Cable Marking When Using Switches

[pcwortex]

Hello,

I hope you won't mind me asking this question here. I would like advice on how you mark cables when we have a 2-position switch using two NO contacts. I made a video. The switch is SGA1, and both of its contacts are numbered 3, so the cable marking becomes SGA1:3. However, if I disconnect both cables, how do I know which one connects where? What do you do in such cases?

[rhesusminus]

I'd normally say that they are 13/14 and 23/24 based on which "slot" they're inserted into.

[pcwortex]

I agree with you when we have, for example, the XB7ND33 switch. It has a very clear terminal description: (23-24) NO and (13-14) NO

What should we do if we have, for example, a Schneider Electric 3-position switch XB5AD33? One NO contact terminal description is 3/4, and the description of another NO contact terminal is also 3/4. I can't figure out how to tie the wire marking to a specific NO terminal input. I cannot have two wires with the same marking when those wires have different functions. Do we need to print and stick any labels on NO contact?

[arshdeepsingh404]

Hi @pcwortex 

This depends a lot on how you mark your wires. I have seen many users separating Cable Marking vs Wire marking to avoid the situation you are in.

All the individual wires in a cable are marked with their own wire numbers which carries a specific function and the main cable get a Tag on however you like tag cables but independent of the wires inside the cable.

You shouldn't really have duplicate wire numbers unless its an extension of same wire like 24VDC and 0VDC.

This keeps its easy especially when you running cables with up to 25 conductors. When each wire is labelled uniquely with its functions and there are terminal blocks with same marking in the remote panels/junction boxes, makes life easier for everyone.

[rhesusminus · Accepted solution]

My experience is that the people in the shop looks at the contacts as 13/14 and 23/24 from left to right, when seen like the picture you attached.

If you want to be extra sure, put labeles on the contacts. But, how would they know which contact gets what label 😜?

[pcwortex]

Let's close this topic, as there isn't really an answer except to buy the correct contacts.