Unfucking Adapters

[digitalraven]

One for my fellow nerds...

In an attempt to unfuck my flat a bit, I'm trying to be tidier. What can I do with not-nicely-shaped tech stuff that I don't need out all of the time, but that I can't stick into the attic?

Thinking things like chargers that I use when travelling, cables for devices that only need charged every few weeks, spare bluetooth headphones, keyboards & phone/tablet cases.

Comments

[andrewducker]

Plastic folders? A lot of stuff will go into an accordion folder, if it's small enough (like cables). Other stuff, I reckon a storage unit would be a good idea, if you've got space against any walls at the moment.

[digitalraven]

Ahahaha! Space, what's that?

A lot of the problem is things like bluetooth headphones and USB chargers that are built into UK plugs, neither of which will fit into a folder.

Right now everything's distributed across two shelves of one of the bookcases and my desk. I could stick it all in a storage container and reclaim some shelf-space, but I'd like to figure out a way for it to not be Another Box of Cables & Adapters (of which I already have three).

[andrewducker]

https://www.blakeandbull.co.uk/products/aga-ceiling-rack-large-wooden-rectangle

Or its more goth equivalent:
https://img0.etsystatic.com/220/0/11415209/il_fullxfull.1283862158_3trt.jpg

(My sister-in-law has one of those. Only bigger, and spikier. It's the gothest kitchen accessory ever.)

[autopope]

Chargers for travel aren't the problem for me; it's the cables that go with them.

My solution is to minimize the number of chargers by maximizing the number of ports on each — typically I travel with a 5-way USB charger — and then to get the correct number of cables of the same length and tie them in bundles with cable ties. Use figure-8 head mains wires to charge the travel brick and have separate UK/US/EU mains plugs for them, and finally find a toilet bag of the right size to hold the whole assembly.

Result is, I can hit a hotel room, whip out a single toilet bag, plug in a single mains cable, charger goes on end of mains cable, and cat-o-nine-(five)-USB-tails comes out of it.

NB: having a laptop that charges off USB-C really helps: no need for a separate laptop charger.

Also helps to have a compact two-output USB charger for use on trains and planes, just to top off phone plus one other in-transit gizmo (rather than the whole mobile menagerie).

To get to this end-state you may need to spend some money on new charger and cables, but it's well worth the hassle in the end.

I have no solution to the problem of the pre-existing sargasso sea of keyboards, mice, weird-ass chargers, obsolete tablets, and so on. Sorry.

[andrewducker]

Good point - I have a charger which has 5 USB A connectors and a USB C one, and it's awesome. Takes up much less space than carrying lots of separate chargers on holiday.

[digitalraven]

I think I can cut down the number of chargers that I use by about 75% just because so many are duplicates; I normally travel with a bunch of USB wall-warts (2x12w, 1x5w), all with US/UK/EU heads. Those have pretty much happened by accident as a result of picking up tech as and when, and it's good enough (though not ideal) for phone/tablet/laptop/watch/keyboard/headphones. And of course a good battery pack for planes and trains (I'm the one driving the automobiles). I can pretty much muddle through with that, but then I don't travel as much as you do.

Part of it is ditching stuff I don't need — I have more 5w USB chargers (in UK and US flavours) and USB-A to micro-USB cables than I will ever likely use. Then it's finding a decent box to fit one of the bookcases to replace one of the current Piles O'Shite. Step three is figuring out how to stop that Tech Junk Box from becoming a rat-king of cables, mice, obsolete tech, and all that.