Hello,

To everyone using EasyPower, how is everyone doing the labels? Did you buy a label printer, such as Duralabel to print the labels? Is anyone using a 3rd party to print labels, like sent EasyPower spreadsheet of labels?

wbd,
Although I do not use EasyPower here, I have been outputting my results from SKM into a spreadsheet that I use to print the labels from, using standard Avery labels on a laser printer. (Although they don't work very well outdoors...)

I have been using these weatherproof labels. These come in either inkjet or laser. I have my own Excel sheet for the printing. I can't say how many years they will hold up outside. I've had them in the field for about one year now and they still look good. I prefer the inkjet as I think the ink layer is thicker and the color darker.

This page lists all the labels, look for the weatherproof ones:

http://www.onlinelabels.com/Products/OL5100wj.htm#MaterialsPricing

I use a thermal transfer printer (Brady Tagus T300) that can print on a variety of media and label stock sizes. Rolls of glossy and UV resistant 4x6" Arc Flash labels can be ordered with the orange "WARNING" or red "DANGER" headings pre-printed on the label. This produces a quality product that is weather and UV resistant. The peel-off adhesive back is removed and the label can be applied to clean, dry surfaces. These labels are printed directly from EasyPower, although you might have to adjust the label xml code to get your desired label format.

I'm using SKM also. I'd like to find out from haze10 or WDeanN about your Excel labels. Are you exporting data other than the standard arc-flash table info to Excel or do you have to so something in data visualizer? I'd like to be able to build my own labels based on information and data locked and hidden in SKM's database.

I'm using Avery 6575 White Durable I.D. Labels. They are 8-1/2 x 11 and make an easy to read label applied to an MCC or switchgear. They are water resistant and work well for my applications. Almost all of my gear is indoors or covered to protect from the elements, so I don't have to worry about hard rains, but I suspect the label would last some time even in that environment. I just print to our color laser printer using a modified template. They also come in two labels per sheet and the software is smart enough to know to print two labels per sheet for smaller labels (such as lighting panels).

TxEngr

That's pretty much what I do for the outdoor labels. Avery weatherproof shipping labels. The coating on the labels doesn't play well with some color laser printer inks I'm told. I've had minimal printing problems with the HP color Laserjets, though.

I wrote my own excel file for the IEEE formulas. Mine is a little different. For the AFB I compare the 4ft default, to the Art 130 formulas, to IEEE D solved to 1.2 cal. Then it selects whichever is greater. I can also enter minimums for IE and AFB in case I want to use minimums like IE 4.0 and AFB 10ft. The same excel sheet then transfers the info to template on another sheet for four labels, and that goes to the printer. You have to tweek the template to the printer a little bit for the margins but once you get it right you can run hundreds of labels without trouble. You can also look at Arcadvisor.com at their on line calculator, I think they have a label template. But its not customizable like mine with minimums and comparisons. I don't think any of the commercial softwares does a comparison of the different methods but some do let you put in minimums.

i did a small software in excel
first it take the easy power output and set column with and head title
in french..(quebec) and set arc flash level cell color coreponding to level

after that it create tags from the easy power info (with a macro)
we just print it out in pdf and send it to our neigbour (he do sticker and stuff)

I use the Brady Globalmak color & cut printer. I print from the worse case scenario report of Easypower on 4 x 6 labels.

The Brady printer comes with MarkWare software to create from a template or make your own various shape and sizes of AF labels or any other label. I make smaller versions of the same label for safety switches or smaller devices using the data from the worst case scenario and put into smaller label. Slow, but if your not in the business should work great.

I must warn you labels are an expensive process. The vinyl tape cost around 200.00 @200' and the ribbon is ~ 100.00 if I remember right and the two tone tape such as orange and black goes fast. The colors are in 8 inch panels so if you use 4 inch of orange say bye-bye to the rest of the orange on that panel.

Makes great labels that have a long life outdoors and indoors. But be prepared to shell out the doe.

You can buy the vinyl tape with the orange stripe already on the tape. You just use the black ribbon it’s faster but it makes you use 4 x 6 labels only. You can always go with two individual ribbons one orange and one black. You have to swap out and wind backwards and you can use 100% of each ribbon color with no waste. Takes more time.

DuraLabel Printer

I noticed the first post, a year ago, mentioned Duralabel printers for making arc flash labels, and the most recent post the Brady GlobalMark. So there is full disclosure, I work for the company that makes DuraLabel printers and I write an arc flash blog (the #1 result if you do a Google search for "Arc Flash Blog").

You can check out what I'm going to say yourself. If you give us a call our customer service staff can let you know where to go to see comparison videos. We can even offer free trials of our printers.

DuraLabel printers work with all the software being discussed... SKM, ESA, ETAP, and making labels is not nearly as costly as with the GlobalMark. You can save in the range of 30-50% over what labels made with the GlobalMark cost. DuraLabel supplies meet or exceed GlobalMark quality, but cost a lot less because you buy them direct. Plus DuraLabel printers don't waste ribbon as described here.

Some people are talking about making durable outdoor labels. DuraLabel does that. DuraLabel printers print vinyl arc flash labels from 4" x 6" up to 8.8" x 12.8" in size. They are moisture, sunlight, chemical and abrasion resistant... giving you long, long life.

I just thought I'd fill in some of the gaps about where the latest technology is at for making arc flash labels. I've just found this forum so I'll pop in every now and then.