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Managing all the Wires
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May 4, 2021 11:14:02   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
I won't say I've given up, but I'm not making much progress. I have one computer and one monitor. I also have three printers, a phone, charging station, desk lamp, backup drives, scanner, UPS power backup. Most devices require two wires - power and USB. I need lots of USB connections and lots of 110v receptacles. These require more than one USB hub and more than one plug-in strip. I have those cable covers to bundle the wires together and hide them, but I have to come up with a neat solution.

Everything works the way it is now, so there's no pressure to tear everything apart and start from scratch. One thing I'm going to do is add LED lighting behind the monitor and down below so I can see what's going on there without using a little flashlight.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y46JKL6/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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May 4, 2021 11:24:36   #
Horseart Loc: Alabama
 
jerryc41 wrote:

Everything works the way it is now, so there's no pressure to tear everything apart and start from scratch. One thing I'm going to do is add LED lighting behind the monitor and down below so I can see what's going on there without using a little flashlight.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y46JKL6/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I know your pain. I have one desktop, 2 monitors, 2 laptops, 2 printers, one tablet and 2 external hard drives. Not sure under-desk lighting would help me. Even though I could see with the light under there, if I crawl under there, I won't be able to get out.

Oh and I forgot the outdoor cameras around the house are connected there too.

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May 4, 2021 11:24:47   #
Bob Werre
 
I often use a LED light that fastens by a belt to my forehead. Also Harbor Freight, has on several occasions, given away little battery powered lights that you can use on the floor or by hand (two light sources). Several firms also now make a replacement for the typical old 'trouble' light with those hot bulbs. I like the ability to move them around into different positions.

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May 4, 2021 11:29:34   #
John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN
 
For those LED flashlights I have been on a bracket so I can aim them on the target. Not everything is on the floor.

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May 4, 2021 11:33:10   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
I try to dress the cables, but for some reason they all wind up looking like a small rats nest anyway.

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May 4, 2021 12:25:28   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
I feel your pain. You should see the back of my ham radio station. Every few years, I decide to make it all nice and neat like the inside of (most) data center racks, but somehow, magically, it turns into a rats nest again. I need to install several open U shaped cable trays and use Velcro straps, but if I tear everything apart and start from scratch, I KNOW half the equipment won’t work. I should label both ends of every cable, but there aren’t a dozen, more like 50-100.

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May 4, 2021 12:34:53   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
TriX wrote:
I feel your pain. You should see the back of my ham radio station. Every few years, I decide to make it all nice and neat like the inside of (most) data center racks, but somehow, magically, it turns into a rats nest again. ...
...

Amazing how that works, eh?

(I think gremlins re-arrange them overnight.)

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May 5, 2021 06:11:02   #
ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA
 
Try adding a music recording setup to the heap. My recording station (positioned at a right angle to my primary computer) has a laptop, monitor, computer keyboard and mouse, audio interface, recording control surface, guitar tuner, audio compressor, chorus unit, amp simulator, headphones, monitor speakers, a music keyboard and a MIDI module. It’s a busy little corner of heaven.

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May 5, 2021 08:51:31   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
Longshadow wrote:
Amazing how that works, eh?

(I think gremlins re-arrange them overnight.)


Don't laugh! I don't know how many times I have a taken an extension cord of a long piece of rope out of storage and spent half an hour untangling it. I didn't spend any time tangling it when I put it there, but when I remove it, it's a mess. I think that's one of those un-solvable physics problems.

I got a set of these for the wires in my car - GPS, EX, dashcam, etc - and I look forward to putting them in place.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B071FXZBMV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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May 5, 2021 08:53:32   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
ClarkJohnson wrote:
Try adding a music recording setup to the heap. My recording station (positioned at a right angle to my primary computer) has a laptop, monitor, computer keyboard and mouse, audio interface, recording control surface, guitar tuner, audio compressor, chorus unit, amp simulator, headphones, monitor speakers, a music keyboard and a MIDI module. It’s a busy little corner of heaven.


What you need is a large, separate room and a setup expert. Actually, that's what we all need.

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May 5, 2021 09:05:45   #
BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD
 
One thing I've done is to put two tabs on each wire - one at each end - telling me what the wire is for.

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May 5, 2021 09:06:53   #
jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY
 
BboH wrote:
One thing I've done is to put two tabs on each wire - one at each end - telling me what the wire is for.


Good idea. I've done the same thing with a label maker. I also use cables that have colors or designs.

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May 5, 2021 09:15:06   #
ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA
 
jerryc41 wrote:
What you need is a large, separate room and a setup expert. Actually, that's what we all need.


Amen!

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May 5, 2021 09:59:34   #
tcthome Loc: NJ
 
A good idea. You could also color code your cables at both ends for easy cable tracing.

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May 5, 2021 11:22:56   #
JBRIII
 
jerryc41 wrote:
Don't laugh! I don't know how many times I have a taken an extension cord of a long piece of rope out of storage and spent half an hour untangling it. I didn't spend any time tangling it when I put it there, but when I remove it, it's a mess. I think that's one of those un-solvable physics problems.

I got a set of these for the wires in my car - GPS, EX, dashcam, etc - and I look forward to putting them in place.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B071FXZBMV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Don't laugh! I don't know how many times I have a... (show quote)


They say Quantum mechanics only happens at the atomic level, but I firmly believe tangling is Quantum effects at the macro level, only happens when your not looking.

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