How do you manage your cables?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I would be interested in seeing/hearing about, how fellow astroimagers manage their cables and accessories (ie usb hubs, external hard drives etc). Not just when imaging but storage as well. Do you roll them and tie them using twist tie, do you keep them seperate and labelled in ziplock bags or do you have a tool tidy box with little labelled draws.

Not having a permanent setup and having to setup and pull down each time I image, I'm getting desperate and would love some ideas.

[matt]

Good post, Paul.

My set-up probably looks a bit like yours, if yours looks like an explosion of spaghetti!!!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Paul, I don't wind my cables up, they just stay in the Obs.

And a lovely tidy mess it is

I just went outside and took this pic for you

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

How do you get away with so few cable Ken

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

How do you get away with so few cable Ken

The real mess is inside at the control room!!!!!

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Welcome to NASA 'eh.

[Dennis]

Hi Paul

I leave cables attached to my docking station and stowed as in Fig 19 in this article. Otherwise, my approach and evolving system is as follows:

• Coil the cables and tie them with Velcro straps.
• Always keep each Velcro strap on the cable when uncoiled and in use, so you never misplace it.
• I label each cable with a Dymo label if its identity could become uncertain due to it looking like some other similar cable.
• I clamp the DMK and ST7 cable to the mount and then to the Saddle before routing to their respective end points.
• I try not to route power and signal cables next to each other.

Cheers

Dennis

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I've started using the double sided velcro as well. Fantastic stuff. I've been putting off getting a dymo but all those ac adapters and cables are a pain. Looks like I'll have to bite the bullet.

[sheeny (Al)]

With fear and trepidation mostly!

I have come to dread that creaking sound as a cable gets caught between something on my mount as it slews (especially on meridian flips)... and when this happens I'm usually doing something else and it seems to be impossible to find a way to turn the thing off!!!


But for storage:

• My power cables are hanked and secured with velcro ties (permanently attached to the cable)
• OTA dew heater cable is wrapped around the OTA and secured to the dew heater with a velcro tie/strip.
• ToUcam cable is coiled and fits straight into the cutout in the foam lined case beside the camera
• USB extension cable is coiled and into the case between the foam lid and all the rest of the gear

It's the managing the cables while the scope is slewing that gives me grief...

Al.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Don't have that problem with an Argo Navis Al Though I have had the odd snag up

[leon]

Unless impossible to do, all my cables and such are tied together in their proper order with cable ties, electrical tape or other fasteners, and i haven't tripped as yet.

Leon

[Shaun]

I am not an astrophotograper so i can't know how many cables you are talking about or where they go, but can i suggest you get one of those heat shrink toobs put all your cables in it then use a low flame to shrink it.

[acropolite (Phil)]

Ditto to the velcro ties, it's a good idea to keep things in plastic bags if you're transporting a lot. Plastic bags ate a good idea to stop everything from rubbing together and getting dirty. I carry around a lot of telephony stuff in the van, 3 months out of a plastic bag and you may as well throw them away, in a bag where they can't rub against each other and they're still like new 12 months later.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

I don't have too many cables with my basic setup. But to make things easier for me, on the ends of each cable is a flag that tells me where each end goes. eg. av in dvd, av out gstar. av out dvd, av in tv. etc Makes for a quick setup.
Velcro is a terrific invention. I have hot glued it in strategic places down and around the dob so the cables are secured and while not out of the way, I know where they are in the dark.
I'd take a photo to show you but I'm not allowed near my scope...sob..

[Ric]

I try to keep my cables neat and tidy in storage but they have this mysterious habit of all unrolling and joining each other.

The velcro sounds like a great idea, I'm off to buy some on Monday, thanks for the tip.

Cheers

[Dennis]

Our local Mitre 10 (Scurrs) sells 1.5 metre lengths of 12mm Velcro for around $6. They are advertised as Xmas tree light ties. I cut these to size and shape one end (taper) so I can easily unpeel the tie. The hooks are on one side, the loops on the other, so you can fasten the strap to itself.

Cheers

Dennis

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Dennis, you should be able to pick up the velcro for $2 at Crazy Clarks.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

You can buy 20mm*5m stick on hook and pad (1 roll of each in a box) for $34 at Big W. They also normally sell the double sided as well in 5 meter rolls for around $30 from memory (they didn't have any this morning when I went looking ) .

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Yep - anther vote for the ubiquitous velcro cable tie.

$4.25 for a pack of 5 at Jaycar:

[KG8]

How about corrugated electrical conduit, comes in a slit or non-slit version from memory. It's basically a flexable hollow tube and you can feed all your cables into and hence run a single from scope to laptop. Then just coil it up at the end of the session.