FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B
Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices
Aircraft Inspection and Repair
AC 43.13-1B | 11. Aircraft Electrical Systems | 16. Wire Marking | 11-209. Types of Wire Markings
9/27/01
SECTION 16. WIRE MARKING
AC 43.13-1B CHG 1
11-205. GENERAL. The proper identifica
tion of electrical wires and cables with their
circuits and voltages is necessary to provide
safety of operation, safety to maintenance per
sonnel, and ease of maintenance.
a. Each wire and cable should be marked
with a part number. It is common practice for
wire manufacturers to follow the wire material
part number with the five digit/letter C.A.G.E.
code identifying the wire manufacturer. Ex
isting installed wire that needs replacement can
thereby be identified as to its performance ca
pabilities, and the inadvertent use of a lower
performance and unsuitable replacement wire
avoided.
11-208. PLACEMENT OF IDENTIFI-
CATION MARKINGS.
Identification
markings should be placed at each end of the
wire and at 15-inch maximum intervals along
the length of the wire. Wires less than 3 inches
long need not be identified. Wires 3 to
7 inches in length should be identified ap
proximately at the center. Added identification
marker sleeves should be so located that ties,
clamps, or supporting devices need not be re
moved in order to read the identification.
The wire identification code must be printed to
read horizontally (from left to right) or verti
cally (from top to bottom). The two methods
of marking wire or cable are as follows:
b. The method of identification should
not impair the characteristics of the wiring.
CAUTION: Do not use metallic bands
in place of insulating sleeves. Exercise
care when marking coaxial or data
bus cable, as deforming the cable may
change its electrical characteristics.
11-206. WIRE IDENTIFICATION. To fa
cilitate installation and maintenance, original
wire-marking identification is to be retained.
The wire identification marks should consist of
a combination of letters and numbers that
identify the wire, the circuit it belongs to, its
gauge size, and any other information to relate
the wire to a wiring diagram. All markings
should be legible in size, type, and color.
11-207. IDENTIFICATION AND IN-
FORMATION RELATED TO THE WIRE
AND WIRING DIAGRAMS. The wire
identification marking should consist of simi
lar information to relate the wire to a wiring
diagram.
a. Direct marking is accomplished by
printing the cable’s outer covering. (See fig
ure 11-23.)
b. Indirect marking is accomplished by
printing a heat-shrinkable sleeve and installing
the printed sleeve on the wire or cables outer
covering. Indirect-marked wire or cable
should be identified with printed sleeves at
each end and at intervals not longer than 6 feet.
The individual wires inside a cable should be
identified within 3 inches of their termination.
(See figure 11-24.)
11-209. TYPES OF WIRE MARKINGS.
The preferred method is to mark directly on
the wire. A successful requirement qualifica
tion should produce markings that meet the
marking characteristics specified in MIL-W
5088 or AS50881A without causing insulation
degradation. Teflon coated wires, shielded
wiring, multi-conductor cable, and thermocou
ple wires usually require special sleeves to
carry identification marks. There are some
wire marking machines in the market that can
be used to stamp directly on the type wires
mentioned above. Whatever method of mark
ing is used, the marking should be legible and
Par 11-205
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