Packing for a move always takes a seemingly endless amount of time. And that time increases when it comes to packing electronics. Electronics are fragile, can be unwieldy to pack and transport, and generally represent a significant investment.
Here are a few basic tips to make things easier:
•Begin with the goals in mind. There are two big goals to keep in mind when packing electronics. The first is to make sure that the components arrive safely and undamaged at their destinations. The second objective is to simplify the process of reconnecting all the components at your new place.
•Wrap each component in at least 1” of bubble wrap before placing in the box. The bubble wrap does two things for you. It protects the items from impacts as well as keeps them from getting scratched or marked. Use the bubble wrap almost like you were wrapping a gift, preventing the tape from touching the electronics themselves the adhesive can damage the finish on many items.
•Inventory your electronics as you pack them. Record the name of the item, the manufacturer, the model number and the serial number for each item. Then number the box and record that as well. Yes, this seems like a pain. But in the unfortunate instance that a box gets lost or damaged, you will need all this information to make a claim with your insurance company.
•A picture is worth 1000 words. Use a digital or cell phone camera to take pictures of how complicated wiring (computer cords, speaker wires) is hooked up. Be sure to use plenty of light and careful focus so the pictures will be clear. Print 2 copies of each picture: keep one in your moving papers file in case you need to file an insurance claim, and put the other taped to the underside of the top of the box holding the item. This will make hooking up the items in your new place much easier.
•Original packing materials are the best. Always use the original packaging when available. (I realize that most of us don’t have the original packaging for much of anything, but I thought I would bring it up anyway). There are several reasons for this. The most obvious is the fact that the Styrofoam packing included in the original box is custom made to go around each individual component. This snug fit minimizes movement in the box and provides the best shock reduction for the fragile parts. The other reason is that the boxes themselves are designed to survive moves across long distances on freight trucks, meaning they were created for the exact purpose they will have to fulfill in surviving your move.
•Double box the critical components. For especially fragile electronics, pack them first in a box with an excessive amount of biodegradable packing peanuts. Then pack that first box into a larger, second box, also filled with biodegradable packing peanuts. This two box system seems like a pain but seems to do a better job isolating items from jarring impacts.
•Don’t leave loose ends. Wrap each cord (meaning the power cords, printer cables, speaker wires, etc.) carefully with cable organizers, heavy twist ties or heavy rubber bands. Never throw unwrapped cords into boxes they get tangled and caught on other items. Make certain that each cord gets shipped in the same box as the component it belongs to. That eliminates rummaging around to find out where the cables you need are.
•Label both ends of each cord. Consider getting a label maker and labeling each end of every cord. When you print out the labels, you can fold them over so the adhesive side sticks to itself while keeping the printed side facing out. This way you ll know exactly which cord you re seeing and where each end connects when you put things back together.
•Use the two inch rule. Use at least 2 of biodegradable packing peanuts around each side of fragile items. Anything less than that won’t provide adequate cushioning for your electronics.
Following these simple guidelines can remove a lot of stress in packing your electronics.
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