A modest proposal

[jmatt]

Does every piece of equipment really need eight to twelve feet of power/data cable?

Setting up some stuff under my new build and there's like 700 feet of completely unnecessary cable just all bundled and tangled up. It's volume is nearly equal to that of the equipment.

I think it would be beneficial if each cable was twelve to eighteen inches long... and then we could use these things called extension cords to lengthen them if necessary. I would pay extra for less cable management.

 

[Cell]

If I have to choose too much cord or too little, I'm going with excess every time.

 

[jmatt]

If I have to choose too much cord or too little, I'm going with excess every time.

Why, when you can have exactly what you need, no more, no less, with extension cords?

 

[Dbichler]

Why would you want another cord with another connection that corrosion could happen with especially if only 18”s.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Rather have too much also. IMHO, I tend to need to extend more cable than not.

 

[ColoredRock]

1 Ft. Red Power Cord 5-15P TO C13 10 Amp- PC to AC Outlet

Check out the deal on 1 Ft. Red Power Cord 5-15P TO C13 10 Amp- PC to AC Outlet at Cables

www.cables.com

 

[jmatt]

My post was kinda tongue-in-cheek if you can't tell. There's zero chance anyone in the industry will change anything. But the dozens and dozens of feet of unnecessary cable below the tank is a PITA.

 

[jmatt]

Why would you want another cord with another connection that corrosion could happen with especially if only 18”s.

So that I don't have to wrestle with a Gordian Knot of cable I don't need.

As it stands right now, the chances of me having to deal with this cable mess is 100%. The chances of some kind of corrosion caused by additional connections is what, a tenth of 1%? I have seen extension cord connections left out in the elements (snow, rain) for months on end and never witnessed any kind of corrosion.

YMMV

 

[elysics]

Everything that has controller boxes/ cables that don't go into the water should have power cables that are either plugged in, or the enclosure should be able to open without loss of warranty and the cable replaceable with screw terminals or some other attachment points. Then everyone can have whatever length they want.

 

[MrGisonni]

Metals are mined and processed to make wire then coated with plastic, and probably not much is recycled. No brainier for me as an environmentalist.
Less wire and plastic.....less impact on soil, air and water

 

[ninjamyst]

You will be grateful for long cords when you upgrade to a 72" peninsula and need to run lights or pumps from one end to the other...

 

[stevolough]

I make sure to have a drip loop in all my cables. Extra connections can create problems. And it’s not the water as much as the salt that causes corrosion.

 

[rtparty]

The cost alone makes it a non starter. No one will pay double on all our equipment just for customer cord lengths

 

[MrGisonni]

The cost alone makes it a non starter. No one will pay double on all our equipment just for customer cord lengths

Why double? Sounds like corporate price gouging fake inflation to me......"Let's use less materials then charge them more!" LOL.

 

[ColoredRock]

1 Ft. Red Power Cord 5-15P TO C13 10 Amp- PC to AC Outlet

Check out the deal on 1 Ft. Red Power Cord 5-15P TO C13 10 Amp- PC to AC Outlet at Cables

www.cables.com

^

If you want a longer/shorter cord for cable management.. buy them. I dont want to have a bunch of different cord lengths supplied by the vendor that are going to end-up in the trash/recycle and also have to pay a premium for it.

 

[elysics]

The cost alone makes it a non starter. No one will pay double on all our equipment just for customer cord lengths

A standardized cable connector costs a couple cents, maybe $10 for a high end watertight one that is probably unnecessary for most things.
Then you just go to an electronics or hardwares tore and buy that cable. Or Amazon.

 

[A Young Reefer]

It is quite annoying honestly...
its a pile of snakes down there.

 

[rtparty]

Why double? Sounds like corporate price gouging fake inflation to me......"Let's use less materials then charge them more!" LOL.

Because someone will have to have millions of them made with waterproof connections and it’s a total one off. All the power cords being used in our hobby are standard and used on millions of other devices. Therefore, prices go down when more are made.

Also, each connection becomes an issue to worry about. On higher power items this becomes a safety issue.

It’s about economics and scale. Make less of something, even with less material, and prices go up. We live in a hobby where are things are made in the thousands. You need to build millions to scale the price down.

You’re welcome to call it big bad business, greed, or whatever other keyword of the day is floating around but it won’t change anything. Mass quantity brings prices down

 

[jmatt]

It’s about economics and scale. Make less of something, even with less material, and prices go up. We live in a hobby where are things are made in the thousands. You need to build millions to scale the price down.

Well, ultimately, nothing will change until the manufacturers see it as something that people will pay for. But as for cost, okay, even if it cost me a little extra to avoid the cord nightmare -- count me in. Adopt those screw-on, water tight power connectors to keep the bulk of the connection down.

My light hanging kit was $300. I'll pay $9 more for hardware that makes the cord issue disappear. Again, just my opinion.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Well, ultimately, nothing will change until the manufacturers see it as something that people will pay for. But as for cost, okay, even if it cost me a little extra to avoid the cord nightmare -- count me in. Adopt those screw-on, water tight power connectors to keep the bulk of the connection down.

My light hanging kit was $300. I'll pay $9 more for hardware that makes the cord issue disappear. Again, just my opinion.

Probably better to just pay someone experienced with electronics to shorten your cords for you... Even if I had a choice of cord length, I'd probably opt for the longest one in almost all situations so that if I needed the extra play at some point, I'd have it.