I've bought some purpose things that don't work well in the space any ideas?

neck,????????

jetj wrote:

---

I've bought some purpose things that don't work well in the space any ideas?

---

 posibily the cheapest device for a power lead is the ladder shaped plastic unit from bunnings.

I have a 40 mtr hvy duty power lead that i use around home, I converted a garden hose reel to wind it onto, works great ''BUT'' ?? I only use it for power tools for a short period of time, If you were going to use it to power the van ??? then you would have to unwind the majority of the cord to avoid it overheating ??? But if you do unwind the excess ?? It is very easy to wind it up by just turning the handle ??

Dougwe wrote:

---

I don't have any gadgets or gizmo's for my power lead, I just roll it up the old fashioned way, by hand. Works for me anyway.

---

 I do the same with the daily power lead but I do have a couple of other leads & I use the said system, just keeps them tidy.

JC

Thanks guys. I have 2 of those ladder things from Bunnings, one with a lead on it and one I cant find. Hose reel is too big for the van. Thanks.

jetj wrote:

---

Thanks for your replies, I usually wind cords around my hand and arm to get it uniform and neat but this one is really greasy.lol

---

Hi Janette,

Your right the umbilical cords can get a little grubby at times, I keep a pair of work gloves in the same compartment as my power cord, hoses etc, very handy.

PS if your power cord is greasy why not stretch it out full length and give it a good wipe down.

jetj wrote:

---

Thanks for your replies, I usually wind cords around my hand and arm to get it uniform and neat but this one is really greasy.lol

---

Janette, the worst thing INMO is to wind it around your arm as we see some do it.  It fills the cord with kinks and is hard to unwind.

The Second best way is to do as a few here suggested...hold one end about 400mm from end then loop the cord over your hand givind a half 'twist' each loop to keep the kinks out.

The BEST way is to roll up as I said above with this difference...as you loop it over your hand give the 'twist' in the opposite directon each time.  The cord will still have no kinks but...when you want to use it, hold one end and firmly throw the roll in the direction you want to use it (toward the power pole) and, like magic, the whole cord will run out straight without tangles.

Don't believe me?  Go outside now and try it.  You will be surprised.

Feel free to send me a lotto ticket as a thank-you gift......

Cheers Neil

Dougwe wrote:

---

I don't have any gadgets or gizmo's for my power lead, I just roll it up the old fashioned way, by hand. Works for me anyway.

---

 Same here Doug, as far as I'm concerned gadgets like this are just adding to your overall weight and serve no useful purpose, other than taking up valuable space. 

I've used the ladder things in the past, also have a power cord reel, but now only wind up by hand.

As someone has already said, if using a cord it need to be fully unwound to prevent overheating/catching fire etc.

A good tip is when you have wound your cord up by hand, plug the two ends into each other to help keep it together etc.

This is also good for the cords in your shed/workshop to stop them falling all over the place etc.

Thanks for your replies, I usually wind cords around my hand and arm to get it uniform and neat but this one is really greasy.lol

Delta18 wrote:

---

jetj wrote:

---

Thanks for your replies, I usually wind cords around my hand and arm to get it uniform and neat but this one is really greasy.lol

---

Janette, the worst thing INMO is to wind it around your arm as we see some do it.  It fills the cord with kinks and is hard to unwind.

The Second best way is to do as a few here suggested...hold one end about 400mm from end then loop the cord over your hand givind a half 'twist' each loop to keep the kinks out.

The BEST way is to roll up as I said above with this difference...as you loop it over your hand give the 'twist' in the opposite directon each time.  The cord will still have no kinks but...when you want to use it, hold one end and firmly throw the roll in the direction you want to use it (toward the power pole) and, like magic, the whole cord will run out straight without tangles.

Don't believe me?  Go outside now and try it.  You will be surprised.

Feel free to send me a lotto ticket as a thank-you gift......

Cheers Neil

 

-- Edited by Delta18 on Thursday 13th of December 2012 01:39:58 PM

---

 Good advice Neil,

Was going to attempt to give similar advice but couldn't work out how to describe the process, your second best way works for hoses, nothing worse than having to untangle hoses and cords when setting up camp, makes you look like a bit of a mug, assuming there is anyone around to witness the procedure.

lol I will go and try it.

