Managing the mess "back there"?

[Davemcc]

I'm not talking about soiling your boxers. I'm talking about the spaghetti behind your audio rack. What are some practical suggestions for managing the mess of cables. Do you bundle the extra cable? Coil it? Tape it to the rack?

I just got a new rack and I'm trying to give it a somewhat clean and organized installation. Most especially, I hate the extra lengths of electrical cable and don't really know what to do with it all. I'm impressed with some people's ability to manage the wiring so that there's virtually no wire in sight. So how do you do it?

 

[jamie2112]

Cable ties are a good inexpensive way to tidey up.....Velcro or plastic...

 

[Davemcc]

Cable ties are a good inexpensive way to tidey up.....Velcro or plastic...

What do you do when you cable tie them? Do you fold them into bundles, coil them, group them and tie them together? I've read that electrical wires should not be coiled up. Not sure the best way to bundle them up.

 

[jamie2112]

Bundle together is fine audio separate from Ac cables. I would not fold or bunch up. Just run them straight down the back of your rack. Its not hard to make them look nice with a few well placed ties.....

 

[Adam]

Dave, I'm assuming that you can see through your rack? One nice thing about my entertainment center is that I can't see the nest back there.

I will be paying attention here, though, as I'm considering getting some new furniture that is much more open.

 

[Alex2507]

What do you do when you cable tie them? Do you fold them into bundles, coil them, group them and tie them together? I've read that electrical wires should not be coiled up. Not sure the best way to bundle them up.

Don't coil the power cords. Everything else is more forgiving. I saw a picture where they were trying to induce noise into a quality shielded connector by running it through a coiled up power cord (the biggest no-no) and were unable to get an audible drop in SQ but had no luck. IIRC.

Chances are that you have read the same things I have over time so the only real thing I have to offer is this:

http://shopper.cnet.com/power-equipment/apc-av-1000va-h10/4014-3055_9-31731368.html

and you have probably seen that too. The Velcro (hook and loop) is my favorite. I'm sure you know to separate the power cords from everything else. This is starting to feel like a Kodak Moment.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours, you first.

 

[Davemcc]

I'll show you mine if you show me yours, you first.

I will be taking some new photos soon, but be forewarned that my pics usually turn out pretty bad.

I've got the Panamax 10 outlet unit. It even gets a little crowded behind that with the big plugs that come with the 9 volt cables. I've got my wireless network and modem connections on the rack too, so I also have all the ethernet and power cables that go along with that too.

Everything is all set up and running and it looks clean enough from the front. I just wanted to pick the brains of the experts to take it to that next level.

 

[Tomorrow]

I'm not talking about soiling your boxers. I'm talking about the spaghetti behind your audio rack. What are some practical suggestions for managing the mess of cables. Do you bundle the extra cable? Coil it? Tape it to the rack?

I just got a new rack and I'm trying to give it a somewhat clean and organized installation. Most especially, I hate the extra lengths of electrical cable and don't really know what to do with it all. I'm impressed with some people's ability to manage the wiring so that there's virtually no wire in sight. So how do you do it?

Congrats on the new rack, Dave. (Good surgeon? )

Here is a B4 o) and After )) of mine. It helps to have someone who knows what they're doing help you as I did. TechFlex helps a lot!

 

[jamie2112]

Nice before and after shots Tomorrow. Great job cleaning up your mess.

 

[Davemcc]

Congrats on the new rack, Dave. (Good surgeon? )

It helps to have someone who knows what they're doing help you as I did.

That's what I'm saying. That's why I'm asking. Thanks for sharing your results. That's a huge improvement before and after.

 

[Tomorrow]

That's what I'm saying. That's why I'm asking. Thanks for sharing your results. That's a huge improvement before and after.

LOL, it's a darn good thing I'm not easily embarrassed. What a MESS that was.

 

[Tomorrow]

Nice before and after shots Tomorrow. Great job cleaning up your mess.

Thanks, Jamie. I had orders from "headquarters".

 

[Alex2507]

Computer Class Test

Kinda wanted to see how this looks but we're still on topic.



Edit: You need to click on the image but it works!

 

[Davemcc]

Kinda wanted to see how this looks but we're still on topic.

Thanks for the pics. That's pretty close to where I am now. I was thinking about Avaserfi's bucket mod, but he's taken down the pics in his systems gallery threads. That is an interesting idea that I think I will modify for my own situation.

 

[Tomorrow]

Thanks for the pics. That's pretty close to where I am now. I was thinking about Avaserfi's bucket mod, but he's taken down the pics in his systems gallery threads. That is an interesting idea that I think I will modify for my own situation.

Dave,

The TechFlex is highly recommended. But if you're bundling multiple cables, as did we, I'd strongly suggest labeling the connectors at each end.

 

[Davemcc]

As long as it doesn't mean spending much more time crouched down behind the rack. My back is punishing me for what little I did yesterday.