Today we are going to take a closer look at the wire management options available for the VertDesk v3. While these options work for our own product, they will work for other brands as well. Wire management is a topic that comes up with many of our customers. Considering the minimalist design of most two and three leg electric adjustable standing desks, this really comes as no surprise. We have recently introduced some new options that we feel can cover most wire management needs. It’s important to consider your specific needs as every user will have a different setup for their desk.
By the end of this post you will be able to better understand the wire management options we offer and how each can potentially fix your wire chaos. I will be explaining why each option has the potential to be a good fit or bad fit, as not all users require the most expensive option. If you are a basic user with minimal cords, you will need a lot less than a power user that has 10+ wires for the desk. With that, let’s take a closer look at what wire management is and how it can help clean up your desk’s wire situation.
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What is wire management for standing desks?
Because the majority of electric standing desks do not include full modesty panels, they have no way to hide the wires for all of your electronics. To resolve this common problem, manufacturers have produced different types of wire management to do just that; manage the wire chaos. There are two main types of wire management: a vertical wire management and a horizontal wire management. Some products like zip ties and Velcro straps can be used for both types of wire management. Oftentimes, these types of simple wire management solutions are aired with more robust vertical and horizontal solutions.
One thing to consider is how other parts of the desk work within your wire management solution. Grommets in the desk will help to pass wires cleanly through the top of your desk surface to underside of the desk. Power strips added to the bottom of the desk surface can significantly reduce the amount of wires running vertically from a power source in the wall or ground. In this post we will also be looking at how these types of add-ons help make our vertical and horizontal wire management solutions more efficient.
How much wire management do I need?
This question is asked a lot by our customers and the answer isn’t that simple. Each workstation is different and that means the amount of wire management needed for each desk will vary. If you are a company that is trying to satisfy the needs of everyone, or just trying to create a uniform look, I would suggest both types of wire management. If you are just trying to tidy up some wires for your home office and only use a laptop, you may be able to get by with only zip ties.
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Vertical Wire Management Options
1. Snake Wire Management System
The snake wire management system is made up of small individual links. Each link has the ability to pivot, creating a long flexible chain. The bottom of the snake management includes a weighted metal plate that helps to hold the snake in place as the desk moves up and down. The top of the snake is connected to the desk surface with a mounted plastic bracket. Inside the cable management are four individual compartments to hold wires. You are easily able to push wires into the management system and each can hold two to three average size wires. The wires can either run through the entire chain of links or exit somewhere in between. See Snake Wire Management >>
Why this might be a good fit
If you have a lot of wires that run vertically from the floor, the snake cable management system is a really good option. This is especially true for users that are accessing power from a surge protector on the floor or plugs directly in the floor. The ability to hold eight to twelve wires can create a clean look for all of the wires that are running vertically to the underside of your desk.
Why this might be a bad fit
If you are accessing power from the wall, the snake wire management isn’t as efficient. While you can push wires into the cable at different heights, it works best when the wires run through the entire linkage. When wires enter midway, the snake doesn’t look as nice and the pivot function can be impacted. This is also true as you start to fill the snake with a lot of thick cables, as it will not be able to flex as easily when the desk is raised or lowered.
2. Four Plug Power Strip with Powered USB
The power strip includes four grounded plugs, with two powered USB’s. One of the most important aspects of our power strip design is the flanges that allow you to easily screw the strip to the underside of the desk surface. This creates a secure mount, which is imperative for a desk that will be moving up and down frequently. Prior to introducing this, most power strips only had awkward notches on the back of the strip. This made mounting the power strip difficult and often led to it falling of the desk. See Four Plug Power Strip with USB >>
Why this might be a good fit
For users that are looking for a simple and inexpensive fix, the four plug power strip is a good option. With the use of zip ties, you can not only create a vertical wire management solution, but a decent horizontal solution for the wires as well. We have used this on our desks and it was a big upgrade from no wire management at all.
Most users will have at the minimum a wire for the desk power, a monitor or two, CPU/laptop, and a wire to charge a cell phone. Adding one or two of the four plug power strips with two powered USB will allow the desk to be powered, with three to seven additional items. There are also the two to four powered USB plug that will charge your devices and eliminate the need to use the AC adapter plugs.
