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Ask HN: How do you organize and store your cables?

36 points by dr_kiszonka ↗ HN
Hi,

I have about 200 cables that I want to organize for easy storage and retrieval. They include:

- ~60 USB data cables (15 different connector combinations),

- ~30 USB charging cables (and USB to the proprietary chargers, like Garmin),

- ~20 video cables (HDMI, etc.),

- power and ethernet cables, and tons of completely proprietary ones.

I am sure many of you have more intimidating collections.

How do you manage all that? The easiest solution would be to tie them with velcro and distribute them across 5-10 bins. However, this is not space-efficient, and space is limited for me. Additionally, it doesn't help with retrieval, and I dislike rummaging through bins of USB cables to find the specific combination that I need.

Any suggestions?

55 comments

[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 116 ms ] thread
PaulHoule
At some point I get rid of them. As much as I am a Garmin watch enthusiast (I have 3 Garmin trackers) I wish I could get rid of the cables because the connector is even more unreliable than Apple's Lightning cables.
al_borland
I ended up using gallon sized ziplock bags. For each cable type/connection, I put them together in a bag. Then I have all those bags labeled and in some little bins on a shelf that fits the bins. When I need something, I can slide out the bin and flip through the bags like file folders, until I find the one I need.

It's worked decently well so far.

For a long time I hand a giant 40 gallon garbage bag full of a rats nest of cables. Then I went through that to get rid of old stuff I didn't think I'd ever need again, and ended up with a rats nest in a box. Now I have them all sorted.

It's probably not ideal, but it does a decent job. It is a bit more space efficent than the plastic tray/tote my company used in the data centers to sort all the various cables. That took up a whole wall.

ompogUe
Same here! Also found, using printed labels on clear bins helps me find things faster.
fuzzfactor
Successive rat's nests are the key, that way you can make intermittent progress without having the available time or desire to carry it to completion in one session.

I like to end up sorted then sub-sorted.

Generic Audio

Specialized Audio

Generic USB

Specialized USB

Generic Video

Specialized Video

Generic Power

Specialized Power

Etc.

For anything unique and/or essential to particular gear, one spare copy of the cable stays with the device.

If plenty of spares are available, one goes with each device where it's conveniently useful. Like one HDMI in each laptop case and one USB extension cable.

The extra-long cables of all types can be stored together in their own (usually less-convenient) location if there is only a small number of them. Then the sorted containers of nominal cables can be less sizable and more convenient. OTOH depending on the variety and amount of extra-bulky cords, they might be better if well-sorted too and then their fairly large storage space may have plenty of extra room for the smaller sorted wires in a sub-container within the big loose coils.

Don't forget about the cables for musical instruments, speakers, RS-232, HPIB, extension cords & power strips, networking, coaxial, land-line telephones, and not to be outdone, truly obsolete cables ;)

dr_kiszonka
I aspire to as well-organized as you! Tell me, do you also color code your collection?
fuzzfactor
>do you also color code your collection?

Haven't gotten that far yet.

This is just the first fifty kilos to emerge from rat's nests this decade.

ompogUe
>networking, coaxial, land-line telephones Haha, feel you ... rj-11, rj-45, scsi ...

For music and other gear (projectors, portable electronics first-aid kit), I've been getting into velcro tape so I can find them in the dark: on the machines, remotes, trays, keyboards, usb ports, tripods, hard drives and such.

rspoerri
I use a separate ziplock bag for each longer cable so they stay separated. For example for power extensions or long usb cables.
eimrine
> rummaging through bins of USB cables to find the specific combination that I need.

That's the future we deserve! My try is to sort them with respect to size and probability of need.

Dutchie987
I'd suggest connecting all your gear with the appropriate cables. Any left over cables can go to the recycling center. You're never going to need them.
mock-possum
What about your roommates. Or your partner. Or literally every member of your family within a 2 hour drive. What about cables that break. What about new gear you acquire that doesn’t come with it’s one cables. What about your neighbor. What about what about what about.

You’re going to constantly run into situations where a cable is needed, and it’s better if you have one around.

acuozzo
> You're never going to need them.

I have three 27 gallon bins in my garage full of cables individually kept in ziploc bags.

I have to access them multiple times per week.

This morning I needed to fetch serial cable in order to reconfigure a Philips Pronto remote control.

Two nights ago I grabbed a long ethernet cable for a weird run I'm doing through the floor of my dining room into my server room in the basement.

My wife needed a longer USB-C cable Thursday or Friday of last week.

qq66
Depends really on what you're doing. If you're just using a Macbook to watch Netflix you don't need any cables but if you're messing around with even moderately old or specialized hardware you'll find yourself needing cables like MicroHDMI for Raspberry Pi and similar.
liampulles
I have a pegboard wall next to my desk, which has a bunch of cables tied with fabric cable ties. I also mounted a USB powerbank next to it, and I've mounted my tablet, laptop, phone backup battery, etc. on it. I've also got some misc tools mounted on it, and a few little bins mounted - containing pens, batteries, and odds and ends. Its quite surprising how much it can hold, and its quite convenient.

Cables I don't need immediate access to sit in drawers, not very well organized I'm afraid. Its rare I need to go beyond my cache to slow access though. :)

duanestr
I have used this technique for years that I found by accident. Those large plastic storage bins actually have rails built on the sides that allow you to put hanging folders in them for storing documents. I use each hanging folder to hold a certain type of cable. One for USB C, one for MIDI, etc. One bin can hold 100 cables and you can easily get the one you are looking for.
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brudgers
I constantly reorganize a little at a time and accept rummaging as part of the work. Over time I rummage less. By time I mean months and years. Good luck.
patrick451
I just try to avoid the situation you're in entirely. For one, keep cables with what their device. Like the garmin cable stays with the garmin in its own case with the rest of my outdoor gear. If there is no device that it goes with, I throw the cable away. I don't keep extras, "just in case". That's what my parents do (with everything) and it's why they need a 4000 square foot house, a large shed and storage building. Except for phone charging cables since they don't last and are basically consumables. I can't imagine needing 20 video cables unless I was running a pawn shop.
thy77
In circles then draped over a clothes hangar
uuddlrlrbaba
No need for velcro for storage just wrap them in a circle and then gently weave the last foot or so around the circle

I use several clear shoebox sized bins and organize by type. Usb-a, usb-c, audio hdmi, etc etc.

