Old timer told me to zip-tie my cables loose, I thought he was lazy

Back when I started 5 years ago, a guy named Bill from a shop in Toledo told me to never cinch cables tight. I figured he was just sloppy. Last month I had to swap a panel in a cramped closet and those loose bundles saved me 2 hours of cutting and rerouting. Has anyone else found that tight cable management looks nice but bites you later?

2 comments

2 Comments

chen.jade1mo ago

Exactly. That tight zip tie look is for pictures and ego, not for real work. I spent years making everything look like cable porn and every time I had to touch it I regretted it. Leaving a little slack, maybe a small loop, gives you room to pull a panel forward or swap a device without cutting everything. Bill knew what he was talking about. The guys who brag about their perfect cable management usually never have to work on their own stuff later. It's better to plan for the next person, even if that person is just you six months later.

riley_king161mo ago

Velcro straps beat zip ties every time for real service loops.