Tips for organizing wires/cables/leads ?

[lordvader88]

Usually I'll try and not have my DMM leads, power leads, etc, all tangled, I like to keep them as separate and organized as reasonable, and layered. And then it makes it a lot quicker to tear it all down too. I don't even have very many things to hook up, and it's usually small breadboard circuits I tinker with.

What do you all do ?

[JustMeHere]

Maybe zip up sleeves in a 3 ring binder.  Good thick ones with a real zipper.

[Kasper]

I use baggies in file folders in a filing cabinet for wires, components and projects. Works well for compact storage.  When I had everything in cardboard boxes it took up about 10x more room.

If I had more room I'd make a coat hanger for cables/leads and spool holder for spools.

[tggzzz]

What do you all do ?

I search this forum to find previous answers to such questions.

Once I have done my research I am in a better position to ask a good question that enables people to give useful and interesting answers.

Have you done that? If not, why not?
What have you found?

https://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/library-2/good-questions-pique-our-interest-and-dont-waste-our-time-2/

[Benta]

I use these things mounted on the wall. Works great for DMM, 'scope etc. cables, just let them hang straight down, the banana plugs or BNC connectors hold the cables.
Tidy and easy to find.

[lordvader88]

I mean when it's all hooked up on your bench or desk or bed. Too many wires just to hook up little things, so I like to keep it all as tidy as possible, so I can put it away easy, or disconnect it before I burn something out, etc

[ArthurDent]

I've never had that problem.

[GreyWoolfe]

The plastic containers with clear lids the Chinese take away comes in.  Scope probes, BNC cables, test leads and a label maker to mark relevant info.  They stack nicely also.

[Gyro]

This subject has been covered very recently... 

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/is-it-even-theoretically-possible-to-organize-test-leads-and-scope-probes/

[tggzzz]

This subject has been covered very recently... 

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/is-it-even-theoretically-possible-to-organize-test-leads-and-scope-probes/

Precisely.

it is left as an exercise for the reader as to why the OP (who isn't a neophyte and is getting closer to 1000 posts) didn't bother to find that.

[KL27x]

I've done the slotted thing for each cable. Gave up.

I use one giant hook to hang my cables over. When I need a cable, I grab them all in one big handful. I locate the correct one, and fish it out with my other hand. Then hang the rest of the bunch back on the hook.

[Brumby]

I mean when it's all hooked up on your bench or desk or bed. Too many wires just to hook up little things, so I like to keep it all as tidy as possible, so I can put it away easy, or disconnect it before I burn something out, etc

Don't use a 1m lead when a 10cm one can do the job.

Aside from mess, there are frequency and EMI considerations to pay heed to.  As frequencies go up, distances get shorter.  Plus longer wires are "better" antennae - they make for better receivers and radiators of EMI.


If you don't have enough shorter wires, you need to get more.   

[casterle]

I'm looking at binders with pouches. There are many inexpensive choices, and you can even make custom pockets: https://youtu.be/7r8g4uVxMgw

[casterle]

This subject has been covered very recently... 

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/is-it-even-theoretically-possible-to-organize-test-leads-and-scope-probes/

But with no great solutions...

[Electro Fan]

I've always admired the Pomona test lead holders like Benta shows - kinda surprised/sorry to hear it isn't working well.  If I had a good wall space for that type of cable holder I'd give it a try.

As an alternative (not great but ok-ish) I've found that with a rack like GreyWoolfe shows you can drape 3-4 dozen or so individual test leads over the top and let them hang down.  If you have room, you can do it either on one or both ends, or in the front of the rack (which then requires you to dig past the "louvered curtains" to reach stuff on the rack shelves - not ideal but it works depending on how often you need stuff on the shelves).  It requires some ongoing house cleaning / cable reorganizing but almost at a glance you can find what you are looking for.  I often plug the red and black companions leads to one another (works with stacking banana plugs) so if I find one I know where it's brother/sister is.  Then you can sort them left to right by ends - banana to banana, banana to alligator, BNC, DMM test leads, etc etc.  In general, I think leads need a place to hang up.