Thanks

Call me stupid, but I can't do it, even checked utube for a demo, seems to be my arm or nothing.  Thanks heaps.

I use a "Flat Out" reel to store my long power cord. http://www.flatoutaust.com/storage-reel-for-power-cord-and-hoses-compact-design.php I also have a short power cord so I don't have un-reel the long cord when I don't need the length.

By using one of these or alternately a hose reel or similar reel it means that the cord is reeled onto and off the reel the same way thus avoiding kinks. If using one of those ladder like thingies mentioned above the cord should wound onto it using a reeling action, not looping it onto it.

As one who regularly wound up microphone cords and power cords when I was gainfully(?) employed I endorse the comments above about not winding a power cord over one's elbow. It should be wound in large loops, at least double the diameter of the loops if wound over the elbow. It's an electrical cord not a bloody rope!

Even Rope has to be "Hand Coiled "   (not coiled over the elbow)  as doing it over the elbow creates the same  kinks and twists  and makes the Line unmanageable.

Coiling rope over the elbow  was a sure sign of a novice when I was at sea.  You would have your a@@#se kicked for doing it that way.

When a rope had those kinks and twists  in it, they were  called Frenchmen or Frenchies.  

Never leave a line with  "Frenchmen"   lurking in it.

elliemike wrote:

---

Even Rope has to be "Hand Coiled "   (not coiled over the elbow)  as doing it over the elbow creates the same  kinks and twists  and makes the Line unmanageable.

Coiling rope over the elbow  was a sure sign of a novice when I was at sea.  You would have your a@@#se kicked for doing it that way.

When a rope had those kinks and twists  in it, they were  called Frenchmen or Frenchies.  

Never leave a line with  "Frenchmen"   lurking in it.

---

 To summarise: Elbows are for bending at beer-o'clock! NOT for winding cords or ropes!

Another hint from my days of gainful(?) employment is to use a shoe lace to tie up cords that have been loosely coiled.

(PS: older members of this forum will remember that a "Frenchie" was something quite different to a kink in a rope!)

I loop it over my hand and put it into a shopping bag..it this case a Rivers reusable bag, which seems to be just the right size for mine. Then I tie the handles together to keep it from falling out again. More than one lead? Use another simliar bag, different colour, so you know which lead is which. (I have a white normal lead and an orange caravan lead.)

I also always wear sturdy but soft gloves when looping leads or hoses, or any of those jobs. Saves my delicate hands from turning into rough man hands.

Beth54 wrote:

---

 Saves my delicate hands from turning into rough man hands.

---

 Nothing worse than having the hands of a rough man!

My two ex's were both mechanics. Need I say more.  Sorry, off original topic.

jetj wrote:

---

Call me stupid, but I can't do it, even checked utube for a demo, seems to be my arm or nothing.  Thanks heaps.

---

 This is not an 'extension cable' as we use but the principle is the same....see here. and another one here

Thanks for those links Neil, I for the life of me, couldn't get how to twist till I seen the video.

Gee that second video was clear to understand..maybe because I'm left handed too.  He made it look so easy.

Thanks Delta,

That helps so much, much better than the ones I found. I need to see pictures rather than explanation to understand I'm afraid. Like I said call me stupid.lol Going to practice now, this is a long lead which makes it more difficult.

Thank you everyone for your help.

jetj wrote:

---

Thanks Delta,

That helps so much, much better than the ones I found. I need to see pictures rather than explanation to understand I'm afraid. Like I said call me stupid.lol Going to practice now, this is a long lead which makes it more difficult.

Thank you everyone for your help.

---

 You're not stupid Janette. Many people, me included, have to be shown how to do something to comprehend it. In fact there is a word for it...and no it's not stupid.  I just can't remember the word.

Thanks Beth. I managed to do it ok.

Find a house being built when an electrician is there, or look in the rubbish skip.  Ask or look for one of th electric cable reels,  plastic, which they throw away.  The smaller ones, or even the TV coax ones wrk a treat, take up no room and weigh sod all!

Thanks Boothie, I might ask a builder I know.