MDF Closet Cable Management

Silentsoul

I am going to be tackling a CRAZY mess of a wiring closet that has never been managed. Any good tips? I have some cable management tools, hook and loop, some,cable panels, What else do you guys think will be good. I want to stay away from zip ties unless necessary.

Thanks

hypnotoad

take pictures (if the employer will let ya that is)

astorrs

Zip ties suck. Buy velcro wraps by the roll, along with standard cable management (don't forget the vertical runs to go with the horizontal - unless the cabinet/rack has vertical ones built in) and you will be rocking.

dynamik

+1 for velcro. They're great for everything, even small projects. I have a few small rolls lying around the house. They're faster, resuable, and they don't irritate my wife's wrists like the zip ties do. Wait.. What? Did I mention they were convenient?

astorrs

dynamik wrote:

... and they don't irritate my wife's wrists like the zip ties do. Wait.. What? Did I mention they were convenient?

OMG

scheistermeister

dynamik wrote:

and they don't irritate my wife's wrists like the zip ties do.

I've lost some good silk ties that way...

+1 for velcro

Silentsoul

Hook and Loop is quickly becoming the new duct tape, at least in the bedroom.

Mishra

My previous boss made us use wax string... That was for the birds.

tiersten

If it is a mess and it has never been managed properly then unfortunately you're going to have to do this the long and tedious way. For each cable you'll need to work out where it is from and where it is going before you start redoing everything. This means lots of photos if you can, a very large clipboard to write down everything, a big bag of writeable tags and a huge amount of time.

Oh and +1 for velcro...

drainey

Velco is awesome and has lots of uses, :P but you might check out www.cableclamp.com also.

dtlokee

tiersten wrote:

If it is a mess and it has never been managed properly then unfortunately you're going to have to do this the long and tedious way. For each cable you'll need to work out where it is from and where it is going before you start redoing everything. This means lots of photos if you can, a very large clipboard to write down everything, a big bag of writeable tags and a huge amount of time.

Oh and +1 for velcro...

+1, but use a label maker to mark the patch cords, they are pretty cheap.

astorrs

dtlokee wrote:

+1, but use a label maker to mark the patch cords, they are pretty cheap.

I prefer labels like this personally, i find they don't wear out as easily - and they look purdy.



One of the DC's here in Vancouver I helped commission uses them on all networking, power, storage (fiber), etc cables - and then actually documents the connections - I know mind blowing.

Silentsoul

Yea I am getting my boss to buy a Toner kit, Label maker and a few rolls of hook at loop. I have about 8 closets to do. in 5 different locations. Should be exciting. Anyone got a label maker they really like? One i can do patch panels and cable with?

bjaxx

Silentsoul wrote:

Yea I am getting my boss to buy a Toner kit, Label maker and a few rolls of hook at loop. I have about 8 closets to do. in 5 different locations. Should be exciting. Anyone got a label maker they really like? One i can do patch panels and cable with?

http://www.galco.com/scripts/cgiip.exe/WA/WCat/webpromo2.htm?promo=710brdyxpert&source=AdWords&gclid=CPyskJGGlJUCFSRaiAod_iSkfQ

We have had pretty good luck wit the brady label xpert.

snadam

I use both zip ties and velcro for cable management, depending on the situation. However, I primarily used either blue or black velcro; which I prefer to use.

Mmartin_47

tiersten wrote:

If it is a mess and it has never been managed properly then unfortunately you're going to have to do this the long and tedious way. For each cable you'll need to work out where it is from and where it is going before you start redoing everything. This means lots of photos if you can, a very large clipboard to write down everything, a big bag of writeable tags and a huge amount of time.

Oh and +1 for velcro...

Eh for working out where it is from and where it is going, you can use a tracer. No need to rip apart existing wiring to find where ends meet.