s0 Is Not A SysadminOct 1, 2024

This is your regular PSA to learn the “over-under method” of rolling cables!

Coiling a cable the ‘normal’ way, whether just in your hands, around your elbow, or somewhere else, imparts a 1/2 axial twist to the cable each time.
That’s the main thing that causes your extension cables to develop kinks and degrade!
If you use the over-under method, the 1/2 twist is counteracted by a -1/2 twist every second loop, so the cable is kept flat and unstressed.
This can hugely increase the lifetime of your electrical cables, to upwards of 20 years of heavy use, without kinks or twists.
(GIF credit hosatech.com)

Show threads0 Is Not A Sysadmin

Here’s some videos to help you learn!

First up, the way I naturally do it — left-overhanded. It’s the smoothest to watch, because, y’know, it’s my job.

Oct 1, 2024 at 6:34amWeb
Show threads0 Is Not A SysadminOct 1, 2024
Second, here’s the right-handed version.
Show threads0 Is Not A SysadminOct 1, 2024
Lastly here’s a left-under-handed version. You can also do this right-handed. It’s when the head faces towards you, and the tail away. Some people prefer this method.
Show threadFoxOct 1, 2024

@s0

It's the roadie coil because they are Over-worked and Under-paid :)

Show threadjon rOct 1, 2024
@s0
There's also another way where you hold the cable in one hand and tilt it between two fingers in the other, in so it finds its form itself.
Show threads0 Is Not A SysadminOct 1, 2024
@yala I’ve had a lot of people mention this to me over the years, and it is theoretically possible — you’re basically trying to behave like a drum loader — but in my experience it’s just not as natural or fast for our hands.
Show threadmirabilosOct 1, 2024
@s0 ah, there are more videos… unfortunately my laptop cannot handle the rescaling from 1080×1920 (arrrgh, vertical videos!) to 1024×768 of its monitor in realtime…
Show threads0 Is Not A SysadminOct 1, 2024
@mirabilos ok… weird thing to complain to me about
Show threadmirabilosOct 1, 2024
@s0 yeah. But I guess I need a nōn-video explanation…