htrevor Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Hi What am I doing wrong please? On my 3rd hook up cable. After using for while the cable starts to twist and eventually becomes unusable and I buy another. I am using the standard uk heavy duty cable at the moment and previously a medium duty one. I wind it onto a standard plastic cable holder which it just about fits, all fine at first but then slowly it becomes more and more difficult to wind. I asked one guy on a campsite for advise and he said get a thicker cable like his, so I did and bought the same cable holder, but still kinks. Almost embarrassed to post this but i will swallow my pride if it results it an answer,?? Many thanks Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Ditch the winder and use the 'Over-Under' technique... I have been doing this with the same cable for over ten years and have no signs of damage or twisting. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterjl Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Agree, ditch the drum. I coil the same way I coil a throw line and yes, +10 years use with no problems Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 I'm guessing that you are always coiling the cable on the cable holder without allowing it to naturally twist, you may find that you need to rotate the cable holder around it's longitudinal axis to relieve this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanb Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 I am not sure what is meant by "standard plastic cable holder", but I assume that it refers to a plastic holder that vaguely resembles an "H". I you are wrapping the cable on from one side, then every turn made puts a full 360 degree twist into the cable. Unwrapping from the same side could take the twist out, but it could have set into the cable, or you could unwrap from the other side, which will twist the cable again. Perhaps you could try marking one side of the holder, and only use that side to wind in and out. I use a "Cord Wheel" for our 25 metre x 2.5 sq mm csa cable. It looks a bit like an orange car wheel, with a handle in the centre, and a winding knob. The handle does not rotate when you wind in or out. For the shorter 10 metre cable, when winding in I take one loop round the front of the coil, and one round the back. This balances the twist. Trickier to unwind, but I try to roll the cable round in my hands so as not to make it tangle. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattwg Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Another vote for the over/under method. An added bonus is that there is no temptation to leave some of the cable tightly wound on its holder. Of course, both ends of the cable must be free before any recovery is started. If you are using a H-shaped holder then you must unwind the cable exactly as you wound it on but in the opposite direction. i.e. do not wind the cable on as if using your arm and then let the loops fall of in use, this introduced kinks every time its used. If your cable is badly twisted then you may find the over/under method impossible to use. To try and alleviate this I suggest removing its entire length from the holder and, using a cloth, pull the cable through your clenched fist, possibly several times. With luck this will go some way towards untwisting any semi-permanent kinks. A cable with a badly twisted sheath may well have internal twisting/damage that makes it unsafe to use. Cattwg :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don636 Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 I agree with the advice to dump the cable reel, more bother than its worth. I used to wind the cable over my elbow if you know what I mean but that leads to horrible kinks. I unrolled the entire cable to get it straightened out but first softened it by immersing in a bucket of warm water and got someone to hold the other end of the cable to stretch it to its full length. I then carefully coiled it into tidy loops and make sure that I recoil it the same way each time making sure I avoid kinks by rotating the cable to make sure it loops smoothly. Every now and again I will get someone to help me pull the entire cable out straight if it does develop some kinks during cold weather. Just gone and looked at the video posted above and realised that I am not doing it that way. I basically repeat his first loop every time but, as he says, I twist the cable round if a kink develops. Must try his trick of reversing the loop every second turn - looks good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 When I first had my van I just used to coil the lead up using the " hand and elbow " method - and it used to get in a mess - very twisted. I then bought one of those cord ' wheels ' ( round ones ) and have used it ever since - about 15 years - with no problem at all. Same 25 metre lead still in use. ( I've never seen the type in the photo, but it looks like it would be similar to winding over hand and elbow - which doesn't work ). :-| Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plwsm2000 Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Particularly in winter, "Artic" cable is more flexible and therefore easier to wind than the standard PVC type. Artic cable is usually blue or yellow and is usable down to -40C. Standard PVC is more like -5C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 htrevor - 2020-02-19 12:56 PM Hi What am I doing wrong please? On my 3rd hook up cable. After using for while the cable starts to twist and eventually becomes unusable and I buy another. I am using the standard uk heavy duty cable at the moment and previously a medium duty one. I wind it onto a standard plastic cable holder which it just about fits, all fine at first but then slowly it becomes more and more difficult to wind. I asked one guy on a campsite for advise and he said get a thicker cable like his, so I did and bought the same cable holder, but still kinks. Almost embarrassed to post this but i will swallow my pride if it results it an answer,?? Many thanks Trevor I suggest you dump what you are using in favour of something more like this (this one is 110V rated, but similar available in 240V rating): http://tinyurl.com/rer37t3. It will be kinder to the cable and can be obtained with, or without cable. Have a look at RS components. