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ForeverAutumn
02-01-2012, 12:50 PM
Behind our TV and stand is a tangled mess of cables and wires. We have TV, cable box, BR player, reciever, Apple TV, iPod dock (which I can probably remove now that we have Apple TV), and six speakers all plugged into one powerbar with everything crammed behind our TV stand. There is so much crap back there that we can barely push the stand against the wall.

We have conduits running along the baseboards to hide the speaker cables, but I don't know what to do with all the cables and wires that are crammed behind the TV stand?

What do you guys do with your masses of cables?

recoveryone
02-01-2012, 02:29 PM
you almost answered your own question, Conduit!!!!, you can find it at your local auto parts store or computer shops. If you go with automotive type you may even find a color you like. It may be listed as hose covering and can range in diameter or go a cheaper route and use PVC pipe. Paint it yourself. You can buy T angles and straight lines to have all your plugs run through it right up to the surge protector.

Glen B
02-01-2012, 02:38 PM
You can combine several cables in split loom tubing for a neat, organized look - power cords in one, groups of signal-carrying cables in another. When the wires are all grouped, secure the tubing off on the sides with cable ties. Use a rack-type power distributor that will fit in the equipment stand and provide enough outlets for everything, versus the powerbar sitting on the floor. With nothing on the floor, you will be able to push the TV stand against the wall.

Click here:

split loom tubing (http://cableorganizer.com/wire-loom)

Furman power distributor (http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=248-786)

E-Stat
02-01-2012, 02:42 PM
What do you guys do with your masses of cables?
Well, here's what I did. First, go to a hardware or big box home improvement store and buy a collection of Ty-Wraps. I got a 500 piece mix of 4", 5.5" and 7.5" wraps for ten bucks(?) long ago. You don't need terribly many for this project, but they are handy to have around for other stuff.

Unplug everything. Did I really say that? Unfortunately, yep. Dress each run separately. Use conduit for internal connections, too. Ty-Wrap bundles of excess cable. Attach to cabinet/stand where possible. It might take an hour or so to get everything put back together neatly. Much easier to clean around.

Some time back, I did a "before" and "after" shot. You judge the improvement. I've since replaced the receiver with separates along with adding an access point to stream Netflix causing even more space crunch. That's the last one.

http://home.cablelynx.com/~rhw/audio/cable_mess.jpghttp://home.cablelynx.com/~rhw/audio/cable_after.jpg

http://home.cablelynx.com/~rhw/audio/cables2012.jpg

ForeverAutumn
02-01-2012, 03:38 PM
Thanks guys! Those are all great suggestions. I love that power distributor to get the power bar off the floor. And even if I don't use the split tubing to organize the cables, I think that I may get some just to cover the bit of exposed speaker cable that we have as our cat likes to chew it...and at $4.00 a foot that's an expensive chew toy!

I think that the ty-wraps would work well for our situation. I've used velcro straps to organize some of the cables (ones attached to the TV, ones attached to the reciever, etc), but dummy me never thought about using them to shorten the cables.

It looks like I have a project to work on . :D