cord wheel for mains leed

[brenda_374246826]

Hi I know its probably a really silly obvious question but is there a way to wind the mains leed onto one of these wheels that cost a whopping 6 quid from towsure???

Because access to both ends is needed how is this possible??

Please help...

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Funny you should ask that because I watched someone doing that at the weekend and was amazed that I'd never thought of it

He started in the middle of the cable and wound up 2 lengths at a time ending with the plug and socket together at the end

You should always unwind all the cable we are told if only to avoid being reprimanded

 

[JeremyClarksson]

You should always unwind all the cable and not leave it in small or large coils.

If it is left coiled it acts like a big transformer and currents are induced in the other loops creating heat which could result in a fire.

I once left a wind up extension lead connected to a battery charger, the battery charger was switched off and the lead was left on. I was lucky as I only came back to a coil where the internal cable had become welded together before tripping the circuit but I could have lost the garage and contents which included a Triumph Vitesse and a Moto Guzzi Le Mans.

Imagine it happening under your van while you are asleep.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

You should always unwind all the cable and not leave it in small or large coils.

If it is left coiled it acts like a big transformer and currents are induced in the other loops creating heat which could result in a fire.

I once left a wind up extension lead connected to a battery charger, the battery charger was switched off and the lead was left on. I was lucky as I only came back to a coil where the internal cable had become welded together before tripping the circuit but I could have lost the garage and contents which included a Triumph Vitesse and a Moto Guzzi Le Mans.

Imagine it happening under your van while you are asleep.

 

[brenda_374246826]

thank you for that very sound advice. We just gonna carry on as usual - complaining about how it got so bloody knotted in its storage bag (nothing to do with the way i managed to get it in there!!) Might use the wheel for the waste pipe or as the kids new roly poly toy!

 

[Chaps]

We got one of these for christmas and struggled to wind it on last weekend! Glad we're not the only ones! We did manage it in the end but the design could definately be better. Know that we need to fully unwind the EHU cable when using it but nice to have it stored neatly at other times.

Claire & Rob

 

[DeliDave]

have put mine on a screwfix 110 extension lead.Swapped the sockets and plug for 240v ones with one reversed polarity and marked up.Have a short flylead to plug in and put in 'reversed'socket abroad if polarity is wrong.Can get 25m lead on one reel whih eas about

 

[Steve L]

John's observation is a novel solution to the problem, but if you constantly bend the cable at the same spot you will eventually weaken the insulation at that point.

The point about fully unwinding your cables is very valid as leaving them partially wound creates heat build up and also more electrical resistance which can trip the supply sooner.

One tip from me is to make up a 10Mtr and a 15Mtr cable from one 25Mtr cable. Doing this avoids having to wind up or stow under the van all that unwanted cable, as these days most sites are so well laid out that 10Mtrs is more than enough.

Another tip is th carry the power cable in your tow car where the warm car will help to make the cable more pliable and easier to use.

As for cable tidy's, I use the flat pronged type you see in most bargain shops for a pound or two. Circular reels are good but do take space up.

steve L.

 

[JTQ]

The suggestion to use a 110 volt lead for our 240 volts is one best not followed.

The insulation and construction is not certified for 240 volts and therefore has the potential to be inadequate and certainly falls foul of the regulations.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

Avoiding tangles.

I use this method as used by mariners to stow ropes.

Loop over one hand forming loops of around 5ft (stretched arms length) until you have approx 1 loop left.

Take the loose end and wrap 2 or 3 times around one end of the loops appx 10in from the end.

Form a loop and feed this through the small eye formed by the previous manouevre.

Push that loop down over the other loops.

Pull the loose end to make the whole bundle an easy to store (or hang on boats) bundle.

If done properly it will not come loose or get tengled when unravelling.

This also works for hoses and ropes(obviously!).

I realise this may be a little hard to follow so will try and find some pictures to make it easier.

 

[JeremyClarksson]

Here you go-

http://www.boatsafe.com/marlinespike/handling.htm

 

[Surfer]

I don't understand the problem. I start from the caravan plug end, hold the drum in my left hand and then wind it up until I reached the EHU pole. End of story and no problems.

All I did was remove the one end and threaded the cable through the side of the drum, reconnected the plug onto the cable so that the plug was on the outside and bingo no problem with rewinding etc.

 

[JasonR_374341560]

I'm with JC, just loop it so it doesn't get in a knot and ours travels tucked into the steps in the caravan doorway.

Steadies down, steps out, electric connected then water.

All the gadgets and gizmo's just add to weight and then you have to stow them.

 

[ThePlotter]

I have never had a problem but then I do make SWMBO put the cable away(maybe I will ask how she does it)

 

[JTQ]

Ian, surely you meant to say you rewind it the other way round?

Not winding up a cable whilst it's connected to the EHU post and thus live.

 

[DeliDave]

The suggestion to use a 110 volt lead for our 240 volts is one best not followed.

The insulation and construction is not certified for 240 volts and therefore has the potential to be inadequate and certainly falls foul of the regulations.

i only used the drum,wound the cable that came with the van back on.Have got lots of the 110 cable if anyone wants it

 

[ProfJohnL]

I use a lot of microphone and speaker cables in one of my interests, and I have always used a trick that a friend of mine who worked for ATV tv in the midlands used for coiling. It involves a similar stance to JC's suggestion, but I find that holding 25M of EHU cable is quite heavy, so I use a easier method for heavy cables:

Start to lay the cable out in a figure of eight, with each loop about the size you want it hang in. Keep adding the layers on top of each other, then when its all done pick up the cable where is crosses over through both of the loops. Use an elastic tie to hold it together and hang it up or what ever. The clever bit about this is that the cable has an equal number of twist in each direction but the alternate so the when the cable is undone it comes out quite straight. The other clever bit is that if you hold it right you can throw the coil out and it unravels by its self.

This is great for microphone cables, and it does work with eth EHU, but being heavier its not so easy to throw it.

Some words of caution. It is very important to unwind it using the end that was the last to be wound, otherwise if you get it the wrong way round, then it comes out in a knot for every crossover you made. As a reminder I usually coil from the source end (male plug) and finish with the female end.

For some cables I have a frame with two welding wire bobbins, I lay the cable on in a figure of 8 and store it like that.

Same trick on the Dyson upright cleaner. Figure of 8 around the hooks. Simply swivel the top hook and the cable falls off and pulls out to its full length easily.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

My previous answer was about the cordwheel but I don't use one myself as I find it heavy towards the end of winding

I have 2 cables

One long on an open cable reel with winding handle and I kneel on my kneeler (!) and wind the cable in so that all the weight is on the ground

One short on an enclosed cable reel with winder that I stand up and wind up!

The two can and have been joined together when needed