Need wire source

[dh]

Anybody know where I can get a rainbow pack of wire from? I want to wire the thing correctly the first time, and make it easy to troubleshoot. I haven't seen a decent sized multi color wire package anywhere, I can only find them in 100'+ rolls.

The thought has occured to me to spray paint the wires whatever color I want them, has anybody done this?

[Geron]

Same color electrical tape on each matching end/connection???? I've done that before. Comes in a variety of colors.

g

[Shadow Catcher]

Having recently finished changing the main breaker panel in our house to accommodate a lock out for emergency generator and running wires from the generator to the box. I became very familiar with the folks at Gross Electric in Toledo a professional supplier. They were able to supply four color wire when I had to buy wire for the air conditioner thermostat controls. So try a professional supplier that deals with industrial.
The other alternative is to number the wires, there are professional number tapes for this purpose, or buy colored tape

[Arne]

I've painted plastic before, and on some, it remains sticky forever (even using paint for plastic.... if you go that route, do a test piece first.

[Dale M.]

Check bulk wholesale/retailers on web....

WIRE – SWITCHES – CONNECTORS

https://www.delcity.net/
http://waytekwire.com
http://www.tiewraps.com/
http://cableorganizer.com/


INSTRUMENTS

http://www.egauges.com/default.asp
http://www.stewartwarner.com/

HARDWARE – LIGHTING - FUSES – FUSE PANELS

http://www.cool-leds.com/
http://www.wiringproducts.com/index1.html
http://www.k-four.net/
http://www.imperialinc.com/catD.shtml
http://www.grote.com/prodcat/
http://www.bussmann.com/
http://www.truck-lite.com/
http://www.centechwire.com/catalog/index.html

This is partial list and some items are probably not TD appropriate, but it was taken from my dune buggy site.....

Also on color thing ... Electricity does not care what color the insulation is on the wire, instead of trying to paint on colors why not try numbered wiring tags instead of color code, "number code"....

http://www.delcity.net/store/Wire-Markers/p_795861.a_1

Dale

[Mike_La]

dh,

When making up a wire harness, I use these wire marker dispensers.



You should be able to purchase this at a local Industrial Electronics Store.


Mike

[dh]

I thought about the numbers, we use the Japanese version of the number tape at work. It is actually little plastic tubes with numbers printed on them, slip them on the wire BEFORE you crimp on the connector, seems to be alot more durable than the tape. Anyway, my problem is that if I see a wire, I want to know what it goes to. If I have to trace it to the end where it is numbered, it really isn't saving me time.

[bobhenry]

Put the little number stickers on every 6 inches on the length of the wire!

[Dale M.]

Draw schematic with circuit numbers on it... Paste it inside electrical area....

Dale

[kartvines]

I did all three, went to Harbor Freight and bought a wire warehouse [I think it came with 9 spools of colored wires, and then bought a spool of white and black] that provided a lot of the wire I needed, I also tagged each with a number that corresponded to a hand drawn wiring diagram. Not perfect but I think it did the job.

[dmckruit]

I ended up getting a spool of the red 14 gauge wire from home depot, and picked up a can of black plastic spray paint. I sprayed painted some wire black. It dried quickly and I didn't have to pay for another roll of wire when one was more than enough.

[wlooper89]

Same color electrical tape on each matching end/connection???? I've done that before. Comes in a variety of colors.g

I did that also. Home Depot or Lowes has an assortment pack of five colors of electrical tape. The 3M tape seems to be good quality and does not get sticky and messy like the regular black tape.

Toward the end I was up to 3 different colors of tape in a specific order beginning nearest the connector, with the tape colors on both ends of the wires. Of course it is necessary to keep a list. I used a spread sheet with a row for each wire, but a text document would work. I made columns for connector type, tape colors, from, to, wire size, voltage AC or DC and wire color. When I want to change something about the wiring it is very handy to get out the list and be able to identify the wires.

Bill

[dlmarti]

I use zipcord for all DC circuits that are outside of an enclosure (ie. not in a product).

zipcord is much easier to run than normal wires, and you don't mess up the pairs.

Too label I use either writable labels or colored electrical tape.

I make up harness assemblies by using powerpoles (which are buildable into harness plugs).

[mikeschn]

I just use black and red, and label the end of the wire if necessary.

Mike...