Hook up Cable

Jenrai

Full Member

Messages
588
Have been on site 4 days and been advised that my coiled hook up cable is a fire hazard. True or tin foil hat theory?
20191216_100352.jpg
 
True.
Any electritian will tell you, what you have created is a coil. It's fine as a way to store your cable when not in use,but should be totally uncoiled when being used. This goes for any extension cable. You get away with it if your only drawing small currents, but it's always good practice to uncoil any cable extension before use.
 
Yes, a coiled cable can be a fire hazard it depends how much load is going through it, it is recommended that you unwind it all when in use.

I got this next paragraph from the internet.
Why does a coiled cable get hot?
The resistance caused by the outer coiled wire creates heat and magnetism. Electrical energy passes from the outer coil to the inner coil and in doing so the voltage reduces. ... This is because of the resistance and magnetic field produced by the electricity passing through the coiled wire.
 
Last edited:
Just go near any electrical substation with the transformers both humming and getting hot !
OK they are doing their job and are meant to have the coils in order to transform but......
As has been hinted at you get "Back EMF" with coils which also adds heat....
I uncoil mine and leave it in a Tidy mess. I have been known to alert others of the problem inc Mr J F
 
But how many of us have seen the French using theirs coiled without any problems most of them have a reel with at least 70 mtrs on and only use 30 leaving the rest coiled tightly on the reel even sharing with another motorhome
 
But how many of us have seen the French using theirs coiled without any problems most of them have a reel with at least 70 mtrs on and only use 30 leaving the rest coiled tightly on the reel even sharing with another motorhome
A lot of French ehus are only 5A and the leads are often only used to power the mains charger. They probably get away with it because they expect little from their ehu connections. In contrast we expect to boil kettles or run electric heating up to 16A.
 
As stated before, carry two lengths so less to coil back up.
i recently posted a pic elsewhere with an indoor reel, that I was using from the inverter to the Remoska. It was kindly pointed out to me that this should also be uncoiled. Hadn’t thought about a Hoover either.
 
Brother ex fire officer told us never do it always uncoile it he saw a few fires that started like that we always uncoile the cable
 

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top