wire numbering and organization for larger layouts

[cruikshank]

Would you please share how you go about tagging and cataloging your wiring for larger layouts.  Do you use those small tapes with numbers? Certain number for mains, then branches etc ?  Looking for later troubleshooting ease.  Thanks,  Dave

[Sturgeon-Phish]

My layout is not large but I have some suggestions.  I used some of these and wished I had used all of them.

Keep sketches and diagrams.

Do use the wire ID tags and reference them on the sketches

Use a consistant wire color scheme

Use terminal blocks and terminal ends

Along a wire run periodically re lable the wire number

Keep line runs organized and seperated as much as possible 

I'm sure athers will add moe

Jim 

[luther_stanton]

I use a basic color coding to start with.  Yellow for accessory bus, 12 Ga red for hot (center rail) bus, 12Ga black for common bus, Blue / Green for block feeders, white for block common, 16 Ga red for accessories, 16 Ga black for accessory common.  I included gauge on the red / black to differentiate - the difference in gauge is easy to see in this case.

I then borrow my wife's label maker.  She got it at an office supply store.  You can enter the label text which prints out on a "custom" label with adhesive backing.  I usually label both ends with the function (like Ice House or Coal Loader) as well as the middle if it is a long run.

A wiring diagram noting the colors and tracking with the labels would be helpful as well, but I have not gotten there yet .

[phillyreading]

I found that buying large screw eyes helps with keeping wires in place, run the wires thru the screw eyes, as others have said label your wires too.

Lee F.

[dbaker48]

As Im sure your aware, cable ties are available in a number of colors.  You can easily creating a color coding system with them.  Using standard white through out and then at critical points or wire ends using the specific colors.