Those extension leads, on a drum
- Thread starter Harry Bloomfield
- Start date
Mine does not have that 'thingamy'. When I unreel it, the drum will continue to spin thus spooling off lots of cable which then slips off the side of the drum. The result is always cable getting knotted up. The stop this I have to use my thumb as a friction-brake to stop it turning so easily. I suspect that this is what you have, maybe.
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Carry the reel with three fingers of one hand and use your spare index finger to brake the drum lightly..
It's when you place the reel near your work-spot and then pull the cable as you walk towards the wall socket. The reel will continue to spin after you stop walking. Most annoying.
I have a thingymebob, will that do?
OK all jocularity aside I have a few extension reels but the vast majority of my cables (maybe 2Km) are free coiled, I'd say I have about 12 reels. the oldest is all metal and has a rather nice brake lever on the handle which has to be operated to release the drum, I replaced the cable at least twice and the socket plate once, it currently has 100m of 1mm² which only just fits so the brake is important. About 50% of the rest are are: all metal, drab olive colour and the brake is a plastic (Nylon?) bolt instead of a thingummy which is screwed forwards to lock the drum, I am in the habit of using it between uses to stop it unrolling during transportation and handling. The remaining 50%: as described before where the thingummy was never there or long gone, with those I tend to run the end of the lead round the upright tube a full 360° so the cable gets trapped between the drum and tube to act as a brake.
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Is that a decimal thingummy5p or an old fashioned real shilling?
A whatyoumacallit is better overall
Maybe, if we ever work out it's design purpose!
Sorry I can't resist the pun but it reely is a brake.
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Oh, I plug it in then walk away from the socket paying it out as I go, that way I don't need to walk to the work spot with the reel then to the socket, then back to the work spot
That's what I do.
Another wind up post
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