Blue hook-up cables and Arctic

[Ingwe]

We’re tired of struggling to get our orange 2.5mm 16amp 25 metre hook-up cable into our limited storage cupboard. Not so bad when warm and sunny and ii’s nice and pliable but even then, it‘s a pain.
So it’s my intention to buy 2.5mm 16am 25 metre Arctic cable. Comparing prices there are some suppliers selling cable with the right requirements but don’t say they‘re Arctic cable but are blue. Does the fact that the cable is blue mean that it is the highly flexible, so-named arctic cable?

I don’t want to end up buying a new blue hook up cable and find that I’ve got the same old tough, rigid old orange stuff, I currently fight with. I don’t want a reel of any kind. What we currently do is fight to get it into an Ikea shopping bag and shove it in the storage cupboard.

In winter, by the time I’ve got the bas***d cable stowed in the van, I’m usually so bad tempered, it takes 250 miles for my paddy to wear off.

 

[ceejayt]

I hadn’t heard of this Arctic cable. I also struggle with my thick orange cable. Can’t find a reel that it will easily store on.

Will follow with interest

 

[DavidG58]

I bought a blue cable for same reason as you are looking to, I either just got lucky or blue does mean Arctic

This is what I bought

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Gellyneck]

I think I read \ heard somewhere that some sites demand your hook up cable is orange \ yellow. If that is correct (may not be) why don't you go for Arctic Yellow? Same price \ spec as the blue.

eg https://www.toolstation.com/pitacs-arctic-pvc-cable-3183a/p97459

edit: note this is 2.5mm cable as opposed to 1.5mm.

 

[Lenny HB]

You can also get yellow artic cables thats what I use, my cables are all 1.5mm sq. Only use EHU for fridge & battery charging on the rare occasion we hook up.

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[Gellyneck]

I bought a blue cable for same reason as you are looking to, I either just got lucky or blue does mean Arctic

This is what I bought

Pardon our interruption...

Or the yellow version

Pardon our interruption...

 

[xsparks]

Yellow is generally accepted as 110v cable as used in construction.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think I read \ heard somewhere that some sites demand your hook up cable is orange \ yellow. If that is correct (may not be) why don't you go for Arctic Yellow? Same price \ spec as the blue.

eg https://www.toolstation.com/pitacs-arctic-pvc-cable-3183a/p97459

Could only be in the UK, most contentals use black as are lot rubber and its only available in black. Its the ultimate flexibility useful in the mountains in winter i.e. skiing. Only downside is its 4 times the price.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yellow is generally accepted as 110v cable as used in construction.

And its normally artic cable.

 

[ctc]

Just use shorter cables.

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[Gellyneck]

Could only be in the UK, most contentals use black as are lot rubber and its only available in black. Its the ultimate flexibility useful in the mountains in winter i.e. skiing. Only downside is its 4 times the price.

Yip, sorry should have said UK sites.

 

[sonar]

And its normally artic cable.

Yes the yellow cable is very flexable even in minus 10 weather.
never had one for a caravan or Moho though.
same connections. But yellow .

we have one orange and one thick black one the black ones seems flexable in all seasons

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes the yellow cable is very flexable even in minus 10 weather.
never had one for a caravan or Moho though.
same connections. But yellow .

we have one orange and one thick black one the black ones seems flexable in all seasons

Black may be rubber.

 

[Ingwe]

I bought a blue cable for same reason as you are looking to, I either just got lucky or blue does mean Arctic

This is what I bought

Pardon our interruption...

Thank you. I notice that this is 1.5mm2 not 2.5mm2.

 

[DavidG58]

Thank you. I notice that this is 1.5mm2 not 2.5mm2.

Maybe the extra heat keeps it soft


Only joking


No idea on spec but presume it carries 16A

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[Richard n Ann]

I replaced ours with blue 1.5mm². Much better

 

[VXman]

I have a blue and a orange. Never noticed any difference in them other than the colour!

 

[Ingwe]

I think I read \ heard somewhere that some sites demand your hook up cable is orange \ yellow. If that is correct (may not be) why don't you go for Arctic Yellow? Same price \ spec as the blue.

eg https://www.toolstation.com/pitacs-arctic-pvc-cable-3183a/p97459

edit: note this is 2.5mm cable as opposed to 1.5mm.

I’ve read this somewhere but can’t find any such express prohibition. The sites talk about orange cable for visibility i.e. not being cut by site’s lawnmower etc. They also talk about raising up connected cables, covered connectors etc but nothing saying “orange cables only”.

 

[Ingwe]

Maybe the extra heat keeps it soft


Only joking


No idea on spec but presume it carries 16A

Yes, both the 1.5mm2 and the 2.5mm2 are suitable to 16amps, so I’ve read.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Yes, both the 1.5mm2 and the 2.5mm2 are suitable to 16amps, so I’ve read.

As long as they're not too long I think. Doesn't affect us, we don't use anywhere near 16A.

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[sonar]

Black may be rubber.

Yes it is

 

[I2C]

We have a yellow arctic cable, 2.5mm2, looks the same as the blue we’ve seen someone using.

 

[Lenny HB]

I have a blue and a orange. Never noticed any difference in them other than the colour!

But have you used them when it's minus 20 outside?

 

[Ingwe]

We posted a question on a potential supplier’s site: “is the blue cable, on your site, arctic quality that conform to British standards etc”. The answer: yes, it is suitable for use with a tumble-drier.”

 

[DaveandJen]

I don't think you will find 2.5mm blue artic cable anymore flexible than the standard orange normally supplied for caravan and motorhome hook up cables. Its a type of cable normally used by the outdoor entertainment industry etc. and more suitable for outdoor use and being left out in the weather. I have a new 30mt 2.5mm blue artic cable unused in my garage from an earlier project and to me it seems no more flexible than the standard cable used.

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[Lenny HB]

I don't think you will find 2.5mm blue artic cable anymore flexible than the standard orange normally supplied for caravan and motorhome hook up cables. Its a type of cable normally used by the outdoor entertainment industry etc. and more suitable for outdoor use and being left out in the weather. I have a new 30mt 2.5mm blue artic cable unused in my garage from an earlier project and to me it seems no more flexible than the standard cable used.

Normal temperatures it's not but comes into its own when it's well below zero. Try coiling an orange cable when it's been sitting outside at minus 10 or below for several days, & compare with the blue.
If you really want flexibility you can't beat rubber.

 

[Garratt]

My yellow 1.5mm2 Arctic cable was just fine in -10C temps in the Alps these past two weeks. Yesterday I had to free it out of the snow and ice, but it rolled up onto the spool just fine. Bought from Screwfix as plain cable and added the connectors from the old orange cable.

 

[DaveandJen]

Normal temperatures it's not but comes into its own when it's well below zero. Try coiling an orange cable when it's been sitting outside at minus 10 or below for several days, & compare with the blue.
If you really want flexibility you can't beat rubber.

Thanks Lenny, that's good to know I've never tried it at -10C or below.

 

[MisterB]

1.5mm Arctic blue cable for me AND I have it in two lengths, 1x 10m and 1 X 15m - never needed to connect them together (yet) So much easier than orange 2.5 mm cable.

 

[Lenny HB]

1.5mm Arctic blue cable for me AND I have it in two lengths, 1x 10m and 1 X 15m - never needed to connect them together (yet) So much easier than orange 2.5 mm cable.

Yep, I've always use 1.5 even in my tugging days. I don't use EHU very often but carry a 30m & 15m often have to join them last trip a free Spainish Aire had EHU my cables wouldn't reach.

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