Cable Strapping IP Camera Networks

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Nov 12, 2015

Many say using zipties is asking for problems. And BICSI prohibits them. But many video surveillance integrators use them regularly. What should you do?

In this note, we contrast and explain the tradeoffs between:

  • Zipties (often Nylon)
  • Hook and Loop Straps (also called Velcro)
  • Cable Lacing (Typically Waxed String)

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** **** ****, ** ******** *** ******* *** ********* *******:

  • ******* (***** *****)
  • **** *** **** ****** (**** ****** ******)
  • ***** ****** (********* ***** ******)

[***************]

Zipties *** ***: **** ** ****?

******* ********* ******************* * ****** ****** ** *** ******, *********** ********** ******* and ********** **** *** **** ****** *******.

**** ******** *********** ********* ******* ************ ******* ****** (******):

** ********** *** ********* **** ** *****, *** **** **** network ******** ***** ***** *** ******** ** ******* ********* ***** is *********:

** ***** ** ******** *** **** ******** ***** ******, *** internal ****** **** *** ** **** ** ****** *** ** shape *** *********. *** '****** ****' ** **** ****** ***** ratcheted ****** **** ********** ******** ********** *** ****** ** ************ point *** *********** ** ********** *** *********** -********* ** ***** traffic.

But ** **** * ********* *****?

******* *****'* ****** ******* *******, ******** ** ******** ** ***** **** are ********. ******, ************ **** ******* **** ******** ** ****** racks *** **** *** ***** **** *** *** * ****** of *********** ********:

********** ** ******* ***** **** ** **** ** *** ***** is *** ******* ********* ** *** ***** ******, *** ********* with **** ***** ******* ******* *** ***** *** ***** *** delicate ****** ** ******** ***** **** *** ** *********.

*******, ** ** ***** ******** *** **** ******* ******* ** frequently *** ******** *** **** **** ** *** *** ******* during ***** *****, ****, ** *******. ***** ***** ********** ******** like **** *** **** ****** *** ** ******, *** ** detached *******, *** **** *********** ** *** ******* ***** *********.

Zipties ********

*** **** ******** ****** ** **** *** ***** ********* *** requires ** ******* ******** ** ***** ** ***, ******** ******** ties ** **** ** ***** '********* *****' ****** ** ********* ** ******* **** ********* ** *********** from ****** **** ******** ******* ****.  **** ***** ** ******* are ********* **** **** **** **** **** $*.** ****, ** variable *******, *** ******** **** ********* ***** *** ***** ** hazardous ************.

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Hook *** **** ****** ********

*** ***** ********* ****** ***** ********** *** ****** ****** ****** of ******, ** *********** "**** *** ****' ********. ******* ** widespread ******** ** *******, **** ******* *** ******* ** ***** straps *** *********. *******, *** ******* **** ** ***** ****** are ******, ***** ******* $*.** ** **** ****.

******* ********* ***** **** ***** ****** ** **** *** **** loose **** ****, ********** **** ******* ** ***** ************. **** can **** **** ******** ********** ** ********* ************ *** ** required.

Cable ****** ********

***** ******** ** **** ****** ********* *******, ********* *** ***** skill ********* ***** ****** ** ********* ***** **** ** **** in ************ ***** ***** ******* ** ******. ***** ************ ******* to ********* ****** ** ***** *********** ****** **** ***** ** offshore *** ********* ****** **** ****** ******* ** **** ************* and ***** ***** **** *********.

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Comments (5)

Undisclosed #1

11/12/15 07:23pm

There may be a cable lacer or two in our midst:

Rogier van der Heide

11/13/15 06:48am

I always love roaming around in /r/cableporn. One downside to it, is the negativity connected to zipties. Cable lacing is apperently the holy grail, and if you don't want to you only other option is Velcro.

Personally, I like using a combination of velcro and zipties. Velcro to bundle my patches where needed, and zipties to bundle my incoming cables. Personally, I never had troubles with zipties. As this article shows, zipties are being used in datacentres as well, and I've already seen quite a few state that they have no problems with them.

One of the motivations against zip ties from what I've seen is the comment that it takes a long time to replace a cable. Nonesense is what I think. With a cable cutter you're trough in no time.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Rogier van der Heide | 11/13/15 07:03am

I wonder what technicians in countries with less developed infrastructure than ours would think about how we fret about whether zipties "change the cable's physical geometry"...

Ben Wilks

In reply to Rogier van der Heide | 11/14/15 09:26pm

Hi Rogier. I'd have to politely disagree with you on the statement that 'with a cable cutter you're through in no time'. That's not the case when one has 60+' of ladder rack and zip-ties every 6". With velcro, one could attach the new cable(s) at the furthest point, and every 15-20' or so, and quickly dress the cables in and retighten with the same velcro. Cutting zip-ties and replacing them is more costly, and not as convenient as velcro. I do agree with your use of both though, but the majority of my fasterners would be velcro. Zip-ties hold the radius better.

Undisclosed #1

11/25/15 02:35am

However, it is worth pointing out that reusing zipties is frequently not possible and they must be cut for removal during cable moves, adds, or changes.

They do make releasables as well.

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