Wire Types Guide

Complete guide to managing wire types in EZ Wire

Last updated: February 6, 2026

What are Wire Types?

Wire types define the specifications of wires used in your harness, including gauge (AWG/metric/SAE), color, and part numbers. You enable wire types from the parts library or create custom ones, making them available when creating connections between connector cavities.

Quick Navigation

Enabling Wire Types Creating Custom Wire Types Disabled Wire Types

Enabling Wire Types from the Parts Library

Select wire types from the pre-populated parts library

EZ Wire includes a comprehensive parts library of wire types with standard specifications. You must enable wire types before they appear in connection dropdowns.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1
Navigate to Wire Types
Click "Wire Types" in the main navigation menu to access the wire types management page.
2
View Available Wire Types
The "Available Wire Types" tab shows all wire types from the parts library that aren't enabled yet.
3
Filter and Search
Use the search filters to find specific wire types by part number, gauge (e.g., "20 AWG"), or color (e.g., "Black", "Red").
4
Select Wire Types
Click checkboxes to select the wire types you need. You can select multiple at once for bulk enabling.
5
Enable Selected
Click "Enable Selected" to add the wire types to your enabled list. They now appear in connection dropdowns throughout your harnesses. If you already have a tab open you must refresh the page to see the new wire types.
6
View Enabled Wire Types
Switch to the "Enabled Wire Types" tab to see all wire types currently available in your dropdowns.

Pro Tip: Enable a variety of gauges and colors upfront so you have options when designing. You can always enable more later as needed.

Creating Custom Wire Types

Add custom wire specifications not in the parts library

If your exact wire specification isn't in the parts library, you can create custom wire types with your own specifications.

Creating a Custom Wire Type

1
Click "Create Wire Type"
Find the button on the Wire Types page to open the creation form.
2
Enter Part Number
Provide a unique part number or identifier for your custom wire type.
3
Select Wire Gauge
Choose the wire gauge from the dropdown (supports AWG, metric, and SAE wire gauges).
4
Select Wire Color
Choose from the available wire colors. Visual color previews help identify the correct option.
5
Create and Enable
Submit the form to create your custom wire type. It's automatically enabled and available in your dropdowns.

Disabled Wire Types in Existing Connections

How EZ Wire handles wire types that have been disabled

If you disable a wire type that's already being used in connections, EZ Wire handles this gracefully to preserve your existing designs.

How It Works

Existing Connections Remain Visible

If a connection already uses a disabled wire type, that wire type continues to display normally in the connection row with its gauge, color, and visual color chips.

Available Within the Same Harness

If a disabled wire type is used anywhere in a harness, it will appear in the wire type dropdown for all connections within that same harness. This makes it easy to use the same wire types consistently throughout a design.

Not Available in Other Harnesses

Disabled wire types will NOT appear in wire type dropdowns for new harnesses or harnesses that don't currently use them anywhere.

Can Be Changed

You can change a connection from a disabled wire type to an enabled one at any time. The disabled wire type will remain available in the harness as long as at least one connection still uses it.

Important

This behavior protects your existing designs from breaking when you manage your wire type library. You can safely disable wire types without affecting connections that already use them.

Next Steps: Creating Connections

Once you've enabled wire types, you're ready to create connections

Now that you have wire types enabled, you can create connections between connector cavities. Each connection represents a physical wire in your harness.

The Connections Guide covers creating connections, enabling multiple connections per cavity, and managing connection status.

Best Practices

Tips for efficient wire type management

Enable Common Gauges Early
Enable a variety of commonly used wire gauges and colors upfront to have options when designing. You can always enable more later as needed.
Use Custom Wire Types When Needed
If your exact wire specification isn't in the parts library, create a custom wire type with your own part number and specifications.
Disable Unused Wire Types
Keep your wire type list manageable by disabling types you're not using. Existing connections will still display the disabled types.

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