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Cell phones, digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players, GPS systems, laptops, digital TVs, DVD players, security systems, gaming devices, e-book readers, entertainment systems, OH MY! Consumer electronics-part of life in the 21st century-help us get organized, keep track of schedules, communicate instantly, seek information quickly, navigate, relax, read, learn, exercise and play. The flow of new new technologies that make our lives "easier" will not stop. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the industry projects revenues of $ 171 billion in 2009, up from $ 125 billion in 2008.
With our e-gadgetry culture comes a mass of connections, cords, chargers, cables and potentially, CHAOS! Have you ever glimpsed behind your TV or under your desk and cringed at the sight of cables all curled up with no place to go? Or worried that if one gets disconnected you will not know where it goes? Industry insiders know that cable management is a must, so here are a few tips to keep cable clutter in the home, office and shop under control!
• Gather your supplies: label printer, dusting / cleaning supplies, heat-shrink tube guns, and cable ties, spools, wraps, clips, etc.
• Be sure to turn off and unplug the power to all cables and devices. Take a digital photo of the arrangement so you'll remember what gets plugged into where. Then disconnect and lay out each cable near its component. Be sure to dust all cables before labeling. You'll want to straighten the cords and then use a device such as a cable tie to take up the slack as you reconnect.
• Think twice before using masking tape and marker to identify cables and wires. Professional labels are essential in organizing electronics as they aid in troubleshooting and reconnection, enhance safety, add permanence and have lasting durability. Masking tape dries with age, marker can smear, and handwriting is not always legitimate!
• Consider the best way to label for the job: adhesive tape, tape flag, or heat-shrink tube. Multi-purpose label printers like the K-Sun LABELShop's BEE3® and BEE3 + ® can do all of these and have numerous symbols, graphics and fonts to customize your identification, too.
• Color coding is essential to identify the source and termination of all wires and cables. Polyester adhesive tape and heat-shrink tube materials are permanent, smear-proof and fade-resistant and withstand cold, heat, moisture and solvents.
• Label ports, hubs and stations as to where each individual cable belongs in case of incidental removal, disconnection or for maintenance. This eases reconnection and alleviates frustration!
• A portable label printer can be used anywhere: under the desk, on the job, in the plant or in the home, because it works with batteries or an AC or auto / truck adapter.
• Check out different types of cable management supplies. Some common types:
– Nylon cable ties are inexpensive, durable and available at most stores. After installation, the end of the cable tie is trimmed. When removing, the tie must be cut off. Use caution when trimming after installation and cutting to remove. Ties should be snug but not too tight.
– Cable wraps accomplish the same task but can be easily removed, reused and labeled.
– Cable clips and clamps can help you attach wires and cables to the underside of your desk or along furniture supports.
– Towers, sleeves or tubes such as such corrugated plastic tubing or wire loom allow several cables to be packaged together.
– Grommets (rubber, metal and plastic) are pass-through inserts designed for access holes found in desks and media cabinets to keep cables together.
– Spools and winders take up the slack from phone lines and cables. Several spool-like devices are specifically designed for this purpose.
– Cord covers, tracks and ducts are tunnel-like devices that cover cables in traffic areas to prevent accidents from tripping or gather cables to be mounted on desks or walls.
– Charger stations offer a solution for docking your electronic devices, making them easy to find and to keep charged. Make sure to label each dock and charger cable for the specific device so that you do not accidently damage the device by plugging it into the wrong charger.
With these simple tips, you'll corral the cord chaos in no time!
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