Superb examples of CP Wiring?

[Jdurg]

Yeah, it really makes my wiring job look like a rat's nest.  Granted, i've already blown about $20 on wire and connectors, but I think I might strip it all down and start over to get rid of the "rat's nest" look.

[(+_+)]

2 words

WOW

You've taken the expression "anal retentive" and raised it to a whole new level. That's a compliment BTW. 

[Ginsu Victim]

Underneath my CP is a nightmare. I really need to do some planning. Write everything down, and rewire the whole mess.

[Stub]

Good thread, but there are two things I have to disagree with.

I am a datacenter operations admin, and I have to say make it workable.

Solder: avoid on components. Dont solder your switches or boards. Now I do prefer to solder the quick disconnects to the wire for a good connection, but if you crimp properly and are not good with an iron you will be fine. The first time you change a component or fix a dead switch you will be happy you did.

Second from professional experience zip ties are crap. You want refastenable velcro ties. You dont need to get the fancy cut ones either. Get a roll of velcro and cut a one inch strip ( or more near your big bundles) poke a hole in the center and and secure to the CP with a small 1/4" wood screw. You can secure each wire as you cut it and lay it in, and it makes doing work on your panel afterward cake.

[mountain]

Wire ties are CRAP? I beg to differ. I like the Velcro straps too, I use the behind our computer table at home that I seam to always tear into for one reason or another. IMO, they are too bulky for relatively small diameter wire used on control panels. My machine has been together for a year now and I have yet had the need to cut into the wiring harnesses that are wire tied (and laced) together.

[Jdurg]

Well I started re-wiring my CP last night.  I was initially using 18-gauge wire, and when I tried to daisy chain with the quick disconnects the crimp was never solid.  If I tugged slightly on a wire the whole thing came undone.  In addition, the 18-gauge was hard to move around and seemed a bit too stiff. 

When I first bought my house, I had grand plans of hardwiring ethernet cables throughout the house.  After moving a coax outlet in one room, I decided it was too much work and my wireless network would work fine.     So I now have a few hundred feet of CAT-5 Ethernet cable.

This cable has 8 wires inside of it giving me a TON of wire to use.  It appears to be 22 gauge wire and is incredibly easy to work with.  When I go to crimp, I'm able to make a loop at the end of the wire and still have it fit snugly in the connector.  Plus, I can easily daisy chain the wire together for my ground loop.  The really nice thing is that I can also use the outer ethernet cable wrapping to group together some wires.  So my P1 controllers, my P2 controllers, P1 and P2 buttons, etc. can be grouped together neatly.  I've already re-wired the controllers and everything is looking fantastic, plus it feels a lot more secure now.  I just need to get a ton more of the 0.187 disconnects as I wasted a ton of them when I was using 18-gauge wire.   

[wbassett]

Good thread, but there are two things I have to disagree with.

I am a datacenter operations admin, and I have to say make it workable.

Solder: avoid on components. Dont solder your switches or boards. Now I do prefer to solder the quick disconnects to the wire for a good connection, but if you crimp properly and are not good with an iron you will be fine. The first time you change a component or fix a dead switch you will be happy you did.

Second from professional experience zip ties are crap. You want refastenable velcro ties. You dont need to get the fancy cut ones either. Get a roll of velcro and cut a one inch strip ( or more near your big bundles) poke a hole in the center and and secure to the CP with a small 1/4" wood screw. You can secure each wire as you cut it and lay it in, and it makes doing work on your panel afterward cake.

I am a network engineer too and have used both zips and the velcro.

This is my two cents worth, but when dealing with large cable runs through cable trays and ladders, and knowing that at some point you will be rerouting cables, the velcro method is champ.  For small wiring though velcro can be bulky, and won't look as clean as these excellent panels! 

Plus you can even get different colored zip strips if you really want a fancy color coordinating look for when you show off your work to people.