Wiring the turret

[Jon Stratis]

Attach all the wires on the turret to a common point on the turret, and run them all together from there (you can use zip ties, wire mesh, split tubing, or other ways to do this). From that single point, you'll have an attachment point that closely matches it when the turret it halfway through its rotation. At this halfway point, you'll have the most loose wire to deal with - rotating either direction from there will pull the wire and decrease/eliminate looseness as you get to the two extremes.

Once at that point, the easiest way I can think of to manage the wire is to have it spring loaded in some fashion. This could be as simple as a rubber band that helps provide a little tension - however you want to make sure you aren't stressing the wire (having some well mounted cable running along with your wire can help with this - the stress will be on the cable, and the cable will help direct the wire).

Regardless of the design you come up with, make sure the wire moves through a "safe" zone the entire time - and area with no sharp edges, and nothing but smooth curves. The last thing you want is for a sharp edge on the turret to cut through your wire!


Another possible solution: run a post that goes up and over your turret (probably behind the turret in the area it can't rotate to face). You can run the wires along there, then drop them straight down onto the turret. That should allow maximum rotation with minimal loose wiring.