Cable Management Do's and Don'ts

[Pogre]

I hope this isn't a stupid question, but I'm gonna have to tidy up some of the cables behind my tv stand. I'm dealing with a spaghetti monster! Are there cables that shouldn't be zip tied together? Like a power cord and HDMI or speaker cables. Does it even matter?

 

[j_garcia]

I tend to keep power cables as separate from signal cables wherever possible, but I don't think I've ever had it actually be an issue.

 

[Verdinut]

Power cables should be kept away from signal cables and that includes HDMI cables.. However, if they have to run close at some point, they should be run perpendicular to each other rather than in parallel.
As for speaker cables, there should not be any problem with AC power cables running close.

With my Panasonic TV, the HDMI cable is running only 6 inches away from the AC power cord and there is no interference of any sort.

 

[KenM10759]

I agree with Verdinut.

My spaghetti mess was recently cleaned up with the help of a few products from Cableorganizer.com and I couldn't be happier!

I got some of the colored Velcro tie wraps and that makes it easy when I shift things around.

 

[slipperybidness]

Follow the advice given and you will almost certainly be fine.

Even when I haven't been able to get everything exactly as I wanted it, I typically haven't had any issues.

The most likely place for a problem due to wire routing would be the low-level signal from a Turntable to the pre-amp. I have had issues there before, but a new set of high quality SHIELDED cables corrected that.

And, that brings up a key point, if you do end up with a problem, then there is a good chance that swapping in a high quality shielded cable will solve it.

 

[slipperybidness]

I should also mention, neatly run and secured wires are great, up until you actually have to add/remove something later.

Just keep that in mind when you zip tie everything, etc. How easy will it be when you need to change something later?

 

[Bucknekked]

I hope this isn't a stupid question, but I'm gonna have to tidy up some of the cables behind my tv stand. I'm dealing with a spaghetti monster! Are there cables that shouldn't be zip tied together? Like a power cord and HDMI or speaker cables. Does it even matter?

Pogre,
I was waiting for TLS Guy to post and tell you some sage piece of advice on 3rd level harmonics and zip ties. Short of that, I have cleaned up a lot of spaghetti messes with a lot of zip ties over the years.
One axiom applies: as soon as you tidy up and zip tie a set of cables, some need will come along that requires disassembling and rewiring the most obscure and hard to handle cable. Every time.

Other than that, I agree with the other posters. No real problems, some theoretical problems with running power cables alongside signal cables. I have never had an issue, but I try to avoid it.

Yesterday I received a new ASUS router for my home. I spent most of the day getting it up to speed from a wifi and network point of view. Today I need to tidy up the cables and all the cable routing. I feel your pain. I have cables all over the floor in my office today. I bought a new package of zip ties

 

[slipperybidness]

Pogre,
I was waiting for TLS Guy to post and tell you some sage piece of advice on 3rd level harmonics and zip ties. Short of that, I have cleaned up a lot of spaghetti messes with a lot of zip ties over the years.
One axiom applies: as soon as you tidy up and zip tie a set of cables, some need will come along that requires disassembling and rewiring the most obscure and hard to handle cable. Every time.

Other than that, I agree with the other posters. No real problems, some theoretical problems with running power cables alongside signal cables. I have never had an issue, but I try to avoid it.

Yesterday I received a new ASUS router for my home. I spent most of the day getting it up to speed from a wifi and network point of view. Today I need to tidy up the cables and all the cable routing. I feel your pain. I have cables all over the floor in my office today. I bought a new package of zip ties

I also like the Velcro cable organizers. A bit easier to remove and re-use than zip ties. But, I use a lot of zip ties everywhere too, especially if I need a strong mechanical connection.

 

[j_garcia]

My solution was to reduce the amount of gear I have so now I have fewer and fewer connections. I'd like to remote my rack to a less prominent area in the room too, like behind the couch, but I need a place for my center though I could certainly figure something out with the TV mount I have. I like this mount because it has integrated cable routing, though it is really only big enough for power and an HDMI or two.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I stuck all my gear in my wife's shoe rack in her closet and ran the wire through a ceiling drop. Clean, simple and easy. I did run power separate from everything else and I eliminated 2 amps which made things easier.

 

[KenM10759]

Wife's shoe rack? I don't know if we yet have medical care capable of bringing me back to life should I try something like that.

 

[Bucknekked]

I stuck all my gear in my wife's shoe rack in her closet and ran the wire through a ceiling drop. Clean, simple and easy. I did run power separate from everything else and I eliminated 2 amps which made things easier.

I have one of those cooler units for my AVR as well. That box on the top is a great way to beat the heat.
I actually see two of them in your setup. Wonderful devices.

 

[Bucknekked]

I posted a thread about replacing my router. I couldn't resist.
Take a look HERE. You will see copious use of zip ties

 

[Pogre]

I also like the Velcro cable organizers. A bit easier to remove and re-use than zip ties. But, I use a lot of zip ties everywhere too, especially if I need a strong mechanical connection.

I was looking at those. I like them better too. Easy to disassemble for future cable catastrophes. I might just order some or see if they have something like that at the depot. I'll bet they do.

I haven't given cable management a whole lot of thought, but I have more cables now than I did when I started this journey. It would be nice to have some semblance of order back there.

 

[pewternhrata]

I was looking at those. I like them better too. Easy to disassemble for future cable catastrophes. I might just order some or see if they have something like that at the depot. I'll bet they do.

I haven't given cable management a whole lot of thought, but I have more cables now than I did when I started this journey. It would be nice to have some semblance of order back there.

Velcro one-wrap is great. Comes in a roll so you can cut to any length. Fabric/arts/craft stores sell similar stuff as well.
Plus since it's fabric, you can wrap it tight with no worries about somehow damaging cables

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Wife's shoe rack? I don't know if we yet have medical care capable of bringing me back to life should I try something like that.

She's the one that asked me to get it all out of the living room...

I swear, she only has 2 feet but she must think she has a million.

I own exactly 5 pairs of shoes...

 

[MrBoat]

I have always managed to keep my cables decently. Last time I did it, the kids had friends over and they wanted to hook up the PS3 to the big TV. I really don't understand why they had to undo all my doings. It was so bad that I couldn't even vacuum back there and had to finally take all the components out and start over, which I avoided for quite some time. Now the kids are kind of gone, maybe it will stay the way I have it.

 

[Pogre]

I have always managed to keep my cables decently. Last time I did it, the kids had friends over and they wanted to hook up the PS3 to the big TV. I really don't understand why they had to undo all my doings. It was so bad that I couldn't even vacuum back there and had to finally take all the components out and start over, which I avoided for quite some time. Now the kids are kind of gone, maybe it will stay the way I have it.

I'm avoiding big time now. I got a long strip of black velcro to tie everything up. Just not real eager to go after it... it's a mess.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'm avoiding big time now. I got a long strip of black velcro to tie everything up. Just not real eager to go after it... it's a mess.

Yep, if it ain't broke just cover it up

 

[MrBoat]

I'm avoiding big time now. I got a long strip of black velcro to tie everything up. Just not real eager to go after it... it's a mess.

Can also burn a hole in the Velcro with a soldering iron or a hot nail and use a screw/washer to fasten them to the back of your stand so that they will hug it all the way to the floor, or wherever.