Storing Test Leads - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Mike Warren
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 04:38:35 am
content: So how do you store your test leads?I'm talking about BNC-BNC, BNC-Aligator, banana, Aligator leads etc. With the standard leads and all the specialised custom leads I've made over the years, I must have about 100 of the things.In my old workshop I used to hang them over the light fitting. Convenient, but very messy.Currently, I have them in a couple of plastic boxes, but that it really annoying. I don't have any spare wall to hang them from. My workshop is tiny and full ofshitgood stuff.So, anyone got something that's novel and works?

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 04:46:43 am
content: Nothing novel here - I hang them from hooks. If they don't all fit on the hooks I have, I either add another, or more commonly, play a game of Which Lead Is Crap and toss the cheap ones.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 04:47:57 am
content: We hang most of ours on the wall. In fact we just extended the wall hook area to about 8 metres (about 35 hooks) and it still needs more!So... I guess I don't have a good alternative solution for you Mike!

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 04:50:14 am
content: I use thesehttp://www.pomonaelectronics.com/?i=prodmain&getDetails=1&parent=TSTLEADHLDR

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 05:20:34 am
content: Quote from: pickle9000 on April 17, 2013, 04:50:14 amI love that there is a dedicated product for hanging test leads from the wall. Not sure about the USD $25 price tag though.I do the hooks in the wall deal too. Get more wires, add more hooks. Simple. Plus it's another one of those things that makes your lab look cool. You look like you could do some serious testing with all those cables at the ready! The ends of BNC cables is a good place to keep the common BNC adapters. The other ones go in a box in the drawer.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 06:45:29 am
content: I've seen many variations 2x4 and 1/4 inch dowels, MDF with slots and so on but store bought is nice. Mine are 20 years old so they do last. I'm surprised there isn't a chinese plastic version.

author: komet
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 07:07:12 am
content: I have this. Highly recommended. The fingers are adjustable for different widths of leads.http://www.reichelt.de/Laborleitungen/LMLH-50/3/index.html?;ACTION=3;LA=2;ARTICLE=10532;GROUPID=5624;artnr=LMLH+50If you can't get hold of one, something like this is a good substitute:http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40242653/

author: PeteInTexas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 02:32:56 pm
content: Make sure rodents with an appetite for plastic insulation cannot get to them.

author: Kibi
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 02:56:58 pm
content: My brother printed a few of these off for me the other day. I have cool botherhttp://www.thingiverse.com/thing:40585

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 02:57:17 pm
content: Quote from: PeteInTexas on April 17, 2013, 02:32:56 pmCovered. I have two dogs with an appetite for rodent.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 03:01:35 pm
content: Get a length of cable raceway. The one with slits on the side and a push-on cover.Get the idea ?Like this :http://www.ecvv.com/product/1880284.html

author: ivaylo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 03:05:35 pm
content: I love to have a horizontal bar somewhere in the lab for those. No proper lab nowadays but some room in the closet does it.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 06:28:13 pm
content: Tie racks; you can get this one for $1 at US dollar day thrift stores.http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=3744561

author: JackOfVA
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 08:34:38 pm
content: I use the slotted finger type from Pomona for BNC and similar leads.However, for oscilloscope probes, voltmeter probes and the like, I use pencil pouches. Available at most any office supply store, not very expensive and the clear plastic window lets you see what is in the pouch. One could color code them, I suppose, with oscilloscope probes in one color, multi-meter probes in another color, etc.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 08:43:52 pm
content: hanging off a bunch of those 3M tape-to-the-wall hooks

author: peterthenovice
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 09:25:20 pm
content: I found this beauty on amazon about 2-3 minutes ago.http://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Rotating-Tie-Rack-TR200/dp/B0015DKRGI/ref=lp_3744561_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1366233637&sr=1-10

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 09:31:26 pm
content: Quote from: peterthenovice on April 17, 2013, 09:25:20 pmDude, that'shilarious!Next I want a pushbutton on every kitchen drawer so I don't have to slide them open. And maybe on the refrigerator door too. What else? Hmm... the sky's the limit! Motors on everything!

