Best practice in bench power cord management - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: NoisyBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2020, 05:59:47 pm
content: I am trying to organize my test bench, is there any best practice on how to manage the extra length in the power cord, coax and test cables? What should I avoid?

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2020, 06:09:04 pm
content: Slotted ducts under the desk or shelve work well.

author: ArthurDent
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2020, 06:15:43 pm
content: Quote from: NoisyBoy on January 19, 2020, 05:59:47 pmYou should avoid this.

author: duak
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2020, 08:15:20 pm
content: I'm a great one for repurposing stuff.In this day of line cords outlasting equipment (eg. computers and monitors) I find it easy to shorten a surplus line cord to fit and so keep the original intact.When the Great Reorganization happens, I have plans to use a CD storage tower (see image) to make an industrial strength raceway by cutting some slot dividers to allow line cords to pass through. I think I'll also have one of those strip type power bars mounted inside.I sometimes use toilet paper core tubes to hold or store line cords. If you don't like the paper type, there might be some plastic tube or container that could be modified.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 19, 2020, 09:39:13 pm
content: I coil up the excess and use Velcro cable management strips and attached them to the wooden frame at the back of the workbench. I doubt that I could be arsed enough to spend money for replacement ends and cut to length, though it would look a bit cleaner.

author: JohnPi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2020, 12:50:21 pm
content: I put a 24-outlet 4-ft strip at the rear of my bench. I replace the 6-ft cords with 2- and 3-ft ones (I use colored ones) which keeps the back reasonably tidy.

author: NoisyBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2020, 04:19:31 pm
content: Hey everyone, thank you so much for all the ideas. That should send me down the right path for getting the cords organized, thank you so much.

author: alextwin007
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2020, 06:13:42 pm
content: My setup isn't the best, but it's cheap and easy to do. I currently have shelving that is being held up by a box, to lift it up over the level of my oscilloscope. I drilled holes in both sides of the box, and I have a power strip in that for all my equipment that doesn't move. The box is also helpful to hide the cords. I also found it helpful to use wire ties to effectively shorten the power codes to keep everything tidy.

author: aix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2020, 06:28:12 pm
content: Kettle leads I just shorten to the required length by fitting a new (type G, as I am in the UK) mains plug.Not just in the lab, but pretty much everywhere where stuff doesn't get moved.

author: aix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2020, 06:31:58 pm
content: And for low-voltage DC, I standardised on multiport Anker USB chargers (that can deliver 9, 12 and 15V through QuickCharge, though I generally don't bother with that and just use small Pololu boost converters to go from 5V to the voltage I need).

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2020, 07:56:48 pm
content: One thing that might help a bit. I was digging through a box of power cords a while ago and came across one cord that had 2 IEC connectors Y'd out of it. Turned out to be perfect for my 8566b SA and display, but it could be useful for any 2 pieces of gear that don't move much.Look for PCRD-Y-3-10A-3 in a google search, that's a triple ended IEC cord 3 foot long

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 23, 2020, 12:35:22 am
content: I tend to power my test equipment in 'stacks' each stack has it's own power board, that way I only power-on what units are needed. Some gear if the mains cord is powered - so are some internal PSUs and mains filter caps etc.There is also a 'master' off - so when I leave, almost everything is off (except a few dedicated 'always on' units)Rob

author: GerryR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2020, 01:18:40 pm
content: Years ago I built a special work station as in the picture (1st picture is where I started, and as you can see from the 2nd picture, it is now way overloaded!) The shelves have a space of about 2 inches from the back panel and there are power strips for each level. The power strips are daisy-chained from shelf to shelf and go to a main strip on the lowest level, which is a Tripp-Lite Isobar surge protector. The Isobar cord goes out a hole in the back panel to the main outlet which powers the whole setup. Each instrument power cord is bundled and tie-wrapped to an appropriate length and plugged into the power strip behind it on its shelf level. The cords can go from shelf-to-shelf if need be due to the spacing of the shelves from the back panel. I only wish I had made the work station larger; I've had to overflow equipment to another bench / workstation.Edit: I forgot to mention that I have a standard window shade that I can pull down to cover up the mess (picture 3)!

author: NoisyBoy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2020, 05:29:47 pm
content: Very nice, I like how you can cover everything up when they are not in use.