Make Your Own Super Cables For A Streamlined Charging Station

If you plug to many devices into one port, it might short circuit the port.

resilient

@resilient: It isn't really a single cable, it's just a bunch of cables bundled together so that they are now essentially one cable.

Bernie Wallace

Aren't you wasting electricity? Phantom power or whatever it's called?

I can't imagine many circumstances under which this would be useful.

I have a bunch of things that need to be plugged into either power, a computer, or both at various times. I coil each cable to the shortest useful length then use cable ties (about a buck each at Guitar Center) or just cut some velcro from the fabric store to secure it.

This allows me to use each device independently without having to move all the cables for everything at once and allows me to have the camera hooked up to one computer while the mp3 player is hooked to a different one.

@Bernie Wallace: I think resilient is talking about overloading the circuit and/or the wall socket with too many devices.

cha0tic

For a site called "Anything But iPod" I find it funny that they clearly have an iPod sync cable in the bundle.

Snorbalp

@resilient: The Electrical Engineer in me wants to point out that short circuit != overdraw.

Shorting means that there is virtually no voltage drop across your power supply and a large current flows (ideally cut off by fuses). Now this does cause an overdraw.

Overdraw, in this case, means that you would be trying to hard to power all those devices and some type of limiting circuit would kick in. Basically pulsing power, or shutting it of completely, to all those devices.

If you follow the link though, you'll see that they are all connected to a self powered USB hub. Which ideally means that this overdraw should not be a problem unless you are (somehow) exceeding the limit of each USB port (which with 2.0 was 5V at 100mA). If you've found a way to do that, then congratulations are in order... or something.

Awesome idea. I have a really strong stance against a rat's nets of cables but I usually just tape the cables together. This looks a lot cleaner.

tok3ninja

who has that much crap to charge??? for me, iphone, laptop, that about covers it.

kingoftowns

Sounds nice for MUTILATING some of that clutter, but I think if you have that many devices, you are most likely the problem.

cha0tic

@cha0tic: Isn't that would surge strips are for?

@cha0tic: I have to agree... while I can think of some cases where it might be useful under certain circumstances, I think most often the problem is all of the CRAP people have.

Cody DeHaan

@Snorbalp: I was thinking the same thing lol

cha0tic

@Giannicolus Jones: Well you don't have to plug them all in just to charge one...

Also, I think that since they're all USB chargers, no electricity would be wasted as there are no additional voltage converters. But then again I don't know much about electricity...

t1t0

@KeyboardPillow_GitEmSteveDave: Surge strips are for minimizing voltage spikes. The do nothing else except extend the number of outlets. That being said, If you plug too many devices in to the surge strip or outlet, you stand a chance of 'overloading' the circuit and popping a breaker or worse. By the way, most inexpensive surge strips only survive one 'spike'. after that, they are just extension cords.

BlancheKisser

Anyone know where to find the sleeing in smaller sizes than 1/8"? I would like to sleeve my headphones.

@Cody DeHaan: Hey, I like 'Crap'! A couple of cell phones, bluetooth headsets, gps, a couple of laptops, battery charger......

BlancheKisser

@Snorbalp: good eye

Guymann

Neat idea, except that whenever you add or remove a device fro your collection you have to cut the shrink, remove, replace, reshrink. I think I'll stick with releasable zip ties.

--Jason

Jason

Every time I do this level of permanence in such an optimization, it lasts about 6 months before some chunk of tech changes and I have to rip it all apart. I would never shrink tube a bunch of cables together, it just wouldn't last. Now.. give me some of that sleeving with a zipper on it.. and I'm sold.. ; )

snarkyFish

@Snorbalp: Good catch! Notice how it's the only one not plugged into something. :-) Ahhh, the shame . . .

Jason

@Snorbalp:
Where do you see the iPod charger?

joe18521

@Giannicolus Jones: Vampire power. Same as without the cables bundled. Once a device is charged, unplug the power supply. In modern supplies, vampire power is much less. Easy rule: If the power supply is warm, power is being used.

@KeyboardPillow_GitEmSteveDave: Er, no. Surge strips won't prevent the fact that your devices' chargers when plugged in at the same time draw X amount of amps.

If X exceeds the rating on the breaker/fuse, expect it to trip/blow.

The surge protector doesn't protect the outlet. It protects the devices from surges in the other direction.

sychian

@joe18521: If you're just looking at the photo on this page it's harder to see, but it the third one, counting down. Look at the cables themselves and not the ends. Make the jump and there is a clearer picture.

And I want my YP-P2 back.

jupiterthunder

Something like sprial cable wrap might be easier on/off if you'd be bothered by having to add/replace cables in the setup.

jupiterthunder

@Snorbalp: Seeing as this was originally their April Fool's joke, I 'm not too shocked.

@kingoftowns: Seriously. That many devices is just sad.

