Storing Test Leads

[Mike Warren]

So how do you store  your test leads?

I'm talking about BNC-BNC, BNC-Aligator, banana, Aligator leads etc. With the standard leads and all the specialised custom leads I've made over the years, I must have about 100 of the things.

In my old workshop I used to hang them over the light fitting. Convenient, but very messy.

Currently, I have them in a couple of plastic boxes, but that it really annoying. I don't have any spare wall to hang them from. My workshop is tiny and full of shit good stuff.

So, anyone got something that's novel and works?

[c4757p]

Nothing novel here - I hang them from hooks. If they don't all fit on the hooks I have, I either add another, or more commonly, play a game of Which Lead Is Crap and toss the cheap ones.

[David_AVD]

We hang most of ours on the wall.  In fact we just extended the wall hook area to about 8 metres (about 35 hooks) and it still needs more!

So... I guess I don't have a good alternative solution for you Mike!   

[pickle9000]

I use these

http://www.pomonaelectronics.com/?i=prodmain&getDetails=1&parent=TSTLEADHLDR

[Smokey]

I use these
http://www.pomonaelectronics.com/?i=prodmain&getDetails=1&parent=TSTLEADHLDR

I love that there is a dedicated product for hanging test leads from the wall.  Not sure about the USD $25 price tag though.

I do the hooks in the wall deal too.  Get more wires, add more hooks.  Simple.  Plus it's another one of those things that makes your lab look cool.  You look like you could do some serious testing with all those cables at the ready!  The ends of BNC cables is a good place to keep the common BNC adapters.  The other ones go in a box in the drawer.

[pickle9000]

I've seen many variations 2x4 and 1/4 inch dowels, MDF with slots and so on but store bought is nice. Mine are 20 years old so they do last. I'm surprised there isn't a chinese plastic version.

[komet]

I have this. Highly recommended. The fingers are adjustable for different widths of leads.

http://www.reichelt.de/Laborleitungen/LMLH-50/3/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=10532;GROUPID=5624;artnr=LMLH+50

If you can't get hold of one, something like this is a good substitute:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40242653/

[PeteInTexas]

Make sure rodents with an appetite for plastic insulation cannot get to them. 

[Kibi]

My brother printed a few of these off for me the other day. I have cool bother

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:40585

[c4757p]

Make sure rodents with an appetite for plastic insulation cannot get to them. 

Covered. I have two dogs with an appetite for rodent.

[free_electron]

Get a length of cable raceway. The one with slits on the side and a push-on cover.

Get the idea ?

Like this : http://www.ecvv.com/product/1880284.html

[ivaylo]

I love to have a horizontal bar somewhere in the lab for those. No proper lab nowadays but some room in the closet does it.

[saturation]

Tie racks; you can get this one for $1 at US dollar day thrift stores.



http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=3744561

[JackOfVA]

I use the slotted finger type from Pomona for BNC and similar leads.

However, for oscilloscope probes, voltmeter probes and the like, I use pencil pouches. Available at most any office supply store, not very expensive and the clear plastic window lets you see what is in the pouch. One could color code them, I suppose, with oscilloscope probes in one color, multi-meter probes in another color, etc.

[Fsck]

hanging off a bunch of those 3M tape-to-the-wall hooks

[peterthenovice]

I found this beauty on amazon about 2-3 minutes ago.



http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Rotating-Tie-Rack-TR200/dp/B0015DKRGI/ref=lp_3744561_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1366233637&sr=1-10

[c4757p]

I found this beauty on amazon about 2-3 minutes ago.

Dude, that's hilarious!  Next I want a pushbutton on every kitchen drawer so I don't have to slide them open. And maybe on the refrigerator door too. What else? Hmm... the sky's the limit! Motors on everything!

[peterthenovice]

I found this beauty on amazon about 2-3 minutes ago.

Dude, that's hilarious!  Next I want a pushbutton on every kitchen drawer so I don't have to slide them open. And maybe on the refrigerator door too. What else? Hmm... the sky's the limit! Motors on everything!

you can store 70 cable in a movable lightable way

[c4757p]

Yeah, I see the usefulness of it, I just think the fact that it's motorized is silly. Why not just push it around??

(And I think 70 cables is a bit excessive... Maybe total, but most will be specialized cables that you don't use often, so just put them in a box.)

[peterthenovice]

Yeah, I see the usefulness of it, I just think the fact that it's motorized is silly. Why not just push it around??

(And I think 70 cables is a bit excessive... Maybe total, but most will be specialized cables that you don't use often, so just put them in a box.)

ten dollors for a motor eha who needs it, but it still lights up.



http://www.amazon.com/Rotating-Tie-Rack-Black-5-5/dp/B002JR0P70/ref=pd_sim_hg_2

[robrenz]

Don't laugh.... my son has two of the last one totaly full of ties 

[c4757p]

Don't laugh.... my son has two of the last one totaly full of ties 

All I can say to that is "screw ties".

[David_AVD]

Here's (most of) our walls of hooks.

[Mike Warren]

I wish I had that sort of room. My total work space is 2.7M x 5.4M, benches and shelves around all walls except for one window.

Looks like I've already seen everything others use. There is a small shelf about 400mm wide that I don't make very good use of. I think I'll remove it and hang my most used leads there. The rest can stay in the boxes.

Thanks for the interesting discussion.

[c4757p]

Here's (most of) our walls of hooks.

I want it.