ELECTRIC CABLE NIGHTMARE!

[Gill_374371250]

Any ideas how we can stop our electric cable getting all kinked up?

When not in use, we wind it onto the usual orange drum that everyone seems to have.

We've tried stretching the whole thing out to get the kinks out but that doesn't seem to work - it just wants to kink up again!

All suggestions gratefully received. Thank you.

 

[AnnM1]

Good morning Gill

We managed to clear this particular problem, but it did take a bit of time and so we decided to do it at home before going away.

Take hold of one end of the cable and make sure that there is no 'twist' in it. Gently wind, untwist, wind, etc., for the full 25m! Long and tedious job, but it should work. A final full rewind helped.

Ann

 

[ThePlotter]

I would guess that you probably keep it on a reel and wind it onto this if so this is what is causing the problem,you should roll it off

 

[Gill_374371250]

I would guess that you probably keep it on a reel and wind it onto this if so this is what is causing the problem,you should roll it off

Yes we do keep it on a reel. But if we don't use that, how do you recommend we keep it?

 

[GeorgeB]

Gill,

The trick is to load it onto the reel without any kinks, easier said than done!

The only way I've found that works is to completely unwind it from the reel, just leaving the plug end through the little apperture, then get someone to hold the outer rim of the reel whilst you manually (Don't reel it on) feed the cable onto the drum, as you place each coil onto the drum give it half a twist as each coil goes on (easier to do than explain) then you'll find that as you unreel the cable it will come off without kinking & providing there are no "loose" coils when you rewind it, it should go back without any kinks.

apply the same procedure if you're hand coiling a cable (or rope) & hey presto no kinks!

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Gill,

The point plotter was making is that if you hold the drum in one hand and wind it on by hand, then you'll automatically apply a twist to the cable with each turn you add.

If you roll the drum across the ground (to wind out or on), then this doesn't apply a twist

Robert

 

[DJM]

Hi Gill,

I have never used a cable reel. All I do is coil it up by hand in manageable "loops" and slip it into a heavy duty polythene sack. I've never had any kinks or coiled up "trip hazards" using this method.

 

[Dave_374330759]

I do the same as Grimbo, don't use a drum just loop the cable into a manageable size and then shove it into a bag (we've got a dinky round one with a zip). It probably helps that I've been sailing for 25 years and thats how I coil up rope.(in fact a couple of weeks ago someone asked me how it was done as he was so impressed by the ease with which it coiled and flaked out) As soon as you try and wrap it round a drum or your elbow or any other device you'll introduce twists into it.

Another way is to have a drum with a spindle and handle, then you'll wind it on straight and reel it off without any kinks or twists.

 

[trucker]

I bought a cheap extention lead with wind on drum, took the cable off and now use this for my caravan lead. never had any kinks.

Kevin

 

[AnnM1]

We always use a cable reel(s), even for the tv cable! Sad, I know. Having undertaken specified above we have had no problems with either cables.

 

[Olly]

Hello Gill.

'Sailor Dave' only let you into part of the rope-handling tricks he has learnt whilst out and about on the briny. What he didn't explain is how a sailor gets rid of kinky ropes which seems to be similar to your problem.

What he would do is tie one end of the offending rope to the boat and then chuck the remainder overboard and tow it along for a few minutes by which time the kinks would unravel themselves.

In the case of your cable, attach one end to a push bike ( perhaps tape-up the other end to avoid damage ) and then ride twice round the pitch at Wembly Stadium ( or your local park ) and voilla..! No kinks.

Hope this helps,

Olly.

PS - To 'Sailor Dave'. If you never get kinks in you lines, please forgive me..!

 

[alaintaylor]

Hi

Plenty of good advice here BUT can someone tell me why hose pipes and cables ALWAYS cause such hassle? Perhaps they are made to annoy us!!!

Alan

 

[ThePlotter]

Thanks Rob jax thats exactly what I meant

 

[AnthonyNornIreland]

Hi,

I never run my cable around a drum, simply because with it wrapped fairly tightly for much longer than it's uncoiled it wants to stay in that shape.

My cable is simply coiled loosly in a loop approx three feet long and laid in the van when not in use, it has not twisted yet.

and another thing, if the cable is left tightly coiled when in use it may overheat due to the current moving around the cable in a tight coil.

 

[Gumbo]

It took 13 replies to get to this sensible reply by Anthony. The mind boggles !!!!!!!!!!!