# wiring Q's: planning schematics and labelling.
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136
**Category:** Shift518 Automotive
**Created:** [March 26, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136 "2010-03-26T13:31:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 1:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/1 "2010-03-26T13:31:24Z")
I am looking to tackle the wiring on my car again 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:
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### Author:  [@94Gt5.0](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/94Gt5.0)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 2:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/2 "2010-03-26T14:18:22Z")
Id really like to rewire my entire car as well to cut out all of the useless shit I have that isnt in place anymore. In for responses to this…
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### Author:  [@TurboTravis](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TurboTravis)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/3 "2010-03-26T15:36:41Z")
Doing the labels is mad easy, you can use white shrink wrap and use a sharpie, or use a tie-on label. I’ve built and labled, oh, say, 12000 aviation wiring harness’ in my day, lol
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### Author:  [@LKSi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LKSi)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/4 "2010-03-26T16:05:16Z")
Or use a label printer then clear heat shrink over it, or just get labels with everything printed on them, or print onto the heat shrink yourself. The ones in that picture are labels with clear over them.
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### Author:  [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/5 "2010-03-26T16:10:10Z")
so those are paper with clear shrink? no shit.
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### Author:  [@LKSi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LKSi)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 4:12pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/6 "2010-03-26T16:12:42Z")
I think they are made of a plastic with adhesive backing. I know that’s what “Chasebays” aka Failboy uses anyway. Rywire might be using labelled heat shrink with another piece of clear over it. I believe that’s one of their harnesses.
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### Author:  [@TurboTravis](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TurboTravis)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/7 "2010-03-26T16:20:32Z")
It’s not worth it for someone here to purchase the required equipment to print on shrink wrap, trust me. Since most people on here are trying to label pre-existing, or already assembled harnesses, the only option is really a tie-on label
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### Author:  [@Mafdark](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Mafdark)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/8 "2010-03-26T16:20:41Z")
cool, I can do that. I still have a couple sheets of labels from my wedding invites.
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### Author:  [@TurboTravis](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TurboTravis)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/9 "2010-03-26T16:21:48Z")
> [@We need to feed Cuban one of these.](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/we-need-to-feed-cuban-one-of-these/30421/2):
>
> cool, I can do that. I still have a couple sheets of labels from my wedding invites.
The ones typically used in aviation have a slot on each corner, so you can hold them on with two small zip ties. I’m sure if you google around, you can find them.
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### Author:  [@LKSi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LKSi)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 4:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/10 "2010-03-26T16:21:52Z")
> [@Replaced the battery, now starter just clicks?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/replaced-the-battery-now-starter-just-clicks/30175/43):
>
> It’s not worth it for someone here to purchase the required equipment to print on shrink wrap, trust me. Since most people on here are trying to label pre-existing, or already assembled harnesses, the only option is really a tie-on label
Site’s like [cableorganizer.com](http://cableorganizer.com) will print pieces of labeled heat shrink. I think they are pretty expensive though.
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### Author:  [@TurboTravis](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TurboTravis)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/11 "2010-03-26T16:26:10Z")
> [@We need to feed Cuban one of these.](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/we-need-to-feed-cuban-one-of-these/30421/3):
>
> Site’s like [cableorganizer.com](http://cableorganizer.com) will print pieces of labeled heat shrink. I think they are pretty expensive though.
True, but in most cases, you’ll have to remove the plug/lug/whatever at the end of the harness to get the label on before you shink it.
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### Author:  [@LKSi](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LKSi)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/12 "2010-03-26T16:28:34Z")
true, not a big deal on Hondas though
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### Author:  [@Bryan90GL-X](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bryan90GL-X)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/13 "2010-03-26T17:01:29Z")
Those printers are pretty expensive for just one dude in his garage but they are pretty sweet. This one isnt too bad if youre gonna use it enough: [http://www.cabletieguys.com/dymo-label-writer/rhino-5000-heat-shrink-tubing-printer.htm](http://www.cabletieguys.com/dymo-label-writer/rhino-5000-heat-shrink-tubing-printer.htm)
We use them at work all the time, make life a lot easier if youre wiring from scratch, cuz like Travis said, they need to go on before the terminals. You can get heat shrink that you can write on though.
As far as drawing it all out, we normally just use autocad but you can use anything really. Hell, I did most of my car with Paint. This is a cool program though: [http://tinycad.sourceforge.net/](http://tinycad.sourceforge.net/)
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### Author:  [@ninety1two40](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ninety1two40)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/14 "2010-03-27T08:29:56Z")
I’m going to be tackling a complete rewire on my car from scratch in the next week or two. I’ve used a few programs for drawing schematics but honestly, your going to want to draw diagrams. It will make it easier to troubleshoot and figure out your harness layout. I’ll probably draw all my diagrams by hand just to save time. Then draw them in a cad program after the car is running :lol
My work has a label maker that does heat shrink so I might print off all I need at work :lol
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### Author:  [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/15 "2010-03-28T17:41:08Z")
Buy yourself a 4x8 sheet of pegboard for the rewire Steve. Makes physical layout a breeze. Sticking a 6cyl OBD1 motor in a car and making it 4cyl OBD2 compliant, anything to make harness layout easier was my friend. Pegboard = win 🙂
For harness identification, I prefer the labled yellow shrink tube method. Doesn’t work too well for pre-existing harnesses though.
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### Author:  [@TurboTravis](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TurboTravis)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/16 "2010-03-28T17:44:27Z")
> [@What are you listening to RIGHT NOW? Pt. NYSpeed](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-are-you-listening-to-right-now-pt-nyspeed/183/769):
>
> Buy yourself a 4x8 sheet of pegboard for the rewire Steve. Makes physical layout a breeze. Sticking a 6cyl OBD1 motor in a car and making it 4cyl OBD2 compliant, anything to make harness layout easier was my friend. Pegboard = win 🙂
>
> For harness identification, I prefer the labled yellow shrink tube method. Doesn’t work too well for pre-existing harnesses though.
Good advice on the wire board, I use them all the time, just 2nd nature I guess, forgot to even mention it.
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### Author:  [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/17 "2010-03-28T17:59:19Z")
Indeed. Was just a cheap way to stay clean and organized. Cut some 1/4" wood dowel into 2" lengths and you’re good to go. Hung it on the shop wall and was able to stand up and layout the entire harness. Can pin/zip tie it to the board so it stays put. Drill holes as necessary, etc.
Something I picked up from actually watching the guys rewire the P-38 at the scotia air museum shit-ton of years ago 🙂
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### Author:  [@88slowmarro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/88slowmarro)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/18 "2010-03-28T18:01:11Z")
what makes ya think that swap was legal adam ? lolololol
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### Author:  [@Boxersix](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boxersix)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/19 "2010-03-28T18:06:02Z")
> [@local chrome shop?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/local-chrome-shop/30482/4):
>
> what makes ya think that swap was legal adam ? lolololol
You shush your mouth! :ninja I said compliant
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### Author:  [@88slowmarro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/88slowmarro)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wiring-qs-planning-schematics-and-labelling/251136/20 "2010-03-28T18:08:05Z")
lolololol dont worry man .im good
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