Electrical cord storage - how to store 25m heavy duty cord without tangling

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timmmay

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#267887 16-Feb-2020 20:40

Does anyone have any good tips on how to store a 25m cord I use for my electric lawn mower without it tangling? I got an Arlec cord caddy thing from Bunnings that looks like a small cheap hose reel but it's too short.

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#2421969 16-Feb-2020 21:03

I use the over - under method to coil them and never have any trouble. It means you can just throw one end out to unravel it. As an added bonus, it prevents putting extra twists in the wires.

Got shown it by a guy who used to do stage lighting.

Took a little while to get the hang of. There are plenty of videos out there, like this one

Gurezaemon

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#2421971 16-Feb-2020 21:10

This is what you need. I use this for hoses, cables, etc., and it is a joy to have no cables or hoses that tangle. It looks complicated, but becomes second nature after about 20 seconds of practice.

mdf

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#2421972 16-Feb-2020 21:12

MickeyD: I use the over - under method to coil them and never have any trouble. It means you can just throw one end out to unravel it. As an added bonus, it prevents putting extra twists in the wires.

Got shown it by a guy who used to do stage lighting.

Took a little while to get the hang of. There are plenty of videos out there, like this one

^^ This. Works great for things like headphone cables too. It actually makes way more sense once you're doing it, but pretty hard to explain in principle.

Gurezaemon

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#2421975 16-Feb-2020 21:19

mdf:

MickeyD: I use the over - under method to coil them and never have any trouble. It means you can just throw one end out to unravel it. As an added bonus, it prevents putting extra twists in the wires.

Got shown it by a guy who used to do stage lighting.

Took a little while to get the hang of. There are plenty of videos out there, like this one

^^ This. Works great for things like headphone cables too. It actually makes way more sense once you're doing it, but pretty hard to explain in principle.

Yep. A tradie friend's jaw dropped when I flung a 30 m cord across the lawn (with no kinks) when we were doing some work, eliciting the comment "How the f*ck did you do that?"

lapimate

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#2421976 16-Feb-2020 21:20

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/number-8-hose-reel-420mm/p/238110 $20!

I use them for a 20m (& 35m) cable, convenient with winding handle.

Goosey

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#2422027 17-Feb-2020 07:01

Under Over method is best.

You could use a hose reel but you will end up getting cable like the one in the picture....twisted outer insulation etc.

timmmay

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#2422029 17-Feb-2020 07:14

Over - under sounds great - I'd never heard of it. I'll give that a go, thanks :) Hose reel can be my backup plan - the advantage of that is it keeps it all in one place tidy.

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Ge0rge

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#2422031 17-Feb-2020 07:20

https://images.app.goo.gl/wXYqXub73ST76uDYA />

Use the over under technique with one of these. It's called a "Stoa" and you'll never go back to a reel after using one.

timmmay

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#2422033 17-Feb-2020 07:26

Nice option with the Stoa, thanks.

Bung

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#2422073 17-Feb-2020 08:03

Leaving the cord or hose lying straight in the sun for a short while makes any method easier.

Gordy7

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#2422213 17-Feb-2020 09:24

Mitre10

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

timmmay

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#2422215 17-Feb-2020 09:27

Gordy7:

Mitre10

I couldn't see that in store, and a quick search I can't see it online under "roll a cord". How long ago did you get it?

Gordy7

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#2422216 17-Feb-2020 09:33

I bought mine over 5 years ago... Maybe more... Cheap as... Now slightly different.... I searched for 'Cable Reel'

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/jobmate-cable-storage-reel-25m-orange/p/289342

Gordy

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timmmay

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#2422218 17-Feb-2020 09:35

I did see that one thanks. It looked a bit light small for a heavy duty cord I think. Possibly better off with the cheap hose reel if I go that way, but the under / over method with a bracket might work even better.

Gordy7

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#2422222 17-Feb-2020 09:42

timmmay:

I did see that one thanks. It looked a bit light small for a heavy duty cord I think. Possibly better off with the cheap hose reel if I go that way, but the under / over method with a bracket might work even better.

Mine (have 2) are rugged enough for heavy cables.... Maybe my cables are only about 20m max.

Maybe the suppliers have cut back on the quality and usefulness in the design...

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

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