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Electric hook up

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Electric hook up Empty Electric hook up

Post by CJ1949 Tue Dec 04, 2018 10:00 am

I have a devil of a job rewinding my yellow electric hook up back onto its reel.
It gets increasingly tangled every time -am I missing a trick or have I got a poor type of cable.
Don't remember this being a problem with the caravan -I think that was a red cable?

Am I the only one feeling/looking dopey out side my MH spending 1/2 hour 'fighting to get the cable back onto to it's reel'?
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Post by jaffa Tue Dec 04, 2018 11:39 am

My guess is that it is twisting when being coiled up. The only way I know how to cure this is to lay it out on the lawn on a hot sunny day, until it is softer and more pliant, then wind it in again! this should help it find its own shape again - works for me!
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Post by Gromit Tue Dec 04, 2018 11:43 am

"Don't use a reel", is the simple answer.

I just coil mine and put it in its bag. Much easier, and there's no need to fully unwind it when in use. The coils are dropped on the ground and spread out a bit.

Simple!  up!
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Post by Peter Brown Tue Dec 04, 2018 11:46 am

The cable has to be three core with flexible 2.5mmsq conductors. However the thickness and flexibility of the external sheath can vary. I suggest you visit a caravan accessory shop and compare what you are using with what they sell.


The cable should be a bright colour and all the recommendations are for orange and 25m (or less) long. If you use a drum with a rotating centre, clip the centre of the cable to the drum, plug the two ends into each other and wind in you keep a straight cable and only have to wind in/out 12.5m


Arctic type cable is very flexible in all temperatures but also very expensive.

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Post by Peter Brown Tue Dec 04, 2018 11:48 am

Gromit wrote:"Don't use a reel", is the simple answer.

I just coil mine and put it in its bag. Much easier, and there's no need to fully unwind it when in use. The coils are dropped on the ground and spread out a bit.

Simple!  up!

You need to be strong and dexterous to coil such a thick cable without putting twists into it,; without that ability, a reel is the better option.

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Post by -mojo- Tue Dec 04, 2018 12:17 pm

I agree with Gromit - I got rid of my reel a few years ago now, and just coil it by hand.

I get your point Peter, about it being a bit more difficult, but IMO the result is worth it. It does take a bit of finger/hand strength, but it's as much about technique as strength. If you see how boating types coil a rope, it can be done quite elegantly (though I confess I have never mastered that technique). For me, the key is to lay it out in a straight line so that it can untwist as you coil it.

The most common mistake (which you see frequently on campsites) is to wind it round and round your arm between wrist and elbow - that's always likely to end with a tangled mess, eventually.

Another way I've found to make it easier is to have two cables - one the full 25m long, and the other 10m. I find that the shorter cable is fine on 95% of "proper" sites, and it's much easier to coil 10m of cable neatly than 25m!

And yes, "arctic" spec is expensive, but worth it - but beware fake arctic cable! I bought a couple of 50m reels of it cheap off Ebay, and it was nasty Chinese rubbish which felt even less flexible than standard spec! The seller had to pay for me to send it back...
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Post by Peter Brown Tue Dec 04, 2018 1:13 pm

I do have a 10m artic cable that lives in the drivers door pocket and I do coil that by hand (neatly) but it is much easier to handle than a conventional 25m cable/

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Post by Gromit Tue Dec 04, 2018 1:47 pm

This is what you are aiming for.

Whether you use either of the techniques shown, or rely on strong fingers to give the cable a twist on alternate coils, is up to the individual.

As mentioned already, sooner or later it will be necessary to lay out the full length of cable and rewind it from scratch - preferably on a warm day. However careful you are, it will eventually get slightly twisted and untidy.

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Post by harrysp Tue Dec 04, 2018 4:00 pm

We had the same problem, causing much domestic strife as I suggested OH used the wrong technique when putting the cable on the reel. He ditched the reel and now does as a Gromit suggests and all is well.

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Post by roli Tue Dec 04, 2018 5:03 pm

I also wind it nd bag it,   Reels went yers ago, particularly with 2.5mm cable
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Post by Dbvwt Tue Dec 04, 2018 5:17 pm

I think this is something similar to Gromits video earlier but after I’d made a few complete “balls up’s” it really does work. Just bear with it through the middle part of the video!!!
Bring your cable into the house and let it get nice and warm, I think it will then naturally take on the new coiled shape.

