Shortning cables

[xelasnave]

I am sitting looking at my little rig (heq5, 80mm espirt, zwo cooled mono and filter wheel..so you know..and it seems it would be a lot more tidy if I could shorten a few cables...how do you do this...just buy shorter stuff from a specialized web site or jaycar has a kit?.
What is the best way to achieve shorter cables...and what if standard sizes are still too long or short.
Alex

[AndyG (Andy)]

Hi Alex,

We get a lot of stuff for work projects from CableChick. You will see quite a few choices here:

https://www.cablechick.com.au/cables/usb-cable.htm

From these options you can make things short and neat, or even make moves to do a long run from the rig into the comfort of your home/tent/container, etc (I think this has been covered in many other threads).

All the best,
Andy.

[AstroApprentice (Jason)]

Hi Alex,
These guys sell quality cables of many different lengths and importantly with different angled connectors. https://www.usbfirewire.com/
I find certain angles greatly reduce chance of cable snag.

Shipping from US was reasonable last time I used them.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Alex
I buy and support local businesses even though the stuff comes from China anyway
Here’s a couple I still use from time to time for power and data cables plus hubs etc....

Cable Chick
Lindy cables
Mwave
Jaycar

Cheers
Martin
PS : my cables are all 5m long as my laptop is 2m away from the mount in a home made purpose built enclosure ( photos attached of my 8” in Sydney and the 6” down the coast ) no short cables in my set up unfortunately

[LewisM]

Whichever way yo go Alex, firstly plug EVERYTHING in to the power, computer, camera etc. now release the clutches and hand move the rig through all possible imaging positions and angles assuring nothing pulls or hangs up.

Shorter is useless if it pulls tight or snags...

[xelasnave]

Hi Martin this little box opens opportunity to tidy up hopefully.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Whichever way yo go Alex, firstly plug EVERYTHING in to the power, computer, camera etc. now release the clutches and hand move the rig through all possible imaging positions and angles assuring nothing pulls or hangs up.

Shorter is useless if it pulls tight or snags...

Absolutely Lewis.
I plan giving it a long work out inside and make it easier to set up trouble free..the zwo wifi has about a meter lead that needs to be only one quarter that and at the moment it could snag but a direct path, from camera to wifi unit, couldnt snag a thing.
Trying to back up the card now and it isnt co opperating.
Alex

[xelasnave]

I have some jeans to make it a nice little winter coat maybe a layer of that neat insulation I have a heap of...and strap the 240 volt power point box to the leg of the tripod which will save set up time.
And see if I can put the tilt gizmo in I got for the eight and measure sensor distance etc.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Just about done☺
Alex

[xelasnave]

I thought the computer was cleaned up but maybe U acted too early..this card wont open and give a nasty message about corruption ...of the main disk..the card that comes with it..if thats stuffed that will be interesting...but probably I not doing something right somewhere???
Alex