Extension Cord Organization

[Papa6058]

  How do all of you with 100+ extension cords, not to mention other cables and such label, store your extension cords to make them more pull and use from storage. I still have to line mine up in the yard and just grab the one I need for each and every channel. It takes 3 people over an hour just to line then up in the yard. All comments and suggestions are welcome.

 

Papa

[Mr Grunts]

I wrap mine up and label them according to each prop that i have in my yard. that way when i go to set up that prop i just grab the bundle of cords labeled for that prop,

for props that only have one cable those are packed by length, thats just my way, hope it helps

[Mr. P]

I pretty much do the same thing you do, I lay them all out in the yard and grab the ones I need. My display changes every year so when some of my regulars, who are there every year, never see the same show. Plus I am always adding and everything gets moved around so the layout always changes.

 

Last year the house was covered in different color rope lights, this year the entire house is RGB so the rope lights will be used in other places.

Edited November 9, 2014 by Mr. P

[shfr26]

Any prop with 3 or more channels, ie 7 channel arch,mega tree, spiral tree,  zip tie all the cords for that prop together.

[oilmoney]

All my cords for single props are labelled on both ends and zip tied into neat bundles then stored in rubbermaid totes. Any loose cords are wrapped up and stored in totes as well. When I run them around the yard I try to keep them in tight corridors to increase the chance that I'll be able to retrieve them before spring.

[Klayfish]

My display has been growing and changing every year, so I can't do the method the others have suggested above.  I sort and package them by length.  Each cord has a label on it, especially the custom ones I make from SPT.  I then break them out into boxes of small/medium/large.  So my 25,50,100' cords are all in one crate (yes, it's very heavy), my custom SPT ones are sorted into two boxes...one for shorter size, one for longer.  Then all my dollar store bought short ones, typically 6' or 15' length, are in another box.  That way, when I'm going to set up if I rigure I need a 6' cord I know exactly where to find it.  I also keep my timers in their own box, and another box of misc small supplies such as 3-2 converters, babyproof pugs, etc...

[LORisAwesome]

I store mine in totes as well.

 

I use the same cords for the same prop each year, so I label the male end with the controller and channel number.  The female end is color coded, or labeled to indicate what it should be connected to.

 

Jerry 

[Papa6058]

Very good info, TY everyone

 

Papa

[Denny]

I store my 120 volt extension cords in three trash cans, the kind with wheels on the bottom that you can drag around.  All my DC cords and cat 5e are separated and stored in bins.  One thing I wish I had done when I first started this hobby would be to get cat 5e cables in different colors for different lengths, such as white for 25 feet, black for 50 feet, etc.  Then again, over the years, I have made many custom cables from bulk wire, so that probably would have fallen by the wayside quickly.  DC cables are all custom made at 25 foot lengths.  If I need something longer, I just plug two or more of them together.