retractable cord reel - help me pick one!

[REFLEXX]

Gents,

I'm looking to mount a retractable cord reel (for electricity, not air). My idea is the following:

40 foot long, 12/3 gauge, red metal housing, enclosed, red cord, durable, 3 outlets, under $150?

anyone? pics?

[Cebby]

Mine's yellow with a black cord - got it as a gift. I haven't seen any with a red housing/red cord.

[bmwpower]

Close, but no cigar. I'm diggin' the blue one though...

http://www.bizrate.com/buy/products__att--312020,att312020--more,cat_id--25000700,keyword--cord%20reel.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Heavy-Duty-Professional-25Foot-14-3-Extension-Cord-Reel_W0QQitemZ6036041954QQcategoryZ75577QQcmdZView Item

[REFLEXX]

It's odd that we've got HUNDREDS of new members and only former Junkies repiled.

Thanks guys, at least I know I can count on my former addict friends!

I'm leaning toward this one:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=03483899000&subcat=Electric+Cords+and+Power+Strips

[Uncle Buck]

REFLEXX: The only thing I dislike about the one you are leaning toward is the abs (plastic) housing. Sears still makes a pro grade model with a metal housing, it is black in color, but it really has a very official look to it. I looked on their site and found two metal housing models, one at $32.00 & one at $38.00. Both are 30 footers, not 40 as you are looking for, but the price difference for the metal ones I referenced and the one you show above for 10 more feet is astronomical! The one you show is over $100.00 is the additional 10 feet really worth that much difference?

[Rrumbler]

Northern Tool has a few, and there are sure to be other sites online that have some, too. In todays world, metal housings are not as important as they used to be; plastic tech has come a long way. Definitely stick with 12/3 for wire size on a cord that may be used for running tools; lighter gauge wire is ok on a light, but not really a good idea for any sort of heavy motor - oh, it'll work, but ----. As usual, JMO.

[W-Cummins]

REFLEXX: The only thing I dislike about the one you are leaning toward is the abs (plastic) housing. Sears still makes a pro grade model with a metal housing, it is black in color, but it really has a very official look to it. I looked on their site and found two metal housing models, one at $32.00 & one at $38.00. Both are 30 footers, not 40 as you are looking for, but the price difference for the metal ones I referenced and the one you show above for 10 more feet is astronomical! The one you show is over $100.00 is the additional 10 feet really worth that much difference?

The cheeper metal ones I saw were not 12 gauge cords one was like 16 gauge I guess he will just have to paint the other one and change the cord if it's sooooo important that it's color matching;)

[Uncle Buck]

W-Cummins: Ouch! I failed to notice the disparity in gauge !

[kartracer55]

Ive got a craftsman professional one. Its not the obscenely priced 100$+ one, Its the next one down, and its substantially less. Black metal casing, and its got a prett y heavy cord.

Jim

[Ramblur]

I had the craftsman "professional" for a little over a year. Used it with a
heat gun ,shrink wrapping some wiring one night and no problem till I came out
next day and had no lights. Breaker had popped and I couldn't reset it until
I unplugged this extension reel. Whatever happened was long after I reeled
the cord back in cause I still had lights until I closed up shop that night.
Couldn't pull more than a couple feet of cord out,the rest was all melted
together. I treat my equipment well and am 99% sure whatever defect
caused this was not my doing.

Just a heads up.:shocking:

[kartracer55]

I had the craftsman "professional" for a little over a year. Used it with a
heat gun ,shrink wrapping some wiring one night and no problem till I came out
next day and had no lights. Breaker had popped and I couldn't reset it until
I unplugged this extension reel. Whatever happened was long after I reeled
the cord back in cause I still had lights until I closed up shop that night.
Couldn't pull more than a couple feet of cord out,the rest was all melted
together. I treat my equipment well and am 99% sure whatever defect
caused this was not my doing.

Just a heads up.:shocking:

Damn, Which one is it? Ive had this one for like 4 years now.

this one?
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=03483929000&subcat=Electric+Cords+and+Power+Strips

Jim

[bmwpower]

Remember, it's not only the gauge of the cord, but the LENGTH of the cord that determines the voltage drop at the end of the line. Ramblur, how long was your cord? What gauge?

[KeukaDan]

Also heat dissipation. An electrical cord wrapped up in a reel will heat up much more than a cord that is stretched out. On the same lines you can use a smaller wire if it is stretched across the ground as opposed to it being hard wired into the wall. When in doubt overestimate with a reel since some of it will rarely ever be unwound.

[REFLEXX]

Gents,

I just picked up the one from sears for $130. Seems like a well built unit, even though it has a plastic housing. Considering that it will be mounted on the ceiling, it will not see much abuse. As for the heat build-up, I agree. Especially on the lighter guage wires (16/14 stuff), this one is 12/3 and I'm going to have 8 feet or so already hanging down from the ceiling, so there will be less chance of that.

This unit also has a trip button right on the receptacle end. Some I've see have the trip button on the reel or the plug. That's stupid! If I trip it, I'd have to get out my ladder to get up to press the damn reset button. This one's also got the LED power indicator to confirm the juice!

The only concern I have with this unit is not the plastic ABS housing, but the plastic mount. What if it fails some day? Is this thing coming down on my head? I might add some sort of coated wire tether safety doohicky.

Hey W! I might just get out the spray can and turn it RED. Go ahead and laugh. Nothing I can do about the cord being yellow, damn it!

