Wire management

amulford

I just built a new rack for my HT. Well, I'm kinda tired of the "rats nest". It becomes a real pain in the **** trying to work back there. Plus it doesn't look all that good, ya know?

I'd like to put some method to the madness. If I could get it organized better, it I think it would help make things easier and I'd get better performance.

Like keeping all the power lines awayfrom the IC's. And keeping the IC's out of the way of the speaker cables. And trying to keep it all neat.

Any thoughts??? Ideas???

PolkThug

Hate to say it, but Best Buy has these nice wire loom velcro wraps that work nicely for organizing/concealing. Haven't got mine yet, but plan on it.

steveinaz

Get you some nylon tie-wraps and some the adhesive backed tie-wrap "mounts" (radio shack). They work great. The mounts allow you route wires around and keep them hidden, you can even elevate your speaker cables off the floor with them if you want.

There's also a velcro strapping material that is popular. It's basically double-sided velcro that you cut to length with scissors and use like tie-wraps.

Willow

what I use and my wife loves it (nothing better than wife approved!!) is flexitube found at car parts store they only have black, but a trip to Ikea and you will find some in the lighting section and they have colors !! no neon green I think there was white black and grey.

I have all my front speakre cables in one my rears in another my video in another and so on....

gmorris

You don't really need any product of any kind.

Just disconnect all your equipment, then re-install it, working from top to bottom, or bottom to top, whichever. As you reattach all the cables & wires, make a conscious effort to do it neatly. Just don't get lazy.

As far as grouping cables, I used zip ties. They are nice because you can use them in a "one size fits all" fashion.

Also, get some kind of surge protector, either a nice Monster Power Center (or any brand) or a cheap power strip. Plugging all the AC cables into a common source eliminats extension cords, and allows you to tie of just enough of the AC cord to get it plugged into the surge protector.

In the end, whatever product or method you use, it is easy and just takes a bit of time & effort.

dorokusai

I don't use anything in my HT, and it has the most IC's. I did exactly what Gmorris mentioned, careful routing. All my IC's have been custom built, so that certainly helps. In the case of stock cables, velcro wraps are my choice and I use them in the 2CH.

The loom idea sounds interesting, and I will have to take a look at that, thanks PT.

steveinaz

The double-sided velcro I mentioned above is called "Tak-Tape" it's made by Panduit.

amulford

Thanks for the input.

G - Yeah, I know it's gonna take time. Hell, it ALL takes time. I already have a new HT power center ordered. Monster HT2000 strip. I already have one, but the rig is outgrown it...

Steve - I was thinking bout the tiewrap sticky thingys. Even went so far as to grab some. But I'm always fussin...

PT - I like the Velcro loom. Let's me play...

I think I'm goin' w/ BOTH. The Stickys to hold the velcro...

I think I am also going to put frosted acrylic sheets on the back of each of the cubby's (leaving a space at the bottom), too. Then light will show, but you won't be able to see....

Thank you fellas.

bknauss

Techflex sold at Parts Express (expandable braided sleeving)