Why this might be a bad fit
If you are picky about your wires, this might not be the best option. The horizontal wire management component is far from perfect with the use of zip ties. If you are wanting a surge protector, our power strip does not include that protection. Since the launch of our power strips, alternatives have surfaced with similar flanges. Depending on your specific requirements, there are other options available that could be a better fit. It’s also important to consider the positioning of the four plugs. Depending on the items you are plugging in, the head of the plug could impact access to some of the plugs.
Horizontal Wire Management
1. J Cable (included)
The only wire management included with the VertDesk v3 is the J Cable management system. These are small plastic channels that are shaped like a J that include adhesive to stick to surfaces. Typically this adhesive is best when used with an additional screw to make a more secure connection to the desk. We include the J cable to manage the power cord, motor cord and up/down button for the VertDesk v3.
Why this might be a good fit
Since this is included at no charge it has the potential to help everyone. You are able to fit some additional cords into the J cable as well. Depending on where you place it, this will likely be sufficient for users that don’t have a lot of wires.
Why this might be a bad fit
Because only two are included, power users with a lot of cords will not have enough space to manage all wires. If you decide to upgrade to the wire management tray or box, the J cable might only be used to manage your switch wire. This product is made from plastic, so it would not be quite as durable as the metal tray/box options offered.
2. Wire Management Tray
The wire management tray is the best bang for your buck. Made from thin gauge steel, it is formed to create better strength throughout. The wire management tray is available in both a black and a silver finish. Depending on the size of frame you select, the wire management is available in lengths of 21”, 33”, 45” and 57”. Each tray is approximately 2.75” deep with a .75” tall lip to keep the wires on the tray. There is a pass through hole at the center of the tray to all you to drop wires vertically from the tray. See Wire Management Tray >>
Why this might be a good fit
If you are on a tight budget, but want a nice solid option for wire management, this is definitely it. There is plenty of room to store wires of all sizes, surge protectors and power strips. The larger your desk, the more space you will have with the tray. This option is good for users who have a lot of wires and are okay with them still being exposed on one side of the desk. Pairing this wire management tray with our snake wire management will create a nice clean look if you are placing your desk in the middle of the room. Grommet hole options work great as they are designed to fit with the width of the wire management tray.
Why this might be a bad fit
While the wire management tray is our best value, it isn’t the perfect option for those who are ultra-picky about wire chaos. Because this is a tray, one side of the tray will be exposed and your wires will still show. If you have a power user with 10+ wires, surge protectors or power strips and other power accessories, the wire management tray might not support all of your needs. If you are on the 36” or 48” wide VertDesk v3, the tray will only be 21” or 33” wide.
3. Wire Management Box
The wire management box is the ultimate of all wire management solutions. Similar to the tray, the wire management box is made from thin gauge steel and available in black and silver to match the frame colors. The wire management box is available in lengths options of 23”, 35”, 47” and 59”. Each box is approximately 4” deep, with a 1” tall lip that has a 4” tall removable panel to enclose the box. There are three pass through grommets on the back and bottom of the box, as well as one on each end. These allow for wires to easily enter or exit the wire management box. Rubber grommet plugs are included to create a nice finished look that also does a good job holding wires in place when the desk is moving. See Wire Management Box >>
Why this might be a good fit
If you are a power user that has a ton of wires and is picky about your wire management, this wire management box is a good solution. You can easily dump wires into the box from grommets on the desk surface and not worry about them. With 7” of height and 4” of depth, there is plenty of space for multiple power strips or surge protectors as well. The eight pass through holes on the four sides of the box make it easy to bring wire in and out of the box. With full coverage on all sides, the wire management box will provide a clean look no matter what side of the desk you are on.
Why this might be a bad fit
Depending on your budget, the wire management box might not be an option. It is our most expensive wire management solution, but it’s important to note, you get what you pay for. The wire management box can be a bit on the bulky side, so depending on your aesthetic preference; this might not fit the look. The removable panel on the box can also take a bit to get used to.
Final Thoughts
As standing desks become more of the norm in office around the globe, the need for properly managed wires will increase as well. Whether you are just trying to manage wires for a small home office setup, or looking to create a uniform look across a large office, we have plenty of options to suit all requirements. Hopefully this post will help to show you the pros and cons of each, letting you ultimately decide which is best for your specific needs.
Carl Ponder
I’m looking for a power unit with on/off buttons on the front and plugs on the back.
Do you have these? I don’t even know what they’re called, given that all my searches keep giving me junk.
The closest thing I’ve found is “under-monliter power center”, but this doesn’t mount into the desk.