Am I coiling cable right?

[JoshRunner]

Very new to lighting in HS.

Am I coiling this DMX cable right?

https://my.mixtape.moe/geivyd.MOV

It's kinky from practice but is the technique right?

 

[derekleffew]

Correct for the most part. You need more practice, as it looks awkward as all heck.

A cursory search for "over under cable coil" returns many, mostly good videos. This is IMO the best of the five or so I watched.

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Rather than all that weirdness with the hands, I just spin the cable in my fingers, like this

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As far as kinks, start by laying the entire cable out in a straight line, removing superfluous twists as necessary.

EDIT: Viola, found it! This is probably the first video to appear on the Internet on this topic. Dating from 1997 or 98, perhaps a little earlier. The definitive.

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N.B.--Why aren't there any videos of pretty girls coiling cable? Rhetorical. Pretty girls (and sometimes fellas) don't have to coil cable; they get others to do it for them.

 

[techieman33]

Looks like your just going over/over with some weird motion that gets you halfway to the under, but doesn't really complete it. The videos Derek posted should get you sorted out. The cable shouldn't be "kinky" if your coiling it right, even if you coil it thousands of times. If it is then there was already a bunch of twist in the cable that you failed to get out, or something your doing is introducing it.

 

[porkchop]

While a good stagehand should be able to under/over a cable even if it doesn't want to, I'll tell you it is often prudent and faster to coil the cable however it wants to go. Cable get's "trained" over time and it's not always worth fighting it.

 

[Brentgi]

While a good stagehand should be able to under/over a cable even if it doesn't want to, I'll tell you it is often prudent and faster to coil the cable however it wants to go. Cable get's "trained" over time and it's not always worth fighting it.

Agreed. I've been coiling cables for about 20 years (since I was in HS). I was taught to basically just roll the cable over/over (I'm guessing that this is how I should describe it). The only issue that I've ever had with un-coiling a cable is when someone else has done it and used a completely wrong method.

 

[bobgaggle]

I'm sure its my technique, but I hate over under because when I uncoil it, I always do it wrong and get the chain of overhand knots. So I over/over

 

[Chris Pflieger]

How can you uncoil over/under wrong? You just hold one end and toss the rest.

IMHO, good DMX & mic cable doesn't get a "memory" unlike CAT5 - that stuff demands to be rolled the same way every time.

 

[TheaterEd]

I used to just over/over and didn't really see the big deal. Then I learned how to over/under and it makes a big difference for me. Especially working with students, if you can teach them to over under properly then it makes dealing with cables WAY easier.

How can you uncoil over/under wrong?

I'm not positive the exact cause, but generally if the end of the cable finds its way to the middle of the coil and is then pulled out wrong, when you throw it out, you will find a series of overhand knots. I couldn't recreate this phenomenon if I tried, but it randomly happens.

You just hold one end and toss the rest.

Personally, I hold both ends and toss the middle for three reasons.
1. Less wear on the connectors
2. I don't have to bend over to pick up the other end off of the ground
3. It looks slightly more professional since it's quieter and implies that I'm respecting my cables.

 

[derekleffew]

How can you uncoil over/under wrong?

If the "hold end" is pulled through the center of the coil, instead of on the outside, a series of overhand knots will ensue. These are known in the industry as a$$holes (not to be confused with producers).

 

[Aaron Becker]

The only issue that I've ever had with un-coiling a cable is when someone else has done it and used a completely wrong method.

I always do it wrong and get the chain of overhand knots. So I over/over

If the "hold end" is pulled through the center of the coil, instead of on the outside, a series of overhand knots will ensue.

Hmm...

 

[josh88]

IMHO, good DMX & mic cable doesn't get a "memory" unlike CAT5 - that stuff demands to be rolled the same way every time.

My shop has thousands and thousands of feet of dmx, xlr, power and video and I'd say a solid 90% of it definitely picks up a memory and has a preference. Sure you can always fight it to go another way without too much struggle on dmx and xlr but it definitely still has a way it wants to go.

SDI is one of the only things that we've decided always needs to be over/under because thats hard enough to coil long lengths of anyway. Don't get me started on looms that have multiple styles of cable making it up.

 

[JoshRunner]

Thanks all for your help!

 

[StradivariusBone]

I couldn't recreate this phenomenon if I tried, but it randomly happens.

I seem to be cursed with finding coils that do exactly that. It's trained me to carefully check before throwing out a coiled cable.

 

[GreyWyvern]

I seem to be cursed with finding coils that do exactly that. It's trained me to carefully check before throwing out a coiled cable.

The short time it takes to look at how it is coiled and be sure that the end is not going through the center is many times less than the time it takes to sort out and untie the mess created when just grabbing and throwing. I find that the end that was started with when coiling, which IMHO should always be the male, is usually kind of down and in the inside/center of the coil. Pay attention to that and you will usually be good. The more correctly the cable is coiled, the easier this is to see.

 

[TheaterEd]

which IMHO should always be the male

I start with the female end so that I can naturally push the velcro ties towards the male end and they don't end up near the microphones. Also, hypothetically, if my students mess up and the cord develops a twist over time, the ugly part won't be on the end with a mic.

I could be convinced otherwise though if there is a strong reasoning behind starting with the male end.

 

[GreyWyvern]

I start with the female end so that I can naturally push the velcro ties towards the male end and they don't end up near the microphones. Also, hypothetically, if my students mess up and the cord develops a twist over time, the ugly part won't be on the end with a mic.

I could be convinced otherwise though if there is a strong reasoning behind starting with the male end.

My main reason for starting with male is that I prefer to start laying cable out from the destination, such as the mic, so that any extra ends up at the "source". That way it is usually out of sight and out of the way. I also like to keep my velcro ties tight enough on the cable that they don't work their way along the cable and stay where I need them.

 

[StradivariusBone]

My main reason for starting with male is that I prefer to start laying cable out from the destination, such as the mic, so that any extra ends up at the "source".

Interesting. I generally do the opposite so I don't end up with a bunch of cable near the stagebox (or whatever) and then can relocate mic stands as need with the coiled excess near the base of the stand. Doesn't neccessarily look as pretty to the crowd, but makes most things I end up doing easier.

 

[GreyWyvern]

Interesting. I generally do the opposite so I don't end up with a bunch of cable near the stagebox (or whatever) and then can relocate mic stands as need with the coiled excess near the base of the stand. Doesn't neccessarily look as pretty to the crowd, but makes most things I end up doing easier.

I do leave a small amount of excess at the base of the stand to allow for movement. I do try to use cables that are close to proper length so there isn't a huge pile of cable by the stage box. I like things to look neat and nice, even when they won't be seen. I may be slightly OCD and I was trained with a mantra of "If it looks good, you are good.".

 

[Chris Pflieger]

Oh! I never thought about always starting with male... I think I just found a new "right" way to do things!

 

[GreyWyvern]

Another point would be, whether starting with the male or female, be consistent!