Label Machine thoughts

[Midwest]

Anyone know the shrink ratio on these, also is the size on the flat or the dia? Found this on the web: This genuine Brother 5.8mm HSe-211 heat shrink tube tape is designed specifically for permanently marking and identifying cables and wires. With a shrink ratio of 2:1, the HSe-211 black on white tape is recommended for use with cables between 1.7mm and 3.2mm in diameter.

Another useful link: Brother HSe Heat Shrink Tube Product Guide - https://www.ptouchdirect.com/ptouch/brother-hse-heat-shrink-tube-guide.html
[automerge]1585666130[/automerge]
What do you guys use to shrink the tubing inside a DB?

I did use a hot air gun very carefully (one used to strip paint), till it broke of old age.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I know just how it felt.

I'm looking at a mini flame less heat gun, but it does not get very good reviews: View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heat-Shrink-Tubing-Mini-Cordless/dp/B0064DGZPG/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=Mini+heat+shrink+gun&qid=1585666064&sr=8-7

 

[Midwest]

I know just how it felt.

I'm looking at a mini flame less heat gun, but it does not get very good reviews: View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Heat-Shrink-Tubing-Mini-Cordless/dp/B0064DGZPG/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=Mini+heat+shrink+gun&qid=1585666064&sr=8-7

I did get one of those or something very similar. Couldn't work out how to get the gas in.

Got one of these, if you have the heat right down and careful. Plus you can do a Crème brûlée.

Master Class Deluxe Professional Cook's Blowtorch

Professional temperature 1300°C

www.hartsofstur.com

 

[Mike Johnson]

I have one of those as well, but the lack of flame control gives me the shivers, the mini I posted the link too has a fitting that should control the flame/heat a bit better, ah well I have persuaded myself and hit the button, will post if it's any good, but wont if I have wasted my money and made a fool of myself, again. LOL

Ohh Crème brûlée I feel a cook in coming on.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I did get one of those or something very similar. Couldn't work out how to get the gas in.

To get the gas in you have to take the whole side off the gun and remove the flintless lighter inside, it's this you fill with gas.

 

[Midwest]

To get the gas in you have to take the whole side off the gun and remove the flintless lighter inside, it's this you fill with gas.

Cheers, recall mine was a bit different to that, but in any case I binned it unfortunately.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I thought that was where my version was going to end up, but after a bit of perseverance it works quite well, the fact that it's flameless gives a bit of confidence when using it in a confined space, it has enough heat to use the guard and protect everything around it, quite pleased as it was cheap enough.

 

[R-fur]

You don't have to shrink down the heat-shrink tubes, we use the tubes all the time to ferrule wires in substation control panels and never shrink them.

 

[Mike Johnson]

These aren't ferrules, but purpose made heat shrink marking tubes for a label machine.

 

[R-fur]

Yes but in substations wire markers are universally referred to as ferrules.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Ferrel can be used when referring to a cat or even the joint in a fishing rod, but for heat shrink tubing?

 

[R-fur]

Must just be a substation thing then.

 

[Strima]

Screwfix are doing the Brother printer half price again: Brother PT-E300VP Hand-Held Label Printer - https://www.screwfix.com/p/brother-pte-300vp-hand-held-label-printing-machine/3279g

 

[Mike Johnson]

And Toolstation have it slightly cheaper: Brother PTE300VP Handheld Label Printer - https://www.toolstation.com/brother-pte300vp-handheld-label-printer/p77444

 

[Julie.]

Must just be a substation thing then.

Petty much all HV and associated cabling (protection etc) uses the term ferrule to describe the cable marker and since it usually follows BEBS - S12 still, read out from the terminal with circuit function letter followed by phase numbers 10... 30... 50... 70... 90 91..

This would include all metering even at LV (other than direct meters - non-CT driven panels)

To me

Ferrule = cable marker
Crimp (ferrule/ring/straight) = small crimp terminal for wire ends

 

[dodger421]

And Toolstation have it slightly cheaper: Brother PTE300VP Handheld Label Printer - https://www.toolstation.com/brother-pte300vp-handheld-label-printer/p77444

They don’t. It’s £52.50 inc VAT at Screwfix (Electricfix anyway) £99.00 inc VAT at Toolstation.

 

[Mike Johnson]

The equivalent machines are £104 at Screwfix and £99.0 at Toolstation, think you may have the wrong machine in your sights.

Can you provide a link?

 

[dodger421]

The equivalent machines are £104 at Screwfix and £99.0 at Toolstation, think you may have the wrong machine in your sights.

Can you provide a link?

It’s the link above, but it’s an exclusive price to Electricfix trade customers. You need to be logged into a trade account to see the half price offer.

EDIT: I don’t work for them and have no commercial connection to Screwfix or the wider group, but here’s a screenshot of the promo on their homepage.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Toolstation have the Brother PTE300VP for £49.99 in the August 2020 flyer I received today.

 

[stokielee]

Is the Brother PTE300VP worth getting then for 50 odd quid? There is a couple cheaper ones on screwfix too but not sure what the difference is.

 

[Mike Johnson]

At that sort of price may be worth it, I have the 550 and think it's brilliant, but do look up the cost of the print cartridges they are not cheap, but they do make your installations look very professional, hand written scrawl on CU's IMO are very amateur, dare I say cowboy.

 

[Strima]

The brother printer is a good bit of kit, I’ve just started using the next model and that’s really good.
I tend to get the cartridges off the internet as they’re normally a third of the price of the genuine ones.

 

[stokielee]

Thank you. I missed out when it was half price a few weeks ago on electricfix. Hopefully it'll be on offer again soon (I have £10 and £20 vouchers too so it'll be a right bargain ?)

At that sort of price may be worth it, I have the 550 and think it's brilliant, but do look up the cost of the print cartridges they are not cheap, but they do make your installations look very professional, hand written scrawl on CU's IMO are very amateur, dare I say cowboy.

The brother printer is a good bit of kit, I’ve just started using the next model and that’s really good.
I tend to get the cartridges off the internet as they’re normally a third of the price of the genuine ones.

 

[Lister1987]

I have both 300 and 550W, got the 550W as I wanted to be able to do custom templates and more importantly database and barcode/QR code lookup

 

[Mike Johnson]

Be careful If you buy your cartridges off the internet, check where they are coming from, most are manufactured in China and can take an inordinate time to get here.

I don't know if the 300 has the software interface, but that particular bit of the 500 I find very useful, but it's Windows based so will not work on a Mac unless you have Windows set up to run on your Mac.

 

[Strima]

I get mine on next day from Amazon.

One of my customers has supplied templates to use which you update the printer via the app, saves a bit of time.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Brother PT-E550WVP
links to the pc or tablet can design labels and store them on the printer and does the job.
can easily make up labels for a fuse board.
its often on offer in places I paid around £120 several months back. toolstation beat other prices by around £30

 

[Mike Johnson]

Both Hagar and Legrand have software for their individual boards, giving the spacing needed to allow labels to be printed, the Brother 550 is ideal for this.

 

[Lister1987]

Methinks a thread with brother pte550 settings for various brands may be a good idea.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Is that before or after someone puts up a tutorial for the Fluke DMS Software.

 

[daviddarwin]

I advise against using label makers with inferior tapes. You'll be forced to continue using the tape's bad performance if it's that kind. If you can exchange with other brands of tapes with long-lasting laminates, you're lucky.

 

[Timbo]

Yawn, roll over, go back to sleep for another couple of years.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Wheres the fly swatter when you need one, he will be here soon.

 

[telectrix]

I got a Dymo, £14.95 from Aldi. I use it for run of the mill stuff . Brother for the more complex labels.