I have a handheld electronic label printer similar to this:

It prints on plastic "M-Tape" that you peel off the back to expose some adhesive. M-Tape should be easy to find at any office supply website or store, and depending on the model of label maker you get, is available in many different colors and widths (I just use plain white though since it's as common as dirt).

What I'll do is type what I want the label to say, followed by a bunch of blank space, and then repeat the same text a second time. That way after I print the label off, I can just peel off the back, loop it around the cable and stick it to itself, creating a little tag that has the same text on both sides, like this:

The labels by themselves are fairly durable, but for extra durability, you can also loop some clear packaging/scotch tape around them if you desire.

Probably the only downside to these tags is that if they're exposed to direct sunlight or bright UV light (fluorescent lighting), they can fade after a couple years, requiring the labels to be replaced. Otherwise, in dark or not overly-bright areas, they can last years.

If I'm in a hurry and don't have my label maker with me, I can do the same thing by hand-writing on a small scrap of paper in the same manner (label twice with lots of space in between), and use scotch tape to loop it around the cable in the same manner as the M-Tape labels. Good thing about paper is that you can easily make different colored tags and text using different markers if desired. It's also cheap and quick. I personally prefer using the label maker and M-Tape though because my handwriting is atrocious and sometimes have trouble reading my own handwriting long after the fact. 😜

Its good idea, how much for printer and tapes?

I have used white insulation tape and just written what the cable is, or sometimes a white sticker on a cable where I write what the cable is. If I had a label printer I would use one instead.

I would use sharpies to mark light-colored cables if I had any real need to ID which equipment belonged to a particular cable. No decomposing adhesives becoming a gummy mess over the years.

ruthan wrote:

Its good idea, how much for printer and tapes?

Around $25-$50 for the label maker, depending on model and features, plus about $5 per roll of the M-Tape for plain white (I imagine different colors would be about the same). Also need batteries for it, some use AA while others use AAA, typically around $3-$5 per pack of 4 batteries. These are US Dollars, so prices where you are may vary. I've never tried it with mine, but it might also be possible to use rechargeable batteries with it if you have some of the right size.

I've never had trouble with M-Tape labels leaving behind any "sticky residue", but on the other hand I've never had need to remove them. The few times where I've had to replace a label (either due to fading or reassignment of the cable), I simply stuck the new label over top of the old one.

Hello,
i got 1 this machine - its quite batteries eater - in needs additional 6 AA, its working fine, i had not time / mood too much reading the manual.

Its possible somehow set small waste tape margin for printing? Its quite big.