Neat wiring job question

[fatfingers]

Hello.  I understand how to wire my control panel.  What I do not understand is how to do it neatly.  I'm even willing to give up on the neatly part, if someone would just give me an idea of what they use to "attach" the wires to the control panel so they are not hanging loose?  I have cable ties, but even if I use those, the tied wires still hang loose.

Thanks for any and all suggestions!

[Vigo]

start by using cable clamps...Cheap and easy to find at almost any hardware store or even at a walmart.



just slip in the wires and screw down

[gamecreature]

Or just staple the cable ties to your board.

[spacies]

start by using cable clamps...Cheap and easy to find at almost any hardware store or even at a walmart.



just slip in the wires and screw down

Those are a good solution. Here we call them 'P' clips.

[ahofle]

I used 8 conductor wrapped cable and a staple gun to attach to the CP and it still looks messy.  But my wife says I am a slob, so....   

[Lewis Black]

Also these can be found in the aisle by nylon ties.

[Dervacumen]

I used the cable clamps.  Last time I tried stapling wires I either shot the staple into some or stapled it with such force that I broke the wire in two.

[Stingray]

start by using cable clamps...Cheap and easy to find at almost any hardware store or even at a walmart.



just slip in the wires and screw down

FYI, Bob Roberts stocks these. Not really worth buying them from him if that's all you need, but if you're ordering some stuff anyway toss a package or two in with the order.

-S

[original_maxlamer]

Or just staple the cable ties to your board.

I would recommend stapling the cable ties to the board BEFORE tieing the cables with them (hope that made sense)  to avoid................

Last time I tried stapling wires I either shot the staple into some or stapled it with such force that I broke the wire in two.

which leads to short circuits 

[daywane]

start by using cable clamps...Cheap and easy to find at almost any hardware store or even at a walmart.



If you have a dollar tree or dollar eagle in you neck of the woods
those are sold for $1.00 for 20 pieces in a bag

[arzoo]

I used a combination of p-clips and tie-wraps. Here’s a trick you can do with the tie-wraps to keep the wires secured – before clipping off the extra length, use a staple gun to attach the leg of the tie-wrap to the cp. If the staple isn’t tight against the wrap, you can loop it through one time. Here’s a picture of some of my wiring. If you look closely at the gray ribbon cables for the rgb LEDs, you can see how I did it.

[Level42]

Even though not perfect yet (CP will be replaced), I think my wiring is pretty neat:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=51119.0

[whammoed]

Yep, p clips and LOTS of cable ties to keep the wires bundled together.

[Grauwulf]

Excellent looking wiring job arzoo. I use the staple & zip tie method usually, with the odd 'p' clip thrown in where needed. Some materials don't take staples too well, so you have to us the clips. The biggest thing that will help keep your wiring neat is make sure it is secured well. And use zip ties on the branches of the harness to keep everything together and neat.

[Burke LaShell]

I used the wire clips you nail in and some cable ties.  Worked well for me.

[leapinlew]

What kind of wiring? Solid core or strand? What gauge?

I used solid core - 18-22 gauge:

While not perfect, it's fairly clean. The solid core allows you to bend it the way you want and it'll pretty much maintain it's shape. I'm curious how stranded and clips would work.

[Banacek]

Wow, your guys wiring jobs look so nice, I'm ashamed to show mine I used a mix of p-clips, staples, and that tubing you can get at any electric store. I have no idea what it's called.

[johnm160]

Neat wiring is the sign of a sick mind   

[Grauwulf]

I have no idea what it's called.

It's called split loom here. I use that stuff a lot when I'm doing car wiring, makes things look nice and neat and it is an extra layer of protection for the wires.

[jelwell]

This might be obvious to most people, but:

You only need one ground wire coming out of your encoder, they can all run like christmas lights off the same wire, going in and out of each switch. You can see that in all the pictures above.

And yes, I *have* seen pictures of people who jammed one ground wire into their encoder for each switch - that becomes messy really quick.

Was that me on my first attempt? I can't remember and this picture is so frenzied that it's hard to tell if that's what I did (either way - don't do it):

Joseph Elwell.

[arzoo]

Another (obvious) method for neat wiring is to use different color wire. Although it doesn't seem to have helped in the cp above! 

[ArcadEd]

Also these can be found in the aisle by nylon ties.

These are the ones I like, the mounting tape ones, not the nail in.

[johnm160]

ArcadeEd,

What type of wire is that your using? It looks like the 25 pair phone lines.

[ArcadEd]

That's actually a Happ Jamma Harness.

For arcade box builds I just use 22gauge stranded wire.  Green, Red and blue.  Green for ground, red and blue for players 1 and 2.

I bundle pretty close to the same way though.

[johnm160]

That's actually a Happ Jamma Harness.

For arcade box builds I just use 22gauge stranded wire.  Green, Red and blue.  Green for ground, red and blue for players 1 and 2.

I bundle pretty close to the same way though.

I see, I thought that was too many colors to be the run of the mill home center stuff...