How do you manage your cables?

Mostly with spiral wrap. I found the smaller diameter works best because it is very flexible yet controls the various cables and power cords for me.

I’ve seen folks try and use the stiff wrap that is meant for hydraulics and failed. because it causes to much strain on the wiring.

I typically buy the 33 foot length so I have plenty to use and work with. Where I need it stiffer I simply do double. Where I need to attach rings for support clips (I use harness snaps) I use some larger and stiffer to anchor my rings (I use key ring assortments)

And always, ALWAYS, run the mount through the furthest gyrations imaginable to test your configurations. If you miss something you can wind up with damaged connectors or worse, damaged sockets on your components. Our mounts can swing some very wide swings and entangle your wiring and looms.

If you don’t find them first, they will likely find you when you least want a tangle.

In addition, I have my system reduced to a single USB cable and a single 12VDC power wire from ground control (And a single power supply, 12 VDC- 25 amp capacity). I use a powered USB hub on my telescope and bring all the USB cables to it for the single cable to my laptop. My power array branches to each need with the device’s connector wired into the main feed wire. I’ve replaced original USB cables with ones better suited for the length needed to keep them shorter for the need.

Using the powered USB hub supplies the power to things that use USB 5 VDC as their power sources. (My rotator, and Guide Scope for examples.)

Ultimately, you have to outsmart the gremlins.

I had an extensive library of example pictures, but Cloudy Nights stole them when they abruptly banned me while I was in Japan.

Honestly, I don’t, but mine is a medium weight OTA riding on an EQ-6 which is pretty heavy. I have a camera power cable from the PS that’s strapped to the mount. I also have two red ZWO cables strapped together that run down from the center of the dec saddle to the Mele that sits on a low table next to the mount. Everything has a long loop and is free to run as the OTA (6” Newt) moves. I used to run the OTA through all the positions to make sure there are no snags but anymore, I just know how they should run. I’ve not had any problems with doing this. I’m not suggesting that managing cables isn’t a good thing to do. Just that in my case, it’s not turned out to be a big concern.