Cable management

[JJonas]

What are you using to keep cables under control?

 

I have been told I cant use cable ties.

 

I have been looking at that Fellows cable wrap but at about £11 for 2 metres it is expensive.

[LeMarchand]

I use double sided Velcro at home, <£3/m https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B017E0FKF8

 

At work, I cut off the Velcro cable tidy straps from laptop power supplies on the grounds that teachers never use them and recycle those for some uses.

[elsiegee40]

Velcro straps at home and work. Much easier to use than spiral binding

 

Like these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IHBGGLK/ref=asc_df_B01IHBGGLK58142109/

Edited January 29, 2019 by elsiegee40

[jmak]

For longer exposed lengths I've used this type of thing:

 

Cabletex Spiral Binding

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Tex-Spiral-Binding-BLACK-Cable/dp/B003CL6MVA/ref=zg_bs_200863031_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=GG7KFDN4TS62GQSPW3VT

[PotNoodleTech]

Velcro straps at home and work. Much easier to use than spiral binding

 

Like these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IHBGGLK/ref=asc_df_B01IHBGGLK58142109/

 

Those look great!!

[LTurner3692]

Velcro straps all the way! so much easier to deal with!

[unixman_again]

I use double sided velcro - cut to length. I bought a 5 metre roll about 10 years ago and this is the third school I've used it in - still got loads left. Here a 1m roll I found https://www.amazon.co.uk/VELCRO%C2%AE-velcro-ONE-WRAP%C2%AE-double-Strapping/dp/B017E0FKF8/ref=sr_1_14

[pete]

Double-sided velcro on a roll that we cut to length (cheaper than pre-cut and more flexible). We get it in 10mm and 20mm wide.

[jthompson]

Was there a reason given for not allowing cable ties? I've heard of people objecting on the grounds that when trimmed they can pose a cutting hazard, so we use appropriate snippers that can trim them flush with the 'knuckle'. Most snippers are bevelled: you need side cutters that have no bevel to them. You also need all techie staff to be vigilant in not leaving any unused cable ties lying around.

 

I wouldn't dream of using velcro for classroom machines, as it'd get pinched or otherwise work loose with all the tugging and pulling that cables get.

 

I also often use cable ties to anchor teachers' VGA and audio leads near to their wall sockets, to provide some security and strain relief.

 

For storing cables, we loop them so that the last turn and a half or so is wound in and out of the loop to prevent it from uncoiling or tangling with other cables.

[pete]

Was there a reason given for not allowing cable ties? I've heard of people objecting on the grounds that when trimmed they can pose a cutting hazard, so we use appropriate snippers that can trim them flush with the 'knuckle'.

 

My objections are:

 

• Use in the server room, network cabinets, other limited-access areas or anywhere that gets rearranged frequently is forbidden
  
• People damaging cables by pulling cable ties too tight.
  
• The cable tie is usually stronger than the thing it's tidying, which means the cable fails before the cable tie.
  

 

I will grudgingly accept them in computer rooms provided you ensure there's adequate slack for peripheral use.

[Ditto]

What are you using to keep cables under control?

I have been told I cant use cable ties.

I have been looking at that Fellows cable wrap but at about £11 for 2 metres it is expensive.

I went wireless

[DrBeaker]

What are you using to keep cables under control?

 

I have been told I cant use cable ties.

 

I have been looking at that Fellows cable wrap but at about £11 for 2 metres it is expensive.

What sort of cables and in what locations? The cable ties are cheap compared to the velcro - but again depends on your use case? Surely in a school generally it's only going to be you, your team (if you've got anybody else) or the caretakers moving cables that are cable-tied?

 

I put forward a project the once with full info, pros/cons etc and costs to tidy all the cables. It wasn't seen as "important", got rejected and to this day they're still in the same mess they were in when I first came across the mess.

[southhamster]

Don't forget reusable cable ties. The wide ones are are great for running cables along teacher's desks but easy to undo quickly if required. We got ours from CPC.

[DrBeaker]

Don't forget reusable cable ties. The wide ones are are great for running cables along teacher's desks but easy to undo quickly if required. We got ours from CPC.

 

I must be getting tired now. I misread that as "teachers heads"

[EddyAllen]

For network cables at least, if you have access to a 3D printer these are amazing little things;

 

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1320948

 

For any other cables, velcro cable ties;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-velcro-pack-black-hook/dp/B005GCSBNA

[localzuk]

Velcro straps at home and work. Much easier to use than spiral binding

Like these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IHBGGLK/ref=asc_df_B01IHBGGLK58142109/

Different make, but these are what we use too. Make life so much easier than cable ties. Plus cable ties are generally a no-no for any cables that get moved about as they can end up over-tightening and damaging the cables.