Cable Management

[VicParticipant @vic]

I’ve recently switched broadband providers and I’m looking at the mess of power, HDMI, and Ethernet cables between the wall box and my TV. Plus a phone cable.

Do any of you have any clever ideas for tidying things up? I’ve currently got nine items plugged into the mains but I can get rid of two or maybe three of those once the old router and TV box get removed. I’ve also got a telephone adapter and now an Ethernet switch.

My first thought is to buy a suitably sized plastic storage box with vent holes to put some of it in?

[Charles LamontParticipant @charleslamont71117]

Partial solution: the oak TV cabinet has 6-socket extension lead fixed to the back, a little below the top.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Suitable [or maybe not] boxes are available from D-Line amongst others:

https://d-line-it.com/

.

.

MichaelG.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Might look at an IEC Extension, which use smaller plugs and sockets and are neater.  Though IEC sockets are common on kettles and computers I’m not certain the extensions meet UK Safety Regs.  And changing the leads is work!

Also available are curly plastic cable slinky/spine/tidies to bundle wires together.

Example pictured comes with some sticky hooks and zip/cable ties.   The odd looking paper clip thingy top right is the tool that opens the slinky spiral so you can put the cables inside and get them out again.

The back of my telly is a filthy muddle!

Dave

 

 

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

A bit of a knotty problem he he. Back to reality, if you have wifi you can get a wifi dongle that gets its power from a USB socket and has a LAN socket. One of these may help keep the cables tidy. Search for a smart TV Wireless LAN Adapter WiFi Dongle RJ-45 Ethernet Cable.

Martin C

[Michael Gilligan]

On Michael Gilligan Said:

Suitable [or maybe not] boxes are available from D-Line amongst others:

https://d-line-it.com/

.

.

MichaelG.

Thanks for that, one of those may do the job. 😊

 

SOD: I used IEC plugs and sockets on my HiFi, but it’s a bit of a faff fitting new plugs on everything.

[VicParticipant @vic]

Thanks again Michael. I’ve ordered one of these, 39% off on Amazon at the moment.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

I have a cardboard box with a hole on the side to fit over the double socket, but it is behind a piece of furniture

[duncan webster 1]

On duncan webster 1 Said:

I have a cardboard box with a hole on the side to fit over the double socket, but it is behind a piece of furniture

The sensible option.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Cable-management can be a right pain when you gave to work on it.  Looks tidy but cables have to be extracted from the slinkies and boxes opened up to get at extensions.  Much to be said in favour of leaving hidden messes alone because you don’t have to rip them apart to make changes.

It’s a sleeping dog!

Dave

[SillyOldDuffer]

On SillyOldDuffer Said:

Might look at an IEC Extension, which use smaller plugs and sockets and are neater.  Though IEC sockets are common on kettles and computers I’m not certain the extensions meet UK Safety Regs.  And changing the leads is work!

Also available are curly plastic cable slinky/spine/tidies to bundle wires together.

Example pictured comes with some sticky hooks and zip/cable ties.   The odd looking paper clip thingy top right is the tool that opens the slinky spiral so you can put the cables inside and get them out again.

The back of my telly is a filthy muddle!

Dave

 

 

Those multi IEC sockets are a reasonable idea, but unless you have the dexterity of a micro surgeon the plugs can be a pain to wire up, especially for those of us with sausage fingers.  I ended up using some small ring terminals from RS.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, the thing with those multi IEC sockets is, I don’t know if individual IEC plugs with a changeable fuse are available, I’ve never seen one myself, and as we all know, the fuse in a BS. 1363 plug top, is only there to protect the flex, so if you have one flex in an IEC multi socket supplying an appliance that only takes a few amps, that develops a fault, there may be enough delay before the fuse supplying the multi socket fails, to cause the flex on the faulty appliance that takes just a few amps to overheat and start a fire. At least with the BS. 1363/A multi sockets, will be used with plugs that have the correct fuse rating for the flexes on each appliance, or they should have. So like SOD says, they may not meet domestic UK Safety Reg’s.

Regards Nick.

[howardb]

On howardb Said:

On duncan webster 1 Said:

I have a cardboard box with a hole on the side to fit over the double socket, but it is behind a piece of furniture

The sensible option.

Except that cardboard is flammable and the box I received says Flame Retardant, and not exactly expensive at £11. 🙂

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Personally, engaging my work mode (retired GPO/BT internal construction), I use cable ties for semi-permanent wiring; black if exposed to UV.

For temporary, or convenience, I have plenty of double sided Velcro tape.
I either use it straight off the roll, or cut it to resemble these commercial ties.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394682097305

Lidl occasionally sell them in a variety of colours.

Bill

[old foolParticipant @old-fool]

Going off at a slight tangent. I have a 3kw heater in my shop which packed up the other day, when I had a look the plug has welded into the socket. and I can’t get it out! Cheaper plugs/sockets don’t take the full rated current!

3kw is as close to 13amp as makes no odds at 230/240v

Bob

[old fool]

On old fool Said:

… Cheaper plugs/sockets don’t take the full rated current!

 

Bob

Neither do expensive ones!   Fuses work by melting, so one run close to it’s max rating for a long time gets hot enough to  damage the plastic in the plug and socket; the contacts start shifting and might weld due to sparking as they heat and cook with the thermostat.  Eventually – takes years.

If the heater is designed to produce 3kW from 220v it will have a 16.13Ω element which will draw 15.5A when fed 250vac,  15.5A won’t blow a 13A fuse, but it will run extra warm.   Check the plug – if running hot, it will be yellow, and probably the socket too.

Dave

 

[Author]

Posts