Tangled - How do I manage this cable mess?

[Jose_49]

Yo! I know many of you possess this problem and have some workaround. I haven't found an effective way on handling this.

 

As you can see in the pictures, I'm having a "spaghetti" problem. Lots of cables tangled, and I don't know how to handle this madness! This has brought down several cables: USB, Aux, to a non-working state.

 

I tried:

 

- Using some Amazon package boxes and pass several cables through it . (Worked for a time ; I would take a package box and create two holes in the front and in the back and pass the cables through them)

- Using rubber bands to grab several cables together.

- Use plastic bags as wrappers

 

But I haven't found some effective way on handling this. The main problem of all of this is that  from time to time I take my devices with me to other places: I take my external hard drives to a friend's house, move the video game consoles to grandma's, etc, etc. etc. So my setup gets disbanded. There's also the problem with the hard drive cables, that I keep connecting and disconnecting them; they end up overlapping each other and creating a spaghetti mess (2 / 4 cables are already defective).

 

I need a way that I can freely move some cables and keep the others tight, without having this mess.

 

What is the best way to solve this problem?

 

Thanks for all the replies in advance,

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The Evil Overlord]

I use cable wraps, (I'll pre build my rig, away from it's final location, see which cable needs to go where, then disassemble the rig leaving the cables, wrap, and finally build the rig in the location it will be placed in)

 

gimmee a sec, I'll go look for the wrap I use.....

 

edit

 

similar to this one

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Spiral-Cable-Wrap-Tidy-Hide-Banding-Loom-PC-TV-Home-Cinema-Wire-Management-/200995432320?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item2ecc42e780

 

 

but pls note

 

you WILL have to take the rig apart, or at the very least, move it, then trace which cable needs to go where first.

 

any removable cables will need to find another location (I use my front usb's for removable devices now, but I used to have all cables out the back of the pc at one time)

I've actually found it's tidier and not all that inconvenient to just plug in and unplug the cables in the front ports as needed.

[Anibal P]

Don't think velcro will help much, too much junk, maybe time to trim the mess to a manageable cluster, and not move things as much, just looking to break something important instead of just cables   

[Jose_49]

 

 

but pls note

 

you WILL have to take the rig apart, or at the very least, move it, then trace which cable needs to go where first.

 

any removable cables will need to find another location (I use my front usb's for removable devices now, but I used to have all cables out the back of the pc at one time)

I've actually found it's tidier and not all that inconvenient to just plug in and unplug the cables in the front ports as needed.

Thanks a lot for the side note... One little thing... I currently own a laptop and no desktop (for now)  .

 

Edit:

The spiral cable will come in handy. I have just set my eyes on it.

[devHead]

Visit monoprice.com.  That's where I've gotten all my cables and cable organization paraphernalia.  It is the best site for this kind of thing.

[nosense]

Cable raceway and maybe a desk with better wire management.

[The Evil Overlord]

Thanks a lot for the side note... One little thing... I currently own a laptop and no desktop (for now)  .

 

Edit:

The spiral cable will come in handy. I have just set my eyes on it.

Oh that's a subwoofer, Doh! Sorry dude

[ShareShiz]

IDK but you need to get rid of some stuff LOL.

 

 

But please.... Move your ExHDDs away from your Sub. That is, if you don't want them to fail.

 

I usually unplug everything and plug things in one at a time putting wraps at junctions

[SnailSlug]

I see at least one plug adapter. Lose the adapters and get cables with specific plugs on each end. Monoprice is good if you reach the free shipping bar, otherwise, China-based eBay items are also ok.

 

You may need an HDMI switch depending on how you want things connected.

 

Lose the "power strip" and get one with movable or spaced sockets so you can use all of them. Something like http://www.belkin.com/us/F9D1000-15/p/P-F9D1000-15/

 

Get a good USB charger with multiple ports. I don't know if you need 2.1+ amp ports, so probably http://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-SuperSpeed-Including-Charging-VL812-B2/dp/B005NGQWL2/ref=sr_1_4?m=A294P4X9EWVXLJ&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1425262291&sr=1-4&keywords=Anker+USB+3.0+Hub

 

Lastly, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

You are taking everything apart and rewiring at some point. That is non-negotiable. Either you do it now and put it back together cleanly, or something dies, and you take it apart to throw away.

