Cable Management

[dcbrown73]

Hey all,

No, I don't mean cable management from wires connecting devices, but test cable management!

So, I've seen pictures and how a lot of people manage their test leads / cables.   Many hang them like they are on towel racks and stuff, and I'm just want to ask about any innovative ways that maybe you guys have come up with to manage the mass of cables you collect and use often.

I am an IT guy by trade, a ham radio operator, and an electronics tinkerer and my cable collection has run amuck between all of them.   I normally just use drawers and keep the most used ones on top of the devices I use them with, but I'm always switching them out and don't feel the drawers help protect them so well as I'm always digging around in them for the cable I need.

Anyhow, I just wanted to reach out and see how you guys handle yours and how I may learn from the community a better way.

Thanks,
Dave

[ajb]

If you've got the wall space, racks like these are nice for keeping things untangled and accessible: https://www.pomonaelectronics.com/products/dmm-test-leads-and-probes/test-lead-holders

I've seen some cheaper but similar options, or you could DIY something along those lines. 

[Kim Christensen]

At work, we had a "test-lead closet" with brackets (ajb posted link) mounted inside. Kept things together, out of sight, and out of the way.

[MarkF]

My workbench is in a small bedroom and all my parts and cables are kept in the closet.
The clothes shelf in the closet is a wire mesh and I 3D printed a cable hanger to clip
onto the outer edge.

[Halcyon]

Since I don't have a proper "lab" as such, the only storage space I have is at home.

I do have a dedicated storage/server room (which is essentially just a study converted into that purpose, so I can just close the door and not hear/see anything). Cables which aren't used frequently are in storage tubs or archive boxes in said room, each labelled neatly.

More frequently used cables (like USB, adapters etc...) are in those open electronics parts bins inside the wardrobe in my office.

Very frequently used cables are in the drawers next to where I work.

[nfmax]

Each individual cable loosely coiled inside a ziplock bag, with a descriptive label on a card insert. All the bags stacked filing cabinet style (on edge) so the labels are visible, in a drawer. Apart from mains leads, which breed when you don’t look at them.

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

I use something like nfmax.  I use storage bags and put them into expandable files. These are the ones for paper files and kinda resemble accordions..

[madires]

I keep cables which are used regularly on a self-built holder. It's similar to the commercial ones, but the fingers are several cm apart to put the cables across each finger, not between the fingers. And the fingers are also longer. This way I can store long cables and cables with large connectors. Picking a cable is easier too (no need to remove others in front of). Rarely used cables are placed into drawers (you can buy nice plastic boxes with a few drawers) and kept tidy with Velco (different vendors sell large rolls of that stuff).

[soldar]

I have a wire strung between two nails and cables hang from there.

I am considering adding a horizontal board with closely spaced nails.

[Smokey]

Each individual cable loosely coiled inside a ziplock bag, with a descriptive label on a card insert. All the bags stacked filing cabinet style (on edge) so the labels are visible, in a drawer. Apart from mains leads, which breed when you don’t look at them.

With the bags, don't forget the desiccant packet and moisture monitor card!  That is, unless you are purging with argon.  Or better yet, full vacuum.

[Smokey]

My workbench is in a small bedroom and all my parts and cables are kept in the closet.
The clothes shelf in the closet is a wire mesh and I 3D printed a cable hanger to clip
onto the outer edge.

I do this.  One of these racks on the wall next to the lab bench.  Cables draped through slots.  Bonus feature is you get to also fill the shelf with junk!  Win-Win!