[bmwpower]

Hey W! I might just get out the spray can and turn it RED. Go ahead and laugh. Nothing I can do about the cord being yellow, damn it!

Hey, if you're adventurous like me, you might want to see if you can take it apart and rewire it. First, check and see if you can get 12 gauge red wire from Home Depot or Lowes. I believe you'll want the SJT type.

Is the end plug moulded? That's be the only problem with rewiring it unless you can find something similar to replace it.

[W-Cummins]

Hey W! I might just get out the spray can and turn it RED. Go ahead and laugh. Nothing I can do about the cord being yellow, damn it!

Well you can paint it too get some vinyl plastic spray paint. Or you could get a bunch of the red shrinkwrap tubing and your heat gun out:willy_nil

William....

[l_bilyk]

Hey W! I might just get out the spray can and turn it RED. Go ahead and laugh. Nothing I can do about the cord being yellow, damn it!

Why in the world would you care what color the cord is?

[byrdman]

I've got a 50 dollar blue plastic 12 gauge reel from Northern. I like it's compact size, but the retraction is weak, the last 10 feet I have to practically force in. I wouldn't buy it again.

[evildky]

I have 3 different retractables in my garage, the best one I beleive was a delco brand taht I got at lowes, nbut I think it's only 25 feet, why I have 3, I'm never more than 12 feet from a hanging extension cord

[REFLEXX]

l_bilyk,

You'll understand when you see my shop finished.

and I was only kidding about the cord having to be red. I'm not quite THAT anal retentive.

[bmwpower]

I've got a 50 dollar blue plastic 12 gauge reel from Northern. I like it's compact size, but the retraction is weak, the last 10 feet I have to practically force in. I wouldn't buy it again.

Damn. That's the one I was looking at. Oh, well. Thanks for the info!

[Elroy]

I had the craftsman "professional".........Breaker had popped and I couldn't reset it until
I unplugged this extension reel........Couldn't pull more than a couple feet of cord out,the rest was all melted
together. I treat my equipment well and am 99% sure whatever defect
caused this was not my doing.........

Elroy is not picking on ya but it was your fault. Ya see 99% of these cord reels utilize "SVT" cord. This cord has a thermoplastic covering and is the same type as found on your wifes vaccuum cleaner. Elroy bets it was only 14 gauge MAX. What happened, is you pulled so many amps through it that the cord got hot and melted into one big mass inside the reel and shorted out.

A better cord material would be SOW in 12 Ga. Woodhead makes a few nice ones.

[Aahz]

We sell the Reelcraft cord reels....American Made (Indiana) and well built. They are definitely more expensive than the stuff at Sears or Home Depot, though....Here's the link to the page on our site...Sold 3 to different places in Iowa today...Gotta' love the internet!
http://www.standardus.com/cgi-bin/standard/scan/st=db/co=yes/sf=category/se=Electric%20Cord/op=eq/sf=prod_group/se=REELS/op=eq.html

[cloud]

Since I relied heavily on this thread (found via searching) when picking my reel, thought I'd update it and bring it back from the dead, hope nobody minds.

Just got back from Sears after picking up my first cord reel - a Craftsman Pro 30 footer (14/3) w/ illuminated triple tap end, and an included dual-level fluorescent worklight (w/ magnetic mount, sweet). Case is dark grey metal, cord is black, and it seems to be very nice quality, and looks sharp. Includes a built-in 13 amp circuit breaker. Overall, it seems MUCH nicer than the HF reel I had been considering (which did have 12/3 wire and was a 40 footer I think, on sale for $40).

Best feature? The price! I can't find it on the website, but it's model #34/73917 - normally $70, on sale for $34.99. Couldn't pass it up, and couldn't be happier. :)

[Ramblur]

I had the craftsman "professional" for a little over a year. Used it with a
heat gun ,shrink wrapping some wiring one night and no problem till I came out
next day and had no lights. Breaker had popped and I couldn't reset it until
I unplugged this extension reel. Whatever happened was long after I reeled
the cord back in cause I still had lights until I closed up shop that night.
Couldn't pull more than a couple feet of cord out,the rest was all melted
together. I treat my equipment well and am 99% sure whatever defect
caused this was not my doing.

Just a heads up.:shocking:





Sorry, I missed your replies. Was a Craftsman #83912 25 footer and used
SJT 16/3 wire. This was unrolled the whole evening that I was using it with
a heat gun. Just shrinking wrap on a wiring job so very intermittent use.
When I recoiled it up I was still in the shop for over an hour more with no
problem. Problem didn't show till next day when I had no overhead lights
and found the breaker tripped. No idea how or when it failed,just scary
that it was that long after I was done using it. I just got done climbing
the ladder to get the model# and wire size and just noticed the warning
on the label... RISK OF FIRE! not for use above hazardous locations.:headscrat Of course the UL listing is much more prominant
on this same label. I will say I have had this replacement for over a year
now and no problems.

[Will H]

I'll second the bad review of the unit from Northern. I just got one for Christmas and its junk. Extremely weak, and won't reel in the last 10 feet. I need to look into returning it. I called them to ask if I can adjust the tension and they commented on how many people call complaining about it. Oh, and its non-adjustable.

[T1704]

I bought a 30 or 40 foot and either 12 or 14 guage one from Home Depot I'm pretty impressed with. Sorry, don't have pictures, but it's in a black heavy duty casing w/ black cord.

Travis