author: peterthenovice
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 09:36:59 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on April 17, 2013, 09:31:26 pmyou can store 70 cable in a movable lightable way

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 09:39:43 pm
content: Yeah, I see the usefulness of it, I just think the fact that it's motorized is silly. Why not just push it around??(And I think 70 cables is a bit excessive... Maybetotal, but most will be specialized cables that you don't use often, so just put them in a box.)

author: peterthenovice
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 09:45:36 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on April 17, 2013, 09:39:43 pmten dollors for a motor eha who needs it, but it still lights up.http://www.amazon.com/Rotating-Tie-Rack-Black-5-5/dp/B002JR0P70/ref=pd_sim_hg_2

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 11:11:00 pm
content: Don't laugh.... my son has two of the last onetotaly fullof ties

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 11:12:04 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on April 17, 2013, 11:11:00 pmAll I can say to that is "screw ties".

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2013, 11:40:20 pm
content: Here's (most of) our walls of hooks.

author: Mike Warren
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2013, 12:17:10 am
content: I wish I had that sort of room. My total work space is 2.7M x 5.4M, benches and shelves around all walls except for one window.Looks like I've already seen everything others use. There is a small shelf about 400mm wide that I don't make very good use of. I think I'll remove it and hang my most used leads there. The rest can stay in the boxes.Thanks for the interesting discussion.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2013, 12:21:28 am
content: Quote from: David_AVD on April 17, 2013, 11:40:20 pmI want it.

author: chickenHeadKnob
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2013, 12:55:17 am
content: To Mike Warren:Does your room/lab have a door? the backside of the door is what I use, bonus is that the hanging mess can be hidden or revealed simply by leaving the door open or closed. I don't like the row of hooks with the cables draped over, the slotted bar style which suspends the cable by the connector is much better.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2013, 01:11:38 am
content: Quote from: Mike Warren on April 18, 2013, 12:17:10 amThat's two of the outside walls of the main workshop area (about 2.7m x 9m). All up we have about 300 sq metres of space (including mezzanine and my office). I remember when I started this business from home and I worked in a single room no more than 3m x 3m, with some shelf storage in the garage. More space just seems to mean more stuff to fill it!

author: Mike Warren
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 18, 2013, 01:38:06 am
content: Quote from: chickenHeadKnob on April 18, 2013, 12:55:17 amNot really. My workshop is part of a much larger storage room. The door is right across the other side.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2013, 01:40:27 am
content: The problem with the motorized tie rack is that it's not made to carry the weight of lots of cords. I wouldn't be surprised to find that the motor bogs down and won't turn at all.My recipe for a cord storage rack is to take threaded rod and cut pieces about 15-20cm long. Mount them one at a time or in pairs on a piece of wood. Slide clear vinyl tubing over the rods to grip the cables. Make the tubing a bit longer than the rod so that when you bang into it you won't hurt yourself.Ed

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 04:45:37 am
content: Electronix Express/RSR has their own brand of test lead holder for a little less than the Pomona ones:http://www.elexp.com/tld-lead.htmI wonder if this is a generic Chinese product?

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 05:59:37 am
content: I have been trying to find a Chinese version of these test leads holders but have yet to have any luck at allI really don't understand why no one in China has made anything similar yet.Quote from: edavid on May 23, 2013, 04:45:37 am

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 11:33:35 am
content: I just use a tie rack behind my door

author: grenert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2013, 03:15:00 pm
content: Quote from: iloveelectronics on May 23, 2013, 05:59:37 amProbemaster has a plastic holder at the Chinese-like price of $3:http://www.probemaster.com/product_info.php?cPath=7&products_id=54&osCsid=c209b4e098867eea5e8307487a9554cfNot sure where it's really made, but Probemaster cables are made in USA. Note that it is about half the length of the Pomona one, and the Pomona one is metal.