Legality of using Tape for Labels?

[Goobergunch]

As the head programming/control-system guy on my team, I've been using masking tape wrapped around PWM cables as labels to indicate the location on the RC that the cables are plugged in to. However, I'm unsure of the exact legality of this, and it would be rather nice to know before the Friarbot has to be shipped.

The applicable rule is: Adhesive backed tapes are NOT allowed except as follows:
• Velcro tape or double-sided sticky foam may be used for attaching components to the robot.
• Reflective tape may be used with optical sensors in small amounts.
• Adhesive backed labels may be used for labeling purposes.
• Electrical tape may only be used as an electrical insulator.

Although masking tape isn't primarily considered a label, I'm using it as a label (the PWMs aren't taped to anything and there's no adhesive bits waving around). Would this be considered legal under R28 or should I come up with an alternative labeling system?

(If anybody wants pictures for clarification, I can post them tomorrow when I'm working on the bot.)

[Billfred]

You would be following the spirit of the rule--adhesive for labeling purposes.

But to be extra-sure, I'd either go with real labels, or hit up the FIRST Q&A to be sure.

[Mike Betts]

The "spirit" of the rules is to prevent duct tape machines. I can not imagine any inspector complaining about masking tape as a lable (unless it has another functional purpose as well).

[russell]

Lol, last year I wanted to electrically charge our frame, then cover the whole bot in tape and say it was for insulating purposes. Then I settled down and read the rule book :ahh: .

Yeah, back on topic I would personally say it is legal as long as it is clearly not doing anything else, but asking, or just using regular labels wouldnt hurt anything.

[Wetzel]

You are fabricating labels from stock material. er..uh... :roll eyes:
If it is not used durring a match, then non functional decoration.

You could strech all sorts of rules to cover it, but the spirit allows it. A bolt is a bolt, until it becomes a traction device. Tape is tape until used to label.

As you described it, tape as a label is allowed.

Wetzel

[Andy B]

We did that same thing last year and judges were happy to see the labeling rather than discouraged by it. I would say do it for sure, helps a lot in case all the wires get pulled off or something. (That happened to us last year at a meeting and came back the next day to see a lot of wires floating around... took a lot of trial and error to plug them back into the right ports.)

[5dimes]

I agree with above, it is quite encouraged to color code your wires.

[Wetzel]

Item 14 on the Inspection Check List

No tape except ...3) Labels..

Wetzel