Cable Management Best Practices

The most common reason a machine experiences a LONG stitch is the encoder at the rear being lifted by one of the other cables.
All machines have this issue and require attention to their cable management to avoid these problems.  This document shows the Handi Quilter Amara 24 machine (previously known as a Forte) with Pro-Stitcher in the carriage.  These are only recommendations and people are free to come up with their own solutions.
THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL HANDI QUILTER DOCUMENT.  All information contained in this document are the responsibility of MK Quilts.  Recommendations for changes should be emailed to [email protected].

Good Cable Management

MK Quilt's Best Practices for Cable Management

Cable Management Tape- Black
​Medical Care Self Adhesive Bandage Wrap comes in many sizes and colors.  If you are picking up something else on the MK Quilts online store, you may want to throw one or two of these into the cart: https:/shop.mkquilts.com/cable-management-tape-black/

Otherwise, your local drugstore will probably have something in skin-tone for cheap.
No Cable Management
This situation can be improved with a few simple changes.
Combine the two power cords together
You may have to experiment to get it positioned properly so that you still have full motion on the machine, but the cables should come down as far away from the encoder as possible.
The Pro-Stitcher Cable is the most often damaged cable
Failure to have the cable restrained to the machine at the point indicated will lead to failure in the cable due to repetitive flexing at the top connector.
Depending on the throat depth of your machine, there may be more of a gap between the PS motor tray and the back carriage crossbar.  There is only one length of the PS cable.  You don't want it to be able to loop down and catch on the encoder.
We recommend securing the cable to the crossbar using the trough as a guide.  Twisting the cable before attaching it to the motor tray may result in it behaving better.
Secure the encoder cable at the encoder
You need about 6 inches of tape to wrap around the encoder.  The goal is to make sure the cable connector is pointed to the 12 o'clock position so it can not pivot down to become a 'hook' point for other cables to lift the encoder.  That cable can also come part way out and give intermittent problems.
Older systems do not have a detachable cable.  The encoder cables were made detachable so that the whole assembly did not need to be replaced.  However it lead to another 'hook' point and point of failure.
Move the Ferrite bead up toward the machine
The Ferrite Bead - plastic tube - can slip down by the encoder and cause the cable to jam and crimp itself.  Moving it up will avoid this.  DO NOT move it so high as to where it is close to the connector as this can cause the connector to pop out slightly.
The encoder cable should be the TOP cable.
When a machine is moved to the end of a frame, the power cord may drag across and hit the encoder.  Leave yourself enough play in the power cords so that they will continue to hang at the ends of the frame.