Cable Mangagement

These clasps are the type often used on life jackets and many backpacks.

three prong clasp small.jpg (2.72 KiB) Viewed 7829 times

One of the biggest problems with the Raspberry Pi is, arguably, cable management.

With cables seemingly coming out on every side of the Raspberry Pi, in no time you can end up with a "rats nest" of cables and a serious cable management problem!
Here is a simple solution that requires just two things:-

1. Right angled cables or adapters
2. A slightly modified "life jacket" style connector (known as a "three pronged clasp")

Creating order out of chaos in a few simple steps!

Sequence.jpg (53.39 KiB) Viewed 7829 times

Here is a larger photograph of the finished solution with all the cables neatly routed to one side of the Pi (the HDMI adapter shown is larger than strictly desirable and I am still on the lookout for a compact right angle HDMI cable - without a swivel end - that can be incorporated into the same neat bundle).

Awesome idea.

Neat

Wow that's really impressive. I had been, wondering how to tidy up the wires. What is the enclosure/case in the picture, and do you know where I can get one. It looks so much more stylish and robust than mine. I am constantly getting my Pi out of it's case to show friends. Yours looks a great way to show off the Pi.

Thank you everyone for your encouraging comments. Yes, my cable management trick really does tidy up the cables and makes a neat bundle. Before, the Raspberry PI kept sliding off my desk all the time and one time it nearly got trashed when it hit the floor because the case it was in was so thin and flimsy.

That's when I decided to spend a bit more and get a genuine PI-STACK off Ebay. It not only looks great but it's really rugged (it weighs close to a pound!), comes with non-slip silicon feet and stays put on my desk wherever I place it. I think it's sold by an outfit known as "Paradigm shift" and it only took about 3 days from ordering.

My cable managed PI-STACK enclosure/case taking pride of place under my Imac 27"

my gold PI-STACK.jpg (56.31 KiB) Viewed 7556 times

Anyway, here is a link to the Ebay advert for the top end "gold" model I decided to go for. If you click "see other items" on the right, it links to another less expensive model with black metal supports. Mine has lacquered solid brass supports and is built from 10mm clear acrylic. I'm really pleased with it because it already looks like a very expensive media player when the Raspberry Pi is in it - which is exactly what I am going to use it for when I've got all the software tidied up too!
LINK to EBAY:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110926392518?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

I have been asked where I purchased my right angle cables/adapters:

The right angled micro USB cable came from Vebox Direct Computing - Link1 on Amazon (see below).
The right angled Phono Adaptors can be obtained by Ex-Pro (Electronics) also on Amazon - Link2.
The right angled audio lead is from Kenable_Ltd also on Amazon - Link3
The bulky right handed HDMI adapter was also obtained from Kenable_Ltd on Amazon - Link4
If anyone knows where I can get a compact (non swiveling) right angled HDMI cable to finalize my cable management solution, please post a link on here!

LINKS
1: http://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-inch-Micro-USB-Cable/dp/B003YKX6WM/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1345205948&sr=1-1
2:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro%C2%AE-Phono-Angled-Adaptor-Female/dp/B004OXGU5S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345205372&sr=8-1
3:http://www.amazon.co.uk/3-5mm-Right-Angled-Phono-Sockets/dp/B003OSXMWI/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1345205372&sr=8-8
4:http://www.kenable.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=110_224&products_id=4989

There is now a youtube video available showing how to modify a "three pronged clasp" to create the simple cable management solution for the Raspberry Pi (as in the above posts).
VIDEO:
http://youtu.be/dstji8ftZAY

I have been asked where I purchased my right angle cables/adapters:

Correction !
The right angled micro USB cable came from IT Direct - Link1 on Amazon (see below).

LINKS
1: http://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-feet-Micro-USB-Cable/dp/B003YKX6W2/ref=pd_sim_computers_5

I have been asked where I purchased my right angle cables/adapters:

I have since discovered that a three pronged clasp can be purchased (singly) from B&Q (in straps section) for around £2.88. So no need to wreck your life jacket and destroy a life for your Raspberry Pi !

Here is a right angled HDMI cable which doesnt require an adapter - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5M-HIGH-SPE ... 4d0216318a

Hope that helps

Unfortunately the link in the last post by shawaj is to a right angled HDMI in the vertical direction, not in the required horizontal direction.

Bump, in case anyone has anymore info on angled cables. Having just got one of these beasties I'm slightly surprised that no-one has come up with a kit to get everything pointed in the same direction.

AdrianR

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Left-Angle-Fl ... 231d0ad5ec

Unlike the other linkys posted in this thread, this adapter adapts the HDMI Socket to face in the direction of the Ethernet and USB Sockets. ... and it is cheap!