As for how to organize them when in use, that's another topic (although maybe that's what the OP was asking about).

[cdev]

I have been using write-on ziplock bags in open plastic organizer boxes. Its worked better for me than previous attempts at organization.

[Electro Fan]

I have been using write-on ziplock bags in open plastic organizer boxes. Its worked better for me than previous attempts at organization.

+1 for zip lock bags in open boxes

[ledtester]

Ideas for banana and alligator clips from this video:

https://youtu.be/PTq9TzTVol0?t=8m50s

starting at 8:50...

[Renate]

Pomona for things that I need all the time.
Labelled ziplocks in gray flip-top totes for things that I need less often.

[casterle]

I have been using write-on ziplock bags in open plastic organizer boxes. Its worked better for me than previous attempts at organization.

+1 for zip lock bags in open boxes

That's what I've been using (sans boxes) and for my situation it doesn't work well. We moved to much smaller home after retirement, and my office/lab is nursery-size; no place to hang leads, no space for boxes, nearly no space for Leroy . This will change as I redo the room to maximize usable space, but until then I've got a growing supply of probes (new 2 channel sig gen, 2 new power supplies, new 4 channel MSO, starting to play with RF so VNA) and all the small bits that accompany them.

I'm finding lots of options for vinyl inserts with zippers, and can customize them if needed. Not much luck with the binder I want: at least 4" thick with more than 3 sturdy rings and hinged (or VERY substantially attached) sturdy covers.

[casterle]

Ideas for banana and alligator clips from this video:

I like the wire for clipped leads.

[tkamiya]

I always started with neatly coiled and bundled cables.  One or two lab sessions over, they are all in tangled mess.  Every few weeks, I spent my time to organize them again into neatly coiled and bundled cables.  One or two lab sessions over....

Now, I just roll them up and toss them into a bin. 

Seriously, I have bins for each type of cables, coax, test leads, power, usb, etc.  They are all tossed into respective bins.

[wizard69]

Now that is very interest.    Take this idea just a bit farther and put those wires and holders on hinged panels and you can control some of that clutter.   I need to think on this a bit.

Ideas for banana and alligator clips from this video:

https://youtu.be/PTq9TzTVol0?t=8m50s

starting at 8:50...

(Attachment Link)

(Attachment Link)

[madires]

I've always admired the Pomona test lead holders like Benta shows - kinda surprised/sorry to hear it isn't working well.

They work well only for short cables with not too small plugs. So I've built a version for my needs with fingers a few centimeters apart to handle all kind of cables. If you put long wires into boxes or drawers velcro-type cable binders are very handy (buy a roll, much cheaper).

[wizard69]

This is an interesting question because, I don't think there is a good solution for every person and every problem.

At work I'm often in odd locations in the plant so I carry a bad of cables and adapters.   Cables I keep coiled up with wire ties.   To minimize the number of cables I need to carry I make use of adapter modules or hard wired dongles.   Keeping short dongles and adapters makes like far easier and greatly reduces the tangled messes.  Even at the bench or the home lab, these shorties save lots of space.   However most of those are for RS232 and similar interfaces and does little to solve the issue of general hook up.

I honestly don't have a good solution for hook up cable.  Some are a tangled mess, others are coiled up with wire ties.   I'm also making use of cable cuffs.   Cable cuffs are ideal for larger cords.   I really like the idea of drilling holes in some stock to simply plug the banana plugs into as related above.   Maybe a stand on wheels sort of like a coat tree to plug test leads, banana plugs and so forth into (or hang).    In my old age having things on wheels makes a huge difference.

Note that this doesn't even take into consideration the different meters and so forth that are stored with their test leads and accessories.   Often these are contained in cases that come from the manufacture.   Even our HP bench meters have cases attached as they are used in the field for calibration work.   At work the bench has a Kennedy tool box for some storage but honestly putting cable in a tool box of this type (drawers only( does not work out well at all.     Basically we have a mess.