Ask Slashdot: Extreme Cable Management?

An anonymous reader writes "I am not a fan of wireless except for Wi-Fi to a notebook, but have gotten frustrated by the vast amounts of tangled cables around my computers: I have two machines, four monitors, multiple external hard drives, cable modem, network switch, router, USB hubs — everything requires power and connection to the other devices. The tangles and tangles make it almost impossible to move anything without spending twenty or thirty minutes under the desk. I'd rather untie balled-up fishing line than try to snake a monitor cable out from some thirty or so other wires. Anyone have good ways to prevent this?"

Comments

I do not advocate

[alphatel]

I cannot ask you to view cableporn as it is very addictive.

Re:I do not advocate

[klui]

But I advocate this: learn from other people's mistakes. http://www.reddit.com/r/cablefail

Something tells me you don't work in IT

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

>> vast amounts of tangled cables

Really? How many?

>> I have two machines, four monitors, multiple external hard drives, cable modem, network switch, router, USB hubs — everything requires power and connection

Hmmm...something tells me you don't work in IT.

don't be a chump

[Thud457]

velcro cable ties

Whoa, dude, are you made of money?!!

You can get 45 feet of Velcro ties for like $3 over in the garden center.

Re:don't be a chump

[jeffmeden]

velcro cable ties

Whoa, dude, are you made of money?!!

You can get 45 feet of Velcro ties for like $3 over in the garden center.

Looks like someone confused Velcro the company with Velcro the "stuff". 45 feet of that and not an inch of it will stick to any other... You can get velcro the stuff at HD but dont bother with the garden variety (hah) get the version in the electrical/electronic aisle. It will run you closer to $6: find it here

Re:uh, label both ends?

[SeaFox]

I have also been caught using colored CAT-5 cables.

This.

Just recently picked up three Cat-6 Ethernet cables from Monoprice and redid my network connections. No longer will I have to figure out which beige cable goes where. Now using bright red to my main desktop, green to the secondary machine (10' each), and got a black 3' cable to the blu-ray player now (this is all on one desk). The colors will stand out compared to all the black power/monitor/usb cables in the mess, too if I'm de-tangling lines..

Also, as to the subject line I've been doing that for years with home entertainment components. Label the power cables at the mains plug/AC adapter (and at the other end if it can be detached from the device). No questions about what I'm unplugging under the desk when I need to move/change something, and no worries about accidentally plugging the wrong AC adapter plug into a device and potentially frying it.

The other thing I'd recommend is shorten cables where you can. The standard cable length may be between four and 10 feet for everything, but if you don't need it save lines. I have a one-foot Ethernet cable connecting the cable modem and the router (they are right next to each other after all).

Re:Unless you have rabbits.

[swanzilla]

You really don't want to be electrocuting rabbits. They are best stewed or braised.

Re:Unless you have rabbits.

[PerformanceDude]

No need to waste money on something like that. Buy a Jalapeno, slice it open with a knife and rub it along the length of cable. Our cat used to chew into cables. Not anymore.... Poor thing soon learned that chomping on a cable meant a very quick trip to the water bowl. May sound cruel, but is sure better than a dead cat.

Re:Unless you have rabbits.

[c0lo]

You really don't want to be electrocuting rabbits. They are best stewed or braised.

Argh! What's he doing! Stupid fat hobbit. You ruins it!

Re:Unless you have rabbits.

[neiljt]

Time to introduce cat 6