run you some off at his work… although you’ll have to work that out with him. I used to work with him… so I know they have the equipment there. Haha, beat me to it… Most of what I have is White shrink tubing for 20 AWG. But I will certainly look if you have an idea of what you need. The only other option, that Mike already mentioned… > [@97FormulaWS-6](#): > > Afterwards its more difficult and the only thing I can think of is getting the zip-ties with the “flags”/tabs on them you could write on. …is a good way to label the wiring without removing connectors. EDIT: They look like this: ![http://media.digikey.com/photos/Panduit%20Corp%20Photos/SLCT-3YL.JPG](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/b/1/b1c19509fc920dd159f9f679a7562cb5a78080fc.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/9 "2010-03-27T16:28:46Z")
Whoa… never seen those things before Luke. The ones I’m talking about have a 1/2" x 5/8" x 1/16" or so flat tab sticking out the square part with the ratchet. ---
**Author:** ![LUKE\_L](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/luke_l/32/7462_2.png) [@LUKE\_L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LUKE_L)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 9:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/10 "2010-03-29T09:22:20Z")
Ah, you meant those “toe tag” zip ties then. Those work pretty good. The wire plates are nice because they stay flat to the harness. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 9:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/151769/11 "2010-03-29T09:54:02Z")
I drew up my schematic in autocad: ![http://onyxsyndicate.com/newman/e30gtr/img/SCHEMATIC-V1.png](http://onyxsyndicate.com/newman/e30gtr/img/SCHEMATIC-V1.png)