Electronic gizmos and cable organization.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

I'm specifically looking for a charging station of some sort to consolidate the rats nest of cables on my desk, but I think the more general question of cable & clutter management is valuable.

How do you manage cables? Do you organize the cables in your PC case?

Zip ties seem to be the obvious answer but I prefer velcro ties. Not as cheap, but easily repositioned.

[WhiteRice]

Yup, zip ties for things in my case. Velcro for things I use often.

If you're looking for a charging station and you're handy with wood you're must better off making your own.

However you could always repurpose something from ikea.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

If you're looking for a charging station and you're handy with wood you're must better off making your own.

You don't know me well enough to know this, but this is what happens when I try to tinkner with things:

[Rajagra]

I'm a stickler for tying up excessive cable. Bundling up the cable near the plug end with just enough slack for the plug to reach the socket comfortably and enough slack on the other side so the device can move wherever it needs.

I found (discovered? probably not) a great way to use rubber bands to tie up the excess. You fold up your bundle of wire. Wrap the rubber band around the bundle. Take one end (A) and feed it through the other (B). Pull it snug. Take end (A) and stretch it over one end of the bundled wires. Do NOT wrap it over the plug though. This allows you to readjust the free length later, or unwrap it completely, without having to unplug the device.

It's so quick and effective that I'm surprised I've never seen it done this way by anyone else.

[microsoft windows]

I gave up on trying to hide computer cables long ago. Besides, when you got 11 desktops in a messy basement, it's more trouble than it's worth trying to keep your wires from tangling.

[microsoft windows]

I'm a stickler for tying up excessive cable. Bundling up the cable near the plug end with just enough slack for the plug to reach the socket comfortably and enough slack on the other side so the device can move wherever it needs.

I found (discovered? probably not) a great way to use rubber bands to tie up the excess. You fold up your bundle of wire. Wrap the rubber band around the bundle. Take one end (A) and feed it through the other (B). Pull it snug. Take end (A) and stretch it over one end of the bundled wires. Do NOT wrap it over the plug though. This allows you to readjust the free length later, or unwrap it completely, without having to unplug the device.

It's so quick and effective that I'm surprised I've never seen it done this way by anyone else.

I'm sure you love computer speakers.

[mr_a500]

I'm a stickler for tying up excessive cable. Bundling up the cable near the plug end with just enough slack for the plug to reach the socket comfortably and enough slack on the other side so the device can move wherever it needs.

I found (discovered? probably not) a great way to use rubber bands to tie up the excess. You fold up your bundle of wire. Wrap the rubber band around the bundle. Take one end (A) and feed it through the other (B). Pull it snug. Take end (A) and stretch it over one end of the bundled wires. Do NOT wrap it over the plug though. This allows you to readjust the free length later, or unwrap it completely, without having to unplug the device.

It's so quick and effective that I'm surprised I've never seen it done this way by anyone else.

I do that too. Don't be so quick to take credit... for this ingenious method I developed. (patent pending)

[Rajagra]

Still, it's worth documenting the details, it works so well...

You fold up your bundle of wire.



Wrap the rubber band around the bundle. Take one end (A) and feed it through the other (B). Pull it snug.



Take end (A) and stretch it over one end of the bundled wires. Do NOT wrap it over the plug though.



Tidy up a bit.

[mr_a500]

Hey, you're not allowed to reproduce that without my express written consent! According to the DMCA, I can now break into your house, steal your computer, kidnap you and take you to the US (even though I'm Canadian) and sue you for 3.5 million dollars. (and you'll need to find some lawyers to "assfist" you in your defence)

[Rajagra]

According to the DMCA, I can now break into your house

According to the YMCA you can dress up like one of the Village People too.

[mr_a500]

According to the YMCA you can dress up like one of the Village People too.

Damn that legal loophole!

[Rajagra]

Gah, I coil all cables in a circular fashion.

Remember Daniel San. Wax on. Wax off.

Oops. I mean Wrap over. Wrap under.

[mr_a500]

Remember Daniel San. Wax on. Wax off.

Good advice. I think of that every time I have to wash the floor.

I always expect some little Japanese guy to come in, say "you have learned well" and give me a yellow 1948 Ford convertible. For some reason, it never happens.

[Phaedrus2129]

Zip ties for in-case stuff.

Stuff it behind my desk for peripheral stuff.

How many cables do you really have on your desk anyway? Even with my PC actually on my desk all I have is:
PC power cord
Monitor power
DVI
Headphone cord
Keyboard cord
Mouse cord


All of which tuck easily behind the desk.