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Post by Gromit Tue Dec 04, 2018 6:55 pm

How can he spend nearly 7 minutes explaining simple technique that should take 30 seconds - and be so irritatingly puerile about it. And make the whole process totally confusing and incomprehensible!!! 

What a plonker. Lord preserve us from idiot Yanks!!

I'm surprised there wasn't a commercial break in the middle, so he could remind us of everything he just said a minute earlier!!  shrugg
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Post by Dbvwt Tue Dec 04, 2018 7:15 pm

Ha ha, completely agree, unfortunately posted before I spotted your version!!

Perhaps we need someone from the forum giving a demo in front of their van  hugegrins
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Post by Gromit Tue Dec 04, 2018 7:22 pm

Careful - that counts as volunteering here!!  biggrin

It's one of those annoying processes that seem quite tricky . . . until the penny drops, and you wonder why it seemed so difficult beforehand.

Your tip about bringing the cable into the house for a warm is very worthwhile. It releases most of the tensions that have been put into it by previously incorrect winding, and allows you to start more or less from scratch..
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Post by Peter Brown Tue Dec 04, 2018 7:30 pm

Dbvwt wrote:

Perhaps we need someone from the forum giving a demo in front of their van  hugegrins

I did have a passing thought earlier but common sense prevailed....

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Post by Dbvwt Tue Dec 04, 2018 8:01 pm

Probably a wise move Peter!!

Gromit, I’ve been practising all evening and that penny has finally dropped.
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Post by Dbvwt Tue Dec 04, 2018 8:02 pm

After and before...I’m still having trouble inserting these pictures in the right place!!!!!!
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Last edited by Dbvwt on Tue Dec 04, 2018 8:13 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Typo)
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Post by bikeralw Tue Dec 04, 2018 8:07 pm

Every now and again I bring mine into the house and throw it out of one of the Velux windows in our attic bedroom, keeping hold of one end..
After hanging by it's own weight in the sun for a few hours it's tangle free..
Al.
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Post by nuevoboy Wed Dec 05, 2018 11:36 am

Gromit wrote:Careful - that counts as volunteering here!!  biggrin

It's one of those annoying processes that seem quite tricky . . . until the penny drops, and you wonder why it seemed so difficult beforehand.

Your tip about bringing the cable into the house for a warm is very worthwhile. It releases most of the tensions that have been put into it by previously incorrect winding, and allows you to start more or less from scratch..

I think you'll be creating more tensions if you bring a cable into your warm house before t'other half checks it for cleanliness etc. biggrin

There's a tip in a recent MMM magazine where a chap suggests feeding the cable into an open box. It's then supposedly easier to remove it without kinks.

Having had to unwind 1 km lengths of firbre-optic cable from a  drum prior to feeding in the duct, I find 25 metres a bit of a cinch.  Whistle1
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Post by Maasai Warrior Wed Dec 05, 2018 12:01 pm

We use a reel and done properly have never had a problem! 

Oops I found myself replying to this thread and I didn’t meant to!

I’m off to watch paint dry! I am completing a botanical watercolour of irises!  - much more interesting, well to me anyway!

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Post by Gromit Wed Dec 05, 2018 1:22 pm

Maasai Warrior wrote:I’m off to watch paint dry! I am completing a botanical watercolour of irises!  - much more interesting, well to me anyway!

Pete
Iris's what Pete?  Whistle1


Getting me coat.  rolleyes
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Post by Maasai Warrior Wed Dec 05, 2018 1:42 pm

Ha ha Dave hugegrins

- Not for your eyes! Wink! wink!
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Post by pstallwood Wed Dec 05, 2018 3:28 pm

I always fully unwind my cable from the reel like one of these:-

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When winding up undo from the bollard and slot cable into little retaining lug. Keeping the cable a little taut reel it in and walk towards the van. Undo plug from van and reel in remainder. Put the lot in a bag. No need to wipe cable to get rid of a bit of wet or grass blades or mud  - just reel it in.

I have been doing the same procedure for over 35 years and never ever had a problem with a tangled or twisted cable. It amazes me that people get all messy - both the cable and themselves - doing a very simple 2 minute procedure.

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