Comments on: Conceal Your Coiled Cords and Cables http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:02:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » The Week in Tools: Toolmonger Top 5 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/#comment-176831 Toolmonger » Blog Archive » The Week in Tools: Toolmonger Top 5 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:14:52 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/#comment-176831 [...] Conceal Your Coiled Cords and Cables Tired of tripping on cables? These rolls will hold ‘em together, dispensing just the right amount for the job. But best of all they’ll even handle thick stuff like pneumatic hoses. [...] [...] Conceal Your Coiled Cords and Cables Tired of tripping on cables? These rolls will hold ‘em together, dispensing just the right amount for the job. But best of all they’ll even handle thick stuff like pneumatic hoses. [...]

]]> By: Ken http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/#comment-171500 Ken Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:18:59 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/#comment-171500 I prefer the cord reel that Harbor Freight had.Unused part of the extension cord is in a mesh bag with lots and lots of ventilation. I prefer the cord reel that Harbor Freight had.Unused part of the extension cord is in a mesh bag with lots and lots of ventilation.

]]> By: Rob http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/#comment-171349 Rob Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:31:53 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/#comment-171349 I really like the idea of using these for air hose. I can wrangle my extension cords fine without these but air hoses are just a pair without a spool to wind them up on, even the short ones. Next time I see these, I'm getting at least one! I really like the idea of using these for air hose. I can wrangle my extension cords fine without these but air hoses are just a pair without a spool to wind them up on, even the short ones. Next time I see these, I’m getting at least one!

]]> By: Nate Bezanson http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/#comment-171146 Nate Bezanson Sun, 02 Dec 2007 23:34:54 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/#comment-171146 When using them for extension cord, keep a close eye on the temperature of the coil. All conductors have some resistance, so a fraction of the energy moving through them gets converted to heat. It's no big deal when the cord is flopped all over the ground, as it can easily dissipate plenty of wattage. But when you've got a hundred feet of cord all coiled up, its effective surface area is drastically reduced, and if you're pulling a good bit of current, the cord can heat up enough that the insulation melts, and then you have a problem. There's a good voltage drop calculator here: http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm Example, a 50-foot 14-gauge cord powering a shop vac that draws 6 amps, click "calculate" and I get 1.556 volts dropped in the cord. Multiplying 1.5 volts times 6 amps yields 9 watts that the cord has to dissipate. A big ol' cord reel won't get very hot from 9 watts. Second example: a 100-foot 16-gauge cord, which is rated to carry 10 amps but we were careless and threw a big halogen work light on there along with that vacuum cleaner, so the poor cord has 13 amps running through it. Now the calculator gives 10.8 volts as the drop across the cord. Not only does this mean the vacuum cleaner motor is putting up with a 109-volt instead of 120-volt input, it also means.. (10.8 * 13)... the cord now has 140 watts to get rid of! So let's say our work is happening 30 feet from the outlet, so only 70 feet of cord remain on the reel, which means only (100/70*140)... 98 of those watts are heating up the reel itself. Still, imagine a 100-watt lightbulb in a closed plastic space for a few minutes, and I think you know what happens. When in doubt, just unreel the whole cord and wind it back up when you're done. When using them for extension cord, keep a close eye on the temperature of the coil. All conductors have some resistance, so a fraction of the energy moving through them gets converted to heat. It’s no big deal when the cord is flopped all over the ground, as it can easily dissipate plenty of wattage.

But when you’ve got a hundred feet of cord all coiled up, its effective surface area is drastically reduced, and if you’re pulling a good bit of current, the cord can heat up enough that the insulation melts, and then you have a problem.

There’s a good voltage drop calculator here: http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm

Example, a 50-foot 14-gauge cord powering a shop vac that draws 6 amps, click “calculate” and I get 1.556 volts dropped in the cord. Multiplying 1.5 volts times 6 amps yields 9 watts that the cord has to dissipate. A big ol’ cord reel won’t get very hot from 9 watts.

Second example: a 100-foot 16-gauge cord, which is rated to carry 10 amps but we were careless and threw a big halogen work light on there along with that vacuum cleaner, so the poor cord has 13 amps running through it. Now the calculator gives 10.8 volts as the drop across the cord. Not only does this mean the vacuum cleaner motor is putting up with a 109-volt instead of 120-volt input, it also means.. (10.8 * 13)… the cord now has 140 watts to get rid of!

So let’s say our work is happening 30 feet from the outlet, so only 70 feet of cord remain on the reel, which means only (100/70*140)… 98 of those watts are heating up the reel itself. Still, imagine a 100-watt lightbulb in a closed plastic space for a few minutes, and I think you know what happens.

When in doubt, just unreel the whole cord and wind it back up when you’re done.

]]> By: Scott http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/#comment-170629 Scott Sat, 01 Dec 2007 23:07:44 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/12/01/conceal-your-coiled-cords-and-cables/#comment-170629 These are great! My wife gave me a set a few years ago for Christmas. I've used them for extension cord and air hose. If you use it for an air hose try and get the larger size. These are great! My wife gave me a set a few years ago for Christmas. I’ve used them for extension cord and air hose. If you use it for an air hose try and get the larger size.

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