SLx Outdoor Extension Lead Waterproof, 30m, 2 Socket Extension Reel, Heavy Duty Extension Cable, Thermal Cut Out, IP54 Rated, Double Socket, UK Outdoor Plug, Extension Lead for Christmas Lights Garden

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Every cable reel should have the minimum safety of a thermal breaker. This means that if you don’t unwind the cable you’ll heat up the unit and it’ll cut out. It can still cut out when unwound but you’re more likely to pop the fuse if it’s fully extended. On a straightforward extension lead you would expect a fuse, ideally 13 amp so you can use a table top heater or wall mounted heater (perhaps something similar like a blow heater) A further word of warning: the maximum power handling of longer extension cables, such as cable reels designed for indoor or outdoor use, depends on the cable being completely unwound. If you’re planning on using high powered electric garden tools, then the cable must be unwound to prevent excessive heat build up in the cable reel. Where a wound cable reel might only handle 1,000 watts (1KW), the same reel may be rated at around 3,300 watts (3.3KW) when the cable is unwound to its full length. And similarly, don’t be tempted to tightly wind up a standard extension cable in the name of neatness if you’re going to be using it with power hungry appliances – items with a high power draw can cause the cable to heat up dramatically and create a fire hazard. The earlier models seemed to be a bit flimsy and were prone to break or come off. There haven’t been any recent reports of this at all. The cable itself seemed fine to me, but the outer housing probably wouldn’t take much of a beating, so you’ll have to be careful about dropping or standing on it. I also wouldn’t ever use this outside in wet conditions. Cable reels are usually operated by a crank handle, but there are automatic models and other types out there too. Of course, this is another thing that goes wrong, leaving you to wind the cable by hand; a very monotonous job indeed.

Have you ever reeled in your cable, lost concentration and sent the cable around the side of the reel? Yep I have countless times. This guide gives you a bit of leeway on that. It doesn’t really matter if you lose concentration for a short while, you’ll get away with it. The pain it can be to undo this mess if you’ve wrapped around the side more than a couple of times 😀 The manufacture has made a pretty good demo of this unit before I break it down further: When fully wound, the cable has a maximum current of 3 amps, or 720 watts, which isn’t a great deal and probably wouldn’t be enough to run your lawnmower without getting too hot. However, once you unwind the cable, that maximum current jumps to 10 amps (2400 watts) which is much more practical and should allow you to run two electric garden tools at the same time without issue.

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Electrical Safety First has devised a calculator so you can estimate the power consumption of the appliances, devices or tools that you’re planning to connect to your extension lead. For general household use, you probably won’t need to worry too much as items like lamps or laptop or mobile phone chargers are very low in wattage, less than 100W in general, and even TVs and Hi-Fi components tend to draw hundreds rather than thousands of watts. That said, it pays to be vigilant: seemingly innocuous small household items such as hairdryers, irons and kettles can consume the best part of 3KW each – and if you’re thinking about electric lawnmowers and power tools, these too can demand kilowatts of power.

The lead is hot to touch: This suggests that you are overloading your extension cord beyond its capacity and marks a real safety hazard, as noted above. The bright green design of this cable reel from Status is something you’ll either love or hate, but beyond that, this competitively priced cable reel is definitely one worth some serious consideration. In fact, for me apart from the most obvious attributes, the hand coil is the biggest advantage. If you coil up well after use, laying your cable reel is a matter of seconds. It doesn’t need to be untidy either. If you use the old over under method you’ll not damage your cable either. Here’s a good tutorial. I know the guy is American but I’ve fast forwarded you to the right point in the video and you only need watch a few seconds to get the idea: as far as safety is concerned I have only seen one issue – a user tried to charge up their car and it melted the plug. Long before that happened the fuse should have blown so I am not quite sure what happened there but most cars charge on 30 Amps or more, and since this cable is only rated for your standard 13 Amp household, I highly advise not to misuse the product. It is certainly not safe beyond its rating! Pros:This is another great extension lead for use in the house or out on the patio in good weather. It is not really suited to be used in a heavy-duty way, but there are other products available if that’s what you’re looking for. Just don’t expect all the features found on this one. Being IP54 rated means it’s protected from water spray in any direction by law. Needless to say, electric and water don’t mix so when you are done with your power outside, absolutely ensure you unplug the power inside the house first and disconnect any electric from the unit if it’s been splashed or you got caught out and rained on etc. Don’t make the mistake of thinking waterproof means safe! An absolute golden tip is to stand your power reel upright and have the plugs facing down vertically so water runs down and off the plug. If you just lay it on its side water has a far better chance of getting in! This article was last updated on April 23rd, 2022 at 1:33 am What is the best extension lead for outdoors that is waterproof? BUILT IN PROTECTION: Ideal for commercial and domestic use, this 13A rated extension reel features a heavy duty in built thermal overload protection switch for peace of mind - protecting you and your equipment from harm in the event of an overload. The plug is BSI approved and 13A fused mains plug attached to high quality copper tri-core corrosion resistant cable.