#diy #tools #organization
I often have a need to label wires and cables. Anything from 18ga hookup wire in electronics to thermostat wire to 14/12/10/8ga electrical wire to HDMI cables, and more.
I've long advocated for Dymo labels like my trusty old Rhino 4200 in combination with inexpensive generic label cartridges. I recently was shown how nice the heat shrink labels are which DON'T FALL OFF(!!!).
![[Pasted image 20240516121948.png]]
These are available in "black on white" and "black on yellow" in 1/4" (6mm), 3/8" (9mm), 1/2" (12mm), and 3/4" (19mm) nominal sizes. The size listed is the FLATTENED width. Dymo lists these as a 3:1 shrink ratio.
I've had good luck with the "Aonomi" brand of generics on Amazon.
## 1/4" Wide
*This is a good size for very small wire: as small as 22 gauge hookup wire, and as large as #12 THHN (snug fit on).*
Diameter (unshrunk) = 3.8mm
Diameter (maximum shrink) = ~1.3mm
(6mm * 2 = 12mm circumference / 2pi = 1.9mm radius)
White = DYMO 18051
Yellow = DYMO 18052
## 3/8" Wide
*This works well on a variety of wire sizes: as small as #14 THHN, and as large as #10 THHN.*
Diameter (unshrunk) = 5.7mm
Diameter (maximum shrink) = ~1.9mm
White = DYMO 18053
Yellow = DYMO 18054
## 1/2" Wide
Diameter (unshrunk) = ~7.6
Diameter (maximum shrink) = ~2.5 mm
White = DYMO 18055
Yellow = DYMO 18056
## 3/4" Wide
*This fits well over 10/2, 12/2, 12/3 NM-B (Romex). Probably 10/3, but untested.*
Diameter (unshrunk) = ~12.1 mm
Diameter (maximum shrink) = ~4.0 mm
White = DYMO 18057
Yellow = DYMO 18058
## Common Wire and Cable Diameters
| Type | Diameter (mm) |
| ------------------------------- | ------------- |
| #14 THHN Stranded | 3.0 |
| #12 THHN Stranded | 3.6 |
| #10 THHN Stranded | 4.3 |
| #8 THHN | 5.9 |
| #6 THHN | 6.4 |
| #4 THHN | 8.4 |
| #3 THHN | 9.1 |
| #2 THHN | 9.9 |
| #1 THHN | 11.4 |
| 1/0 THHN | 12.7 |
| 2/0 THHN | 13.7 |
| 3/0 THHN | 15.3 |
| 4/0 THHN | 16.8 |
| 12/2 MC | 12.3 |
| 18/5 Solid Thermostat Cable | 4.5 |
| CAT6A | 5.8 |
| 22 gauge hookup wire (stranded) | 1.5 |
| 12/2 NM-B (Romex) | ~4.3 x 10.2mm |