Looking for recommendations- Automatic electrical cord reel?

[Barnabas]

The current rating for the cable assumes the cable is stretched out flat. When you coil a power cable (leave most of the cable on the reel) , magnetic loops will interact through the coils and heat up the cable, which means you can melt the insulation if you try to run the rated current through it. Thus, be sure to unwind the cable from the reel, or limit yourself to half or less than the rated current capacity.

 

[i4ni]

Plug them into a GFCI outlet and they would be fine.

Is that a legit fix? How about a GFCI Breaker?

 

[southalabama]

Woot has some deals on reel works electric reels

 

[southalabama]

Got his reelworks like two years ago and it's awesome

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RTYNHYB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

On Woot now a bit cheaper

 

[Max]

Is that a legit fix? How about a GFCI Breaker?

Yes it’s legit. Either a GFCI outlet or breaker is fine.

Normally you have a ground in an outlet to protect the user against shorts - for example, your metal body toaster. In the toaster case a short between ground (the case) and the hot blows the breaker before you can touch the “hot” case and be electrocuted. A GFCI doesn’t need a ground to protect. Instead it measures the current between hot and neutral, and if there is a difference greater than 5 mA it pops its own internal breaker. Due to current flow laws, if the hot isn’t equal to neutral current then some of the current is going to a bad place like through you.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I have a 30’x52’ shop and have four of these strategically placed to get coverage everywhere in my shop. I would never want just one long one for my shop because I sometime need to power multiple items in different areas of my shop. I bought them 14 years ago when Sears was still open and the customers still outnumbered the employees. Not sure who carries them now.

Craftsman Retractable 30-Ft. Extension Cord Reel, Model# 3483928​

I have a Craftsman with a trouble light on the end of the cord. It works terrible in cold weather, it doesn't want to rewind and the cord gets very stiff. I use it infrequently enough that I haven't gotten around to replacing it.

 

[Norcal]

This thread reminded me I have bunch of Appleton cord reels equiped with trouble lights stored in a barn that I got from an online school auction that replaced them because of no ground wire. Of course there was no mention of that in the description so I was stuck with them. Those Appleton reels were awesome but had contactor rings in them for the hot and neutral but not one for a ground so I put them in a barrel and kind of forgot about them. They retailed for like $300 way back in the day and were very popular, Maybe I should sell them with a disclaimer.........

Appleton reels are great but it is ill advised to buy them new unless you have a huge budget.

 

[backupbeeper]

I have two of these

https://www.amazon.com/Flexzilla-FZ8120603-Retractable-Extension-ZillaGreen/dp/B09C12C242/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I also have a blue seal air hose and a retractable water hose but I don’t remember the brand

 

[IRQVET]

Any reviews? Thx.

Yeah man, so far so good. It feels extremely sturdy, retracts well, so far I’m very happy with it. Cord contruction is awesome (heavy duty) and the lighted/illuminated 3 plug end is a nice touch. For the money, seems like you cannot go wrong.

Plus I really like having this overhead option, wish I would have done it sooner.

 

[BWWgarage]

On Woot now a bit cheaper

Picked up a reelworks 40’ 12/3 on woot for $75. Thanks @southalabama