BrianB

@kingoftowns: multiply your number by 4 people in the house. add a work cell and a couple of Nintendo DS systems, a camera or two, a Kindle, an eReader.

yes, some of us do have that much crap to charge.

but I wouldn't wrap the wires together like that...what about when I want to take just one with me?

karlawithak

Looks excessive to me...I have one thing to charge, my iPhone. I think those charging stations and solutions are soon to be a thing of the past, so let us move on.

kenzilisa

seems the real trick here was that they bought a series of USB-tipped cables and a USB hub to cut down on the clutter. The genius isn't in shrink-wrapping (I prefer zip ties myself) but rather in somehow finding USB versions of all of your charging cables and a hub.

NelsonVinton

Ok the person who mentioned phantom power is dead on. On the same idea, let's say you don't plug all of the usb/power cables in all the time but only when you need them. How are you going to identify which plug is powering your device unless of course it's the ipod which is obviously white. Really freakin lame all around. Why not save some money also and just zip tie them together or hell duct tape. because this is not magically aesthetically pleasing as is just cause its wrapped with an overpriced woven wire.

ElroyDemon

If you're looking to charge only and not worry about data transfer, you could always pick up a usb hub with an optional AC plug

YorkHaechler

@snarkyFish:

My first thought was how quickly devices get swapped out as well.

ericesque

@this. I honestly can't remember if it had a slit cut in the side or if I had to cut it myself, but it has been immensely useful and non-permanent, allowing this setup to be broken down easily for a few household moves...

Please tell me I'm not the only cheapskate...I mean THRIFTY individual here! ;-)

Aaron David Vanderbye

@karlawithak: Or when you get a new device rendering your old charger obsolete. Time to rewrap some cables woohoo. How about a couple zip ties?

PHermas

The biggest problems I see with this are the expense, the permanence, and the fact that there is no standard cable length.

This is great in one location but let's say I want to take my cellphone and music player on a vacation. What do I do? Unassemble this cable bundle? Buy another set of cables/chargers?

I don't even like the spiral cable wrap. I consider that permanent. You really need cable tubing with a straight slit: easier to add/subtract cables.

Beautiful presentation, at a substantial cost if they're sourcing USB-tipped cables and adapters.

Deprong Mori

@Snorbalp: I must be blind. I don't see it.

@Harrison: Why don't Facebookers need approval?: And as soon as I post this I see it. Disregard me.

@PHermas: Ultimate win.

BrianB

@jupiterthunder: +1

sunglint

@Log1c: Actually, short-circuiting means that there is almost no resistance in the wire, therefore drawing incredible amounts of current from the source. Voltage drop doesn't directly affect the short-circuiting. But you were right that I used s-c in the wrong way. But either way, its detrimental to connect all those crap into one port.

resilient

@resilient:

USB has a low current limit anyway, which is why some phones etc. refuse to charge from USB

gamer91

@revmatty: Cable ties from Guitar center... a dollar a piece? Get about 100 for about $7 from home depot!! (smaller quantities available for significantly less).

LuisaChamois

I do the same with an old CD spindle that i cut a couple of holes in, these are just various usb cables though, as my G1 charges by mini usb.

[img23.imageshack.us]

@Aaron David Vanderbye: Bought similar product from the auto parts store. It came in a variety of diameters (I chose the 1/2" size) and colors (I got the black instead of the red or blue - it was cheaper & more fitting with my wires). I used it to bundle my monitor, keyboard, mouse and speaker wires into one tube which I fastened to the underside edge of my desk. Small zip tie at each end, and a couple mid-way hold it all together.

CountSmackula

@Giannicolus Jones: It's really not worth the effort to worry about that stuff.

[www.straightdope.com]

god_forbids

@kingoftowns: Well, not everyone has an iPhone -- so their phone, mp3 player, and camera may be separate devices (and PDA if they have one). Add a laptop and that's 4-5 devices already. Add a spouse and that's (potentially) 8-10. Add a few children of a certain age and chances are they'll have phones and/or game systems. 12-15 devices.

I agree, philosophically, that we as a culture are getting device-crazy, but I think it will all consolidate as more iPhone competitors come out and people can essentially carry all-in-one mini PCs in their pockets. And frankly, aside from the cell phone, not much has really changed. 15-20 years ago most people had a walkman/discman and a 35mm/instamatic camera. We used to clutter our homes with thousands of disposable batteries, cassettes/CDs, and film cartridges. Now we clutter them with a charger for every device. So it goes.

CallMeZoot

anyone have an idea how to make this international. I would love a cable like this for my trips. I guess I would just need a USB hub at the local Im going to. Prob the easy way.

AirliaGalunga

This would be much more useful if you could consolidate the plugs to a single one. Unfortunatly with everything needing varying voltage to charge thats a bit impossible.

Adam Hummel

@resilient: +1 resilient
He's correct.

SloYerRoll

I solved the cable-clutter problem by using one of those socks remaining from my laundry setup's well-known behaviour of eating socks and stuffing the cables into a series of these up to the power strip, where they're all plugged in and then the power strip is plugged into the wall. On the other end, the clutter is by the end devices.

Hasan Diwan

@LuisaChamois: I would say with relative certainty that these are not the pull thru use once type.

fawktastic

I have a lot of USB cables for charging but I decided to reuse some address labels for this purpose.
See post here [www.howisavemoney.net]

I agree that this particular set up, while pretty to look at will bring problems when you have to add or remove items.