Cabling

Cabling encompasses the tools, techniques and practices for installing wire and cable, usually in the context of electrical or electronic applications.

Excess cable

When running cable between points, it is often wise, at the endpoints, to leave some extra length beyond where it is threaded through a wall or conduit, or stapled to a surface. The extra length, however, should not simply dangle, but be managed inside a terminal box, or as a deliberately free length. This applies equally well to the humble extension cord.

Rather than dangling, form extra cable into gentle oval loops, and then put cable ties around the loops. There are several reasons for doing this.

First, thicker electronic cables, such as coaxial and optical fiber, have a specified minimum bending radius.

Second, tight coils can cause the cable to act as an antenna and "leak" signal into other cables. A good rule of thumb is to keep radio and radar cables at least 3 feet/1 meter from any other cables.