Cable Management

[kny3twalker]

just wondering what everyone had done to tie up their rats nest to the best of their ability
I know about wire/plastic twist ties and such but looking for something extra

[mpegripper]

plastic zip ties are the best way to go, you can also use like heat shrink wrap, but its expensive

wiring tubes help too

[Opus4]

I bought small plastic clips from Home Depot (I think) that close the loop like handcuffs (for lack of a better visual description). They are pretty easy to adjust. Some wires just use the twist ties they came with to bundle the extra wire. The wires are still a bit of a mess, but people who come over really think I know where they all go.

- Andy

[mdmint]

Originally Posted by Opus4

I bought small plastic clips from Home Depot (I think) that close the loop like handcuffs (for lack of a better visual description). They are pretty easy to adjust. Some wires just use the twist ties they came with to bundle the extra wire. The wires are still a bit of a mess, but people who come over really think I know where they all go.

- Andy

I've used both twisties and zip ties at home. Zip ties far preferable and what I normally use. Zip ties are also what normally used in professional Server installations and the like, often included with the Server hardware package. For better airflow and cable management flat cables can be replaced with round, or flat cables can be carefully rolled round and/or folded (but not hard creased) at turns to tightly follow case lines.

[Blue]

Spiral cable wrap also works well...

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...%5Fid=278-1638

[GbrNole]

built-in entertainment center works pretty well for hiding that stuff

[kny3twalker]

built-in entertainment center works pretty well for hiding that stuff

I suppose and normally I let it do the hiding
but with a computer added in
this just gets to be to big of a mess and many of the cables
I bought a little long and such
I definitely need something

I have been using zip ties actually in the past but taking it down is a pain

spiral cable wrap is much too small but thanks

I guess I will just finish using zip ties and twist ties
and thanks

[Gog]

I use double sided velcro tape

I screwed in (with a large washer) short lenghts of velcro strips like one-wrap http://www.fastenation.com/straps5.t...60630874891299 all around the edge of my desk and the back of my entertainment center.

Cleans up nicely and I can change things up when I need to.

Gog

[Outvit]

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....5&type=product

This is one of the best products I've found for this. It is the same cable protective covers they put on the 12volt (20 pin) ATX motherboard power plug. It comes in six foot lengths and the entire thing has a velcro easy open side that you just put the cables in, Velcro it up and you got it done. I've used it for like everything. I got like 30 feet of that stuff in my house. Haha. When I bought it, it was on a 40% off sale so I just got all the stuff I'd ever need for what I had in my house at the time. BestBuy is the only place I’ve found it but I bet you it is many other places. Best part is, it is damn near indestructible. Unless you deliberately cut through it with scissors or a knife nothing will happen to it. You can crush it, flex it so it goes through extremely cramped areas, etc...

If your cables are well shielded, and midrange quality.
It should not even matter if you bundle power cables in the same wrap or not.

[stanger89]

Or, instead of getting ripped off at BB (where the stuff is $3/foot) you can get some here:
http://www.cableorganizer.com/braided-sleeving/
And in fancy colors to boot.

Or here:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...number=082-396

[Outvit]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Or, instead of getting ripped off at BB (where the stuff is $3/foot) you can get some here:
http://www.cableorganizer.com/braided-sleeving/
And in fancy colors to boot.

Or here:
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...number=082-396

I got mine on a great sale, so it was not that much, plus the ones you linked to cannot be opened from the side so anything thick like a VGA or DVI cable will be next to impossible to get through that sleeve.

[stanger89]

You mean like this:
http://www.cableorganizer.com/f6-wrap-around/

[Outvit]

Originally Posted by stanger89

You mean like this:
http://www.cableorganizer.com/f6-wrap-around/

Eh sort of...The one I have has velcro. I'm not sure how that side stays together.
It does not really say. It just says there is a 25 percent overlap.

[stanger89]

Yeah, didn't realize the one you linked openned down the side, explains the high price somewhat.

[Gog]

Do you think that thing is cat-proof ?

I use a plastic cover that's split down the side for wires that come out of the relative protection of my desk. If the cat eats through my long DVI cable I'm going to loose it... But the tubing is cheap plastic, not really flexible. I'm wondering if that mesh would be enough.

Gog

[broderp]

Since my HT system takes up an entire wall, I screwed wood on the wall behind (strips of 3/4 thick x 2 incheswide)the entertainment center at around 36" from the floor. I then bought plastic "c" clamp that I can screw every 2 feet. My cables are being supported by the wall and the c clamps they are in and where needed, go to the equipment. Cables can weigh a lot, so proper support is in order. My room is deep enough that I actually have about 10" from the wall to the back of my equipment, as an "airspace" so I can roll the TV out and easily access and read/see what I'm doing. (no guessing or feeling for connectors.)

[Outvit]

Originally Posted by Gog

Do you think that thing is cat-proof ?

I use a plastic cover that's split down the side for wires that come out of the relative protection of my desk. If the cat eats through my long DVI cable I'm going to loose it... But the tubing is cheap plastic, not really flexible. I'm wondering if that mesh would be enough.

Gog

The mesh is pretty damn strong since the material its made with is very strong and very flexible. It will provide a really good protective barrier from abrasions and scratches. I think it is more than enough to discourage nosey kitties and puppies. My puppy that chews through everything on the planet could not seem to get through it. So, I figure that’s as good a test as any. I was able to twist, contort, crush, squeeze and just about anything else with this stuff to fit my cable bundles out of the house pets reach anyway. Cats in general aren't very patient creatures so I think the cat is likely to get bored and find something else to do rather than stay there for hours on end chewing at your cable management system.

Though, I wouldn't consider anything pet proof fully...
A determined animal in general can get through just about anything with enough time.

[rich_l]

Over christmas i was going to overhaul the computer wiring, but then i realized i wanted a new psu so it would have been pointless to do anything else. (Ideas i had included shortening some of the cables and terminating the auxilary p4 cables that i dont use)

Anyways, i sleeved my current psu cables awhile back with a antec sleeving kit(~$7). First one was hard, but after that it got really simple. Dont buy a molex removal tool, just use a really small flathead screw driver, just as easy. Anyways, it definitely made the cables easier to move around/route and they look better, even though they arent visible.

Here are some links i used.
site 1
site 2
(i used the same sleeving kit as the 2nd site.)

outside the case i just use zip ties.

[kny3twalker]

thanks for all the ideas

[heffe2001]

I use the double-sided velcro myself, I think I got like a 20-30' roll on ebay a while back, was pretty cheap. Mine's not pre-cut, so you can cut it to whatever length you need.