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFrenchConnection Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 I use the same technique as I used in my 40 years pre-motorhome sailing days. Coil by by hand, not the elbow method which is considered very land-lubberly, using finger and thumb to put a half twist in each coil. Sailors call this a 'scotchman' for reasons no doubt lost in the mists of time. You end up with an obedient coil which will tuck away neatly and run out without kinks when you use it next. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don636 Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Just tried the over/under method on the video and I can see immediately how this prevents kinks - brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikeandthewife Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Hi Trevor Google motorhome cable tidy, it's a round circle type with handle. When it's time to pack cable away, disconnect from van and lay the cable out, the full length if you have room on the site, then reel it in onto the reel, like you would a fishing reel, no kinks, sorted. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirou Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Over/under technique is the first lesson they drum into you when working in TV/film production. When you handle 100m of half inch thick cable you soon figure out why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdriver Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Or if you really want to push the boat out: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/extension-leads-cable-reels/7850837/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 slowdriver - 2020-02-19 6:44 PM Or if you really want to push the boat out: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/extension-leads-cable-reels/7850837/ All very well but how do you plug that into the side of your MH? (without using a separate short cable, noting that the plug/socket are only IP44 so not really suitable for leaving out in heavy rain). And for £123 I would want it gold plated! Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxnJane Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 We regularly pull the lead out and manually unkink it if this makes sense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rael Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 We have this https://www.obelink.nl/pro-plus-cee-schuko-kabelhaspel.html and this https://www.campingwagner.de/product_info.php/info/p20838_Adapterkabel-mit-CEE-Stecker-u--CEE-Kupplung---2-5mm-sup2----1-5m.html I've looked everywhere in UK for a short CEE but not found anywhere that has them. The cable reel sits neatly under the van and the extension goes from the reel to the CEE inlet socket on the side of the van. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slowdriver Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 That's an excellent solution. I'll pick some up at Dusseldorf in September, if my van has arrived by then ! Due in April but I'll believe it when I see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevec176 Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 It sounds like you are forcing the cable around the reel, don't hold the cable but let it run through your hand as you wind it around the reel and it should have no more kinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les W Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 I use one of these, never get a kink in the cable.. Link to Leisure Outlet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinM50 Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Keithl - 2020-02-19 1:01 PM Ditch the winder and use the 'Over-Under' technique... I have been doing this with the same cable for over ten years and have no signs of damage or twisting. Keith. PLUS 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 And yet another way of maintaining a straight cable. After using unplug the connection then 1. walk the cable to its entire length 2. start winding as normal then 3. at every complete turn 4. swing the cable over and down anticlockwise. (Forty years on site work.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htrevor Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 Keithl - 2020-02-19 1:01 PM Ditch the winder and use the 'Over-Under' technique... I have been doing this with the same cable for over ten years and have no signs of damage or twisting. Keith. Thanks Keith. Watched the video and I will definitely try that method although I would rather wrap it around something if possible so that it is easier to store in my van. Also the cable in the video looks thinner and a lot more flexible than mine, so would it still work? Trvor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
htrevor Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 peterjl - 2020-02-19 1:19 PM Agree, ditch the drum. I coil the same way I coil a throw line and yes, +10 years use with no problems Peter Thanks Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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