The "Correct" way to maintain cables for game controllers?
Is there a commonly accepted way of wrapping, tying or otherwise dealing with the cables for wired video game controllers? Obviously, when you open a new system or package containing a controller, it's bundled with a twist tie. But what about after use? I often wrap the cord around the controller, but I've noticed certain older consoles have controllers where the plastic sheathing becomes deformed or wears near the entry point into the controller body.
How do you wrap your cables?
How do you wrap your cables?
Comments
The nice thing about them is that the small slit on the one side is used to keep it on the wire when it's not wrapped up so you don't loose it.
I use these. You can get a hundred or so at Wal-Mart for about $5.
The nice thing about them is that the small slit on the one side is used to keep it on the wire when it's not wrapped up so you don't loose it.
I second this.
Personally I use just plain hoock/loop velcro that comes on a roll, then just cut off whatever size I need at the time. I use it for loads of stuff to be honest and have a few different colours for different things.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/301833759544
Straight outta HK, just as it should be.
I make a little loop and twist tie it together when i'm not using it.
If you wanna get fancy you could look into how roadies wrap audio cables so they last longer, its kind of a two-loop back and forth thing so the cable doesn't coil and you can easily unwind it.
When I get a controller that has a spiraled cord, I'll hang it from the ceiling until it straightens out.
For storage I make 4-5 loops and zip tie.
I know it's not great for the controller/cord, but I used to let GC controllers just hang. They'd untie, unknot themselves etc. real quick. Lighter controllers (Sega Genesis) can be a real bitch to straighten out.
Originally posted by: theirontoupee
I leave about an inch or so of slack from the controller to where I start wrapping. I just wrap the cable around my fingers and then leave an inch or two of slack from the end of the cable. Then, it's just a regular rubber band to keep that middle coil together!
Troof
Works great for extension cords and garden hoses too. Hard to do with really small joystick cords, but does still help prevent the twisting. Then a bit of velcro loop and you're done.
I leave plenty of slack from where the cord meets the controller, then I wrap the cord around the controller, making sure there's no stress on the entry point.
Bingo!
Ziploc bags. When you're done just stuff it back in. This way they don't get tangled and your not fucking around with the cord, causing wear
This is how i store all controllers not in use. Quart sized for normals, gallon bags for zappers and larger ones.
However, after watching that video I think I'll be doing the "over and under" thing, though still ultimately wrapped around my controller if there is one. It looks like it takes a lot of the torque and the "fight" out of the cable if you do it that way, so thanks for the video.
I still wrap my controller cables around my controller. I don't do it that tightly though, so even after all this time my cables are still pretty nice.
However, after watching that video I think I'll be doing the "over and under" thing, though still ultimately wrapped around my controller if there is one. It looks like it takes a lot of the torque and the "fight" out of the cable if you do it that way, so thanks for the video.
I started doing that with my phone cables and while it does take the "fight" out of the cable for the most part, over time the cables become "accustomed" to being coiled up like that and will fight being wrapped any other way, actually completely straightening out, etc.
I still wrap my controller cables around my controller. I don't do it that tightly though, so even after all this time my cables are still pretty nice.
However, after watching that video I think I'll be doing the "over and under" thing, though still ultimately wrapped around my controller if there is one. It looks like it takes a lot of the torque and the "fight" out of the cable if you do it that way, so thanks for the video.
I started doing that with my phone cables and while it does take the "fight" out of the cable for the most part, over time the cables become "accustomed" to being coiled up like that and will fight being wrapped any other way, actually completely straightening out, etc.
That's one of the reasons for over\under. While something like controller cables there's almost no gain, with long cables like extension cables, if you just loop the same direction the cable will twist after a while.