Cable Organisation

[nxfxcom]

Hello,

i hope this is the right forum, i have 2 LARGE boxes filled with cables, USB Firewire, Adapters, Dongles, AV HDMI, RGB DVI and so on.

As of this point they are one large ball of cables. And every i need something i spend 2 hours untangling, does any of you know of any good organization tools, cable boxes with some kinds of wrap arounds etc.

Just something to keep it organized? Last year i had my 10 year old wrap them all up with tape and sort them, but that did not last long.

I tried to google it, but all i get is tools for cables in use, nothing for storage,

THANK YOU

 

[Lurch.]

It is possible that someone makes something that fits your aim, but Ive certainly never seen it.
Cables = spaghetti - unfortunately, its a fact of life.

 

[zhenya]

Yeah, I just keep a roll of electrical tape and a bag of rubber bands handy near the box where I store my cables. The only way I've found of managing them is to be diligent about wrapping them up before putting them in there. One of those big bags of rubber bands from an office supply store goes a LONG ways towards this, but the rubber bands don't last forever (ie. they eventually dry out and break).

Also, I occasionally move all the cables that I am not likely to use any time soon to a separate box in the basement. The upstairs box is only for stuff that may come in handy in the relatively near future.

 

[websyndicate]

Hello,

I work for a Microsoft data center and Have worked in IT for years the best thing I say is buy a roll of velcro and cut it to the size needed. That how almost all big IT places do it.

 

[websyndicate]

See how uniform it looks

 

[Mac'nCheese]

http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=cable straps&origkw=cable straps&sr=1

Use these. Roll em up from elbow to hand and then put these on em. Then you can lie em flat in a box. Color code them so you just need to pull out a red one for a usb cable, blue for firewire, etc.

 

[codymac]

Large Ziploc freezer bags: cables go into bags, bags go into box.

 

[zhenya]

http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=cable straps&origkw=cable straps&sr=1

Use these. Roll em up from elbow to hand and then put these on em. Then you can lie em flat in a box. Color code them so you just need to pull out a red one for a usb cable, blue for firewire, etc.

Those are great for cables that you are going to use regularly, but at .60/each, just way too expensive for the dozens of cables many of us keep around just in case...

 

[Mac'nCheese]

Those are great for cables that you are going to use regularly, but at .60/each, just way too expensive for the dozens of cables many of us keep around just in case...

15 bucks for two dozen of them. Can't possibly be a deal breaker for a mac owner. I guess you can make your own with twist ties from a hobby shake.

 

[imeridian]

Those are great for cables that you are going to use regularly, but at .60/each, just way too expensive for the dozens of cables many of us keep around just in case...

I just bought 10 packs of 6" velcro cable ties from Monoprice.com for less than $4.

 

[Mac'nCheese]

I just bought 10 packs of 6" velcro cable ties from Monoprice.com for less than $4.

Perfect! OP should get them. They should solve his problem

 

[zhenya]

I just bought 10 packs of 6" velcro cable ties from Monoprice.com for less than $4.

How many in the packs?

As much as I like the velcro, I still prefer rubber bands for quick and easy organization because it's quicker than putting the velcro on. YMMV.

 

[imeridian]

Six in each pack, item number 5815.

 

[monokakata]

Large Ziploc freezer bags: cables go into bags, bags go into box.

+1.

And write in Sharpie on the bags, or put a note inside that you can read from outside. Some of those cables look a lot alike when they're bagged.

 

[chown33]

I've used both of these. Velcro is more flexible. Nylon is easier to nail through (drill a hole first).

Velcro, 8", $6.81 pkg of 100:
http://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Reusable-Self-Gripping-Inches-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6

Nylon, start at $46 box of 1000:
http://www.uline.com/BL_3204/Releasable-Cable-Ties

I still have more than half a box of 1000, after at least 5 years, and even giving away handfuls to some friends. I bought the shortest ones, and when I need longer wraps, I just link two or more together.

 

[CJS7070]

I put each different cord in a ziplock bag in a drawer. It's not too difficult to keep up with and is infinitely easier to find things, plus there's no untangling needed!

 

[alphaod]

Releasable cable ties are like $5-6 for a pack of 100 on Monoprice.

I coil up my cables and then use two of the cable ties to secure them. Then I put them in a zip-lock bag and label the bag with the length, cable type, and condition.

I have at least a dozen boxes full of cables and I still buy new cables, so it goes to show I'm doing a lot of work for nothing.