[The Evil Overlord]

IDK but you need to get rid of some stuff LOL.

 

 

But please.... Move your ExHDDs away from your Sub. That is, if you don't want them to fail.

 

I usually unplug everything and plug things in one at a time putting wraps at junctions

Logitech subs used for personal computers are shielded, but hey, you never know, and you might be right about that one

[Jose_49]

Yosha!!! Already purchased a Spiral Cable as Aheer R.S. suggested. I am in the process of fixing the disaster. Already moved all the books from the stand and put my drives in there.

[Jose_49]

@Sn

 

I see at least one plug adapter. Lose the adapters and get cables with specific plugs on each end. Monoprice is good if you reach the free shipping bar, otherwise, China-based eBay items are also ok.

 

You may need an HDMI switch depending on how you want things connected.

 

Lose the "power strip" and get one with movable or spaced sockets so you can use all of them. Something like http://www.belkin.com/us/F9D1000-15/p/P-F9D1000-15/

 

Get a good USB charger with multiple ports. I don't know if you need 2.1+ amp ports, so probably http://www.amazon.com/Upgraded-SuperSpeed-Including-Charging-VL812-B2/dp/B005NGQWL2/ref=sr_1_4?m=A294P4X9EWVXLJ&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1425262291&sr=1-4&keywords=Anker+USB+3.0+Hub

 

Lastly, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E1Y5O6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

You are taking everything apart and rewiring at some point. That is non-negotiable. Either you do it now and put it back together cleanly, or something dies, and you take it apart to throw away.

Thanks man! I just ordered the Anker hub. This will help me a lot to reduce cables. I'm planning to leave the table with only 4 cables: The center speaker, VGA, DVI, and AC.

[Krome]

<snip>

Looks like we have similar taste in decoration lol

[Odom Member]

Logitech subs used for personal computers are shielded, but hey, you never know, and you might be right about that one

 

I'd be more worried about the vibrations of that sub on the hard drives, rather than the shielding.

[Jose_49]

Well, well, well. After taking everyone's recommendations I've decided to do a cleanup day.

 

Here's how I started:

 

I have a power regulator, which is working quite good

 

 

After first rearrangement:

 

 

And this is how it finished

 

The spiral wrapping did magic!

 

I'm waiting for the USB hub for the finishing touches.

[Jose_49]

I moved all the books to another location and cleaned the stand for good. I even lowed a floor the gaming devices. Now it allows me to plug/unplug with ease.

 

I'm thinking on purchasing a separate AC for the Xbox One and Wii U since those are the devices that I move. That way I don't go all the way down and start disconnecting everything.

 

As you can see I moved the hard drives from the subwoofer to the stand. Thanks a million for noticing this barbarity.

 

I also put the center speaker on top, that way the monitor is the only thing that has cables on the table. Just 3 plus the speakers volume control. Nothing more.

 

Thank you people!

[T3X4S]

NICE IMPROVEMENT !!

One thing I learned was not to use zip ties on everything - that sometimes little velcro strips are great because its easy to make a change.

But your improvement is impressive - Im sure you are a lot happier when working - well done.

[Eric Veteran]

Looks good now. I'm lazy so I would have just dragged another shelf to cover the side up so I couldn't see it.

[CrashG]

It's better that's for sure, now you just need a little dose of OCD to make it perfect... or just hide it behind/under something .   

[The Evil Overlord]

I'd be more worried about the vibrations of that sub on the hard drives, rather than the shielding.

I have a mains powered external drive sitting on top of a powered sub, for my 7.1 in the living room, all the data (audio video) runs from it fine.

I understand your concern, I had that same concern.

(It was set up there as it was a close power socket, and the cabling was run behind my skirting boards, USB to my ps3)

Looks good now. I'm lazy so I would have just dragged another shelf to cover the side up so I couldn't see it.

Same (but lately I've picked up the need to optimise, lol it drives my wife crazy)

[Jose_49]

Yeah. The room feels so clean. I still do not believe it's my room