Cable Reel Ideas

[securespark]

I have a couple of 25m 2.5 milli extension leads, one of which has a 16A connectors on either end. These leads have a dual purpose: they can be used on campsites or, with the addition of 13-16A and 16-13A adapters on either end, at home.

They are unruly and difficult to manhandle, so I'd like to buy a sturdy cable reel with a tubular frame to store it on.

I have seen a few on Amazon, but none seem to have a spinning piece on the winder which could get tedious.

Plus, I'm just wondering whether to attach a 16A socket to the reel or just leave the existing trailing 16A connector on the end.

What do you think?

Here's a cable reel:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brennenstu...v3Sz&pd_rd_wg=jepZP&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_d

 

[Old Salt]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outdoor-Revolution-Cable-Tidy-Reel/dp/B07CM5MD5F

May be cheaper in a specialist camping shop

 

[SUNRAY]

It's only 25m it'll be fine without a spinning handle. I have loads of this style with up to 300m of cable:https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-elec/80...in-16a-sockets/dp/PL01345?st=empty cable reel

As an aside I have a couple of miles of mains cables, various sizes and lengths and the only 4 leads are on reels [2x 50m & 2x25m], all the rest are loose wound as I find it makes them easier to handle.

 

[SUNRAY]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outdoor-Revolution-Cable-Tidy-Reel/dp/B07CM5MD5F

May be cheaper in a specialist camping shop

These are a PITA, especially for a heavy cable [like 2.5mm²].

 

[Old Salt]

These are a PITA, especially for a heavy cable [like 2.5mm²].

Mine works fine, not the same as the link but same basic principle. Each to their own.

 

[SUNRAY]

Mine works fine, not the same as the link but same basic principle. Each to their own.

Of course, we all have different ideas and different requirements.
I inherited several of that style and found them awkward to hold in one hand, wind with the other and try to get the cable tidy and tight. The stand type I can stand on the floor or a table, rest one wrist on the handle and let the cable run through my hand to control it onto the reel. Nice and tidy to take up minimal space, nice and tight to revent it snagging when being unwound and last but not least feeling the cable as it winds forms a significant part of the PAT everytime it's used.

As far as I'm concerned the stand type is so very much easier to use.

 

[flameport]

a sturdy cable reel with a tubular frame to store it on.

Marcaddy SP300.

Yes, an empty reel really is that expensive.

 

[SUNRAY]

View attachment 190473
Marcaddy SP300.

Yes, an empty reel really is that expensive.

Yes but that style and construction are very good.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

As Sunray, my world has many flightcases with up to 50m lengths of 3 core 2.5mm all hand coiled and taped - much easier especially if it is TRS (PVC flex doesn't coil as nicely). The other advantage of hand coiled is it is very easy to dress the slack rather than leave it on the drum & have an embarrassing overheating incident

 

[securespark]

They are brill, but twice my budget!

Thanks everybody.

Having looked at cpc, I missed a couple. One is plastic with 2 16A outlets fitted. The other is also marcaddy.

https://cpc.farnell.com/marcaddy/hd...l-empty-285mm/dp/PL15676?MER=sy-me-pd-mi-alte

 

[Sureitsoff?]

if you have a metalwork fabricators anywhere near you pop in and ask if they have any empty mig wire reels going spare. tis what i use. the plastic reels usually just get binned anyway. the first reel linked to looked like good value if you decide to buy.

 

[ericmark]

My wife bought two, looked great, but not used as one would not fit in the front locker box of caravan, the other would not take all the cable, they both said for camping cables, and for a caravan 25 meters of 2.5 mm² is what BS7671 says, so one would not expect there to be much difference in cable thickness, however it seems many cables sold for use in caravans are not 25 meters of 2.5 mm² even if that is what the good book says.

I simply load into locker box with figure of 8 so no twists when unloaded again. For home use again the cable reel does not work out very well, as I have to unplug cable to get it through the cable flap in the door,

but with it not on a reel if it rains I can pull it all in from inside.

 

[mattylad]

So whats so wrong with a bit of 2x3?

 

[SUNRAY]

My wife bought two, looked great, but not used as one would not fit in the front locker box of caravan, the other would not take all the cable, they both said for camping cables, and for a caravan 25 meters of 2.5 mm² is what BS7671 says, so one would not expect there to be much difference in cable thickness, however it seems many cables sold for use in caravans are not 25 meters of 2.5 mm² even if that is what the good book says.

I simply load into locker box with figure of 8 so no twists when unloaded again. For home use again the cable reel does not work out very well, as I have to unplug cable to get it through the cable flap in the door,

but with it not on a reel if it rains I can pull it all in from inside.

2 of which reels?

We fitted one of those cable flaps in a van, very good system except I could guarantee it would rain if the flap was pushed in rather than out.

 

[John D v2.0]

You could always get one of those cheap hosepipe reels, they sit on the floor and have a huge capacity and should last a reasonable time.