I tried doing ziplock bags but it became a rats nest of bags upon bags full of cables. It was a pain to find a cable quickly.

Another option for frequently used cables are wall hangers where the cables hang down like spaghetti. I use these for audio mostly

postpawl
I recently used a Treedix USB cable tester to figure out which cables were worth keeping. It’s probably not worth keeping any charging-only USB cables since you’ve got so many data cables.
dr_kiszonka
Charging-only cables are very useful in risky situations like charging at the airport. But I will see how many of these cables I actually need. Cheers!
SAI_Peregrinus
I prefer a "USB Condom" for that, especially since USB-C uses active negotiation for the fast charging. These are devices that Man-In-The-Middle that negotiation and prevent other data activity. No need for remembering which cable is which.
Andaith
I have a box!
gkhartman
We've all had "the box" at one point or another. You know, the one full of nightmare spaghetti. I may have one (or three) of those. I find its often easier to buy a new cable, rather than fight the spaghetti monster.
leobg
I use “Really Useful Box” containers. Have a whole rack of them, with labels “Audio”, “USB”, “Phone”, “Travel”, etc.. Wife is always impressed if she asks me for some obscure item we haven’t used for years and I hand it to her in ten seconds.
bravetraveler
I can tell you my choice of those big plastic buckets works but has created an absolute mess.

I think a bit of mess is guaranteed, a rats nest or hanging vines. Yanking and shoving is part of it, keeping things sorted I believe is about the best one can do

tc08
Not what you're asking, but how about clearing out the collection and keeping a few of each instead of many? I did that recently with my cables and adapters and threw out probably 70% of duplicate and old items.
HeyLaughingBoy
Yep. After I realized that I had over a dozen DE-9, DB-25 and Centronics cables that hadn't been used in over a decade, I tossed all but one of each. Actually, I think I tossed all of the Centronics ones.
wruza
I dislike rummaging through bins of USB cables to find the specific combination that I need

These are the “last 80%” you put so much effort in that never pays off, unless you’re running a cable shop. Just tie every cable with velcro or money rubber bands (rubber decays) and put them into 2-3 bins based on massiveness. E.g power, display/network, usb. Make sure cable ends meet and put similar cables close together. Based on numbers, it’s not even a big pile to scan through. Had a quarter m^3 of these, no problem.

nvllsvm
I've found using labeled, stacked 6qt bins w/ lids to be good enough for me.

https://r.nullsum.net/img/20240702_organization.jpg

I keep them mostly space efficient by combining as many things into each bin while remaining easy to find due to the labels. Inside the boxes, most cables are individually coiled using releasable zip ties. Velcro ties get dirty too easily.

I have fequently used cables hanging on a wall hook without cable ties. I also have a small drawer organizer I keep various other frequently used things in (lots of USB-C to legacy adapters, zip ties,...).

dr_kiszonka
This so neat - thanks for sharing the photo! How is your Palm PDA? ; )
pockybum522
This is how I do it. Move to bigger bins if that "category" of cables gets too big. The zip ties are key here so that there are no rats nests. I have a rule for myself that I won't put a cable in unless it's coiled into a circle and zip ties at two points. It's worked well for years.
_spduchamp
I make my own reusable cable ties from bicycle inner tubes. Get free inner tubes from the bike repair shops. Cut a tube into rubber bands. Take 2 bands and link them like a figure 8 with then knot in the middle. Now wrap around wires and, pulling knot back through the tight loop so the loose loop is like a little handle, and the knot holds the loop snug.
3by7
As for USB cables, I replaced all of them with a set of decent USB-C cables plus a few sets of “USB-C to *” adapters.

I now have a small box with separate sections for the adapters, plus a zip bag with USB-C cables that takes 20% of the space and fits 80% (and growing) of my use cases.

pwb25
I don't , i have 3 big boxes

why do every post on HN think everyone has this super fancy solutions for everything? can't people just live some times

acuozzo
Because sometimes people do have fancy solutions.

It's operant conditioning.

RecycledEle
Get clear plastic drawers maybe like this: https://www.amazon.com/IRIS-USA-Inc-Stackable-Plastic/dp/B09...

Label them with a P-Touch machine. Use 1" tall label tape. (Or use another kind of label.) If the label tape does not stick, apply duct tape to the drawer than apply a label on the duct tape.

If you need to put multiple kinds of cables in one drawer, use Ziplock Freezer bags. 1-gallon and 2-gallon sizes are good sizes.

For example, I might have a drawer labeled USB cables, then bags i side for Extensions, C-to-C, A-to-C, A-to-B, A-to-Micro-B, A-to-Mini-B, OTG, and for USB-Meters. If I get too many cables to fit in a drawer, I can move the USB-C cables to their own drawer.

HeyLaughingBoy
I have a big nail on a post in the basement lab. I hang everything from there. That way I can see them all at a glance so I don't have to remember how they're sorted.

Oh, and I cut up any USB cable that's found to be a power-only one. I hate them with a burning passion.

runjake
In various drawers and tubs around the house. My backpack. My desk. Why lie?

I am somewhat putting efforts into condensing it all down to a single "black and yellow" container, as they're known here colloquially.