Converting air hose reel

[PT Doc]

Has anyone taken an air hose reel and converted it to an electric reel? I know that Cox Reels and Reelcraft offer these electric cord reels but @$300-$500, I thought it should be doable to roll your own.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200317266_200317266

I have a Goodyear hose reel for 1/2” hose and I assume that the fittings are not threads.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0768TDBV4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

There is a sharp 90 between the hose and the various fittings and the final supply connections. I likely won’t be able to use 10/4 SO cord for 3 phase power, but maybe 12/3 SJ cord for 240v single phase power. This would cheaper in the long run instead of having a few belt grinders that I want to use outdoors with their own 30’ cords. This would need to be terminated with appropriate receptacle. This would be nice from the convenience and cleanliness standpoint. It seems like the electric cord reels have a black side panel that might serve as junction box for the connections.

http://www.coxreels.com/pc-series_8_89.html

The other option is to make some type of box that would use the appropriate common plug and receptacle in a 2gang box on a 30’ SO/SJ cord and call it a day.

I would be interested in hearing from folks that have done this. Thanks.

 

[PT Doc]

Hubell makes some really nice fittings for SO/SJ cord.

https://www.zoro.com/hubbell-wiring...MIz9a94P-23gIVR7bACh1LngEtEAQYASABEgKLjvD_BwE

They make the in 90* as well.

https://www.hubbell.com/wiringdevic...-Management/Cord-Connectors/NHC1024/p/1674438

Maybe even 45*.

 

[purplezr2]

What about the slip ring. How do you recreate that?

 

[PT Doc]

What about the slip ring. How do you recreate that?

I have not taken the hose reel apart so I don’t know what the slip ring is. Is it an air tight pivot?

That be be the undoing of this plan. I might have to make that connection WiFi then.

 

[cvairwerks]

The slip rings are what allows the reel to work. The reel has 3 rings and fingers that transmitt the power from the feed to the rotating part of the reel and then to the cord. Think old style brushes and commutator technology.

 

[VC455]

The slip rings are what allows the reel to work. The reel has 3 rings and fingers that transmitt the power from the feed to the rotating part of the reel and then to the cord. Think old style brushes and commutator technology.

^^^this,
Good project and i have thought similarily.
I think for this purpose, the comutator is not segmented, it is a solid ring.
I think it could be made or adapted / repurposed from something else.
Other's thoughts?

 

[cvairwerks]

Correct on the ring being solid. You could fab one up, but the question is, how much is your time worth and your safety? Reels can be had for under 300$, but how big of a load are you wanting to power and how far away? 10-15 amps at under 50, and units can be found fairly inexpensively. More than that and you are getting into heavy duty commercial gear with the need for significant dollars.

 

[OccupantRJ]

The slip ring has to carry the current properly. This is the weak point on the smaller non-commercial cord reels, along with low amperage ratings.. I have seen several where the slip rings fail while the person was trying to run a table saw or other higher draw tool on them. The slip ring drags are often mounted in a thermoplastic mount which becomes hot enough to melt, causing the unit to fail. I finally found a commercial unit for myself and absolutely love using it.

 

[PT Doc]

There clearly is much more going on under the side shields. I randomly found a Cox Reels youtube vid on replacing the spring in an electrical cord reel. They showed the connections from a distance under this side shield. Seems to be above my pay grade. Is this type of connection a proprietary device that each manufacturer makes for their own application? I don’t think I can go into the local commercial electrical supply house and ask for this part.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[manwithtools]

Slip rings are available on Amazon for less than $20 - non UL and made in China - but would probably work fine:

https://smile.amazon.com/Wires-Generator-250Rpm-Power-Collector/dp/B00MYYTWQ8?sa-no-redirect=1

Still a lot of work for what you want.

 

[PT Doc]

Slip rings are available on Amazon for less than $20 - non UL and made in China - but would probably work fine:

https://smile.amazon.com/Wires-Generator-250Rpm-Power-Collector/dp/B00MYYTWQ8?sa-no-redirect=1

Still a lot of work for what you want.

Thanks for the link!

If you already have the hose reel and the SO or SJ cord and you don’t modify the reel from being able to be returned back to original state, it might be a fun project.