EHU cables ….is it a wind up ?

[PG’s trips]

I read somewhere that it is recommended you fully unwind your EHU cable if it is on a reel to prevent fire risk? Did I imagine this or what do other funsters think? I notice most of the hired vans had their cables completely loose. Has anyone ever heard of a problem because the reel wasn’t fully unwound? Merci thanks.

 

[acropolis22]

I read somewhere that it is recommended you fully unwind your EHU cable if it is on a reel to prevent fire risk? Did I imagine this or what do other funsters think? I notice most of the hired vans had their cables completely loose. Has anyone ever heard of a problem because the reel wasn’t fully unwound? Merci thanks.

Do a search. There is already a long thread about this.

 

[Tigger-Tim]

A cable wound on a tight reel will get warm if a high current is drawn for an extended period. Especially if the cable is only 1.5mm2 cross sectional area.

 

[chaser]

Yes it's right.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Not a 'wind up'.

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[Mickey1]

 

[PG’s trips]

Ok ….message understood. forgot about search too.

 

[Tigger-Tim]

Assuming an 8v drop on the cable and someone pulling 16 Amps, I make that 128W to be dissipated.

Not a problem if the cable is laid loose. But an issue when it is wound tight on a reel.

 

[PG’s trips]

Wonder why normal extension cables don’t suffer the same problem ?

 

[Tigger-Tim]

Wonder why normal extension cables don’t suffer the same problem ?

They do.

My friend returned to a burnt out flat after he'd gone out leaving a fan heater on a coiled extension.

Better extension reels have a thermal cutout eg. https://www.screwfix.com/p/pro-xt-13a-4-gang-25m-cable-reel-240v/412HV

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[chaser]

Wonder why normal extension cables don’t suffer the same problem ?

They are just the same.

 

[M-J]

Wonder why normal extension cables don’t suffer the same problem ?

They do.

 

[Janine]

Wonder why normal extension cables don’t suffer the same problem ?

Mine have a label on them with max amps wound and unwound.

 

[Nirvanauk]

But who could use 16 amps on EHU? I certainly couldn’t.

 

[Guigsy]

To be clear, winding it up doesn't generate more heat, it's just that the heat gets trapped more easily when it's tightly wound on a reel.

My solution is to just wind my cable over my arm and sling it in a round zip-bag for storage. Then carefully pull it out when I need it. I can usually unwind it from both ends and sling the excess under the van without knotting it up, leaving plenty of airflow. And often I can re-coil it without needing to do the whole length. Just don't need a drum to reel it around.

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[bigtree]

One of my not so bright workmates once set fire to a cable reel extension when using a hand drill.

 

[jockaneezer]

My neighbour's wife and her pal were running two wallpaper strippers from the same extension cable and destroyed it, her electrician husband was singularly unimpressed !

 

[Odd-no-more]

But who could use 16 amps on EHU? I certainly couldn’t.

It's not difficult, heating on, boiler heating, battery charger and a kettle

 

[Imala615]

One of my not so bright workmates once set fire to a cable reel extension when using a hand drill.

Before i retired i was a Tool Hire manager for a large builders merchants and it was unbelievable the number of hired reels that we got back from site that were welded together .

 

[Gromett]

Wonder why normal extension cables don’t suffer the same problem ?

They Do. I have burned a normal extension lead by using a hot air gun on one that wasn't fully unwound.

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[Tigger-Tim]

It's not difficult, heating on, boiler heating, battery charger and a kettle

And I've seen heaters in awnings, induction hobs, ...

 

[Richard n Ann]

I always leave it looped up under the van, haven't got a reel. We only use fridge usually but the other month I forgot the water heater was on high and put the electric ring on.. Oh and a small 500w fan heater.. they add up don't they

Suddenly realised we must be using a lot, checked the wattmeter and it was on 11 amps went outside and checked the 1.5mm² cable loops - stone cold. I think it's just tightly reeled cables that can overheat.

 

[Tigger-Tim]

I was asked to do a little troubleshooting at the local church. They had a 4-way extension reel running 2 urns and 2 kettles!

The only thing they did right was unreel the cable. But only because the socket was 20m away.

The inside of the plugtop was charred. But the fuse had done its job and blown. Very pleased to say they've now rewired the building and have a proper ring main.

 

[Landy Andy]

It all depends on what you are powering. If you are just using the lead to operate the charger it isn’t going to overheat it, but start running power hungry things then it will.

Went to a customers house who had 2 teriyaki grills, on a massive extension lead, coiled up, it had melted the lead, and welded the plug into the socket, needed a prybar to remove it, before replacing it.

 

[WynandJean]

Windup??? No, just the opposite.

Wyn

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[Reusables]

Strange because I always unwind my EHU cable but never my extension lead at home..hate winding the bloody thing back up..

 

[JJ]

The "worriers" and the "obeyers of every rule no matter who made it" will unravel their cables...

The "Life Livers" will get on with the really important things like pie eating and bacon sandwiches.

...and no, I don't have a clue how many square millimetres my cable wires are.


JJ

 

[Pausim]

Couple died in fire after wound-up cable reel overheated, inquest heard

A YOUNG couple died in a fire started accidentally when a wound cable reel overheated, an inquest heard.

www.worcesternews.co.uk

 

[Richard n Ann]

Strange because I always unwind my EHU cable but never my extension lead at home..hate winding the bloody thing back up..

I never bother unreeling at home because it's never used long enough to heat up, usually just for a power tool for a few seconds at a time.

 

[gus-lopez]

Wonder why normal extension cables don’t suffer the same problem ?

They do ,don't try welding with it rolled up

Strange because I always unwind my EHU cable but never my extension lead at home..hate winding the bloody thing back up..

If using them for welding then it needs not only unwinding completely but the start up current will blow a 13A fuse so beware any of my leads as they might well still containthe 6mm bolt fuse

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