Get the Most Out of Your Retractable Cord Reels with These Pro Tips

One markedly useful tool for workers is the retractable extension cord reel. Wall-mounted, mobile, hung from the ceiling, floor-based, or even attached to moving equipment, reels for extension cabling provide a means to bring electricity to places without an electrical outlet. Suitable for myriad applications, retractable cable reels are important in getting many tasks done more efficiently. To get the most out of a retractable cord reel, understanding how it functions helps users choose the features that best fit the desired role.

Maximizing Retractable Cord Reel Functionality & Performance 

Workers can conveniently connect electrical equipment at a greater distance from a static power supply with a retractable extension cord reel. While making electrical power more accessible and flexible, reels protect those who work with electrically powered tools and equipment. By preventing tripping and other hazards presented by loose extension cables, cord reels minimize the chance of accidents. To get the most out of these reels, it’s important to understand how to use them properly.

Proper Use of Retractable Cord Reels 

Safety is the paramount issue when working with electricity. Retractable electrical cord reels minimize many of the risks associated with such work. However, it’s important to understand a few basic concepts on the safe use of retractable cord reels, which include keeping them away from water, unplugging reels when not in use, properly storing them, using reels with appropriate amperage ratings and inspecting them regularly. The extension cord should also be of sufficiently high quality and capable of handling the application for which it’s employed.

To get the most out of retractable cable reels, the following safety measures should be taken:

• Water: Even though a cord reel is safer than a loose extension cable, it’s still important to keep it and the retractable cabling away from water to prevent short-circuiting or electric shocks; extension cables used outdoors should be specifically rated for outdoor use.
• Unplugging: When a device isn’t in use, it’s best to unplug it from the extension cord reel as the cabling continues to conduct electricity while it’s plugged into an outlet.  
• Storage: To lengthen the lifespan of a retractable extension cord reel, it shouldn’t be exposed to extreme cold or heat, direct sunlight, or other hazards that can damage the cord or the reel; the cabling on these reels should also be carefully organized to protect and keep it from tangling and potentially damaging the wiring.
• Overloads: Just like loose extension cabling, cords used in a retractable reel will have a limit to the electrical load it can safely manage, so it’s important to check a cord’s amperage rating; an electrical load over this threshold can result in the cord overheating or even melting, which in turn can lead to an electrical fire.
• Inspection: Regular inspection of the extension cable and the reel itself is necessary, watching out for issues like damaged plugs, exposed wiring, poor connections, or any other wear that could present a potential hazard that could lead to electric shock or even a fire.
• Certification: Safety certifications like those provided by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) ensure that an extension cord reel has undergone thorough assessments to meet industry standards for safety and reliability; substandard assembly or materials can result in poor performance and present a safety hazard.

While some retractable extension cord reels feature built-in grounding systems, using a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a good idea to protect against electrical surges on those that don’t. Such devices cut off power immediately to the reel if there’s a change in the flow of electricity. A GFCI is an important accessory that enhances workplace safety.  

Retractable Extension Cord Reel Wall Mount & Other Installations

There are multiple ways to install a reel to enable better access to a cabling extension. Cord reel wall mounts, ceiling installations, bases on floors, and other installation techniques have become ubiquitous in garages, offices, shops, and all types of places of work. Cable reels offer greater flexibility while reducing mess and promoting safety in workplaces. However, it’s also important that these devices are properly installed and kept well-maintained to ensure a long life and optimal performance.

Reel wall mounts can conveniently store a mobile unit for a retracting extension cord to keep it out of the way but ready for use.

It’s best to determine where the extension cord reel should be mounted when looking at installation points. Wall mounting can reduce the reel’s footprint, though its positioning should be accessible for all the appliances and devices it’s meant to power. A ceiling installation or direct connection to a workbench may instead make more sense for certain applications. If a reel is to remain permanently affixed, the manufacturer’s instructions should be carefully followed to guarantee that it’s installed correctly the first time. The conditions for the retractable cable reel’s use should be ascertained so that it’s well-placed for the application. At the same time, any other installation requirements and weight restrictions must be considered, too. Wherever it’s placed should provide sufficient stability to prevent it from becoming too easily displaced.

As retractable cord reels can come with cabling of varying lengths, it’s important to measure the distance between the power source and the device requiring electricity. The extension cord should be sufficient to easily reach the desired outlet with length to spare. This is to keep the cabling from becoming taut, as too much tension can decrease the performance and lifespan of the cord. It is also important not to over-extend the cable and pull it completely out when in use.

Extension Cord Reel Wall Mount 

An extension cord reel wall mount can benefit busy garages, shop floors, or other congested work areas. By positioning the extension cord reel on a wall, mounting frees up floor space while keeping cabling within reach. A pillar, post, or other vertical surface can present a similar space-saving solution for a cable reel.

Features to Consider When Choosing Retractable Extension Cord Reels

When choosing a retractable extension cord reel, a buyer can consider numerous features. It’s important to purchase a quality product that performs reliably for the application.

Some important features to consider for retractable cord reels include: 

• Amperage rating: As per any implement used to provide power, the compatibility of electrical equipment depends on how much amperage a retractable cord reel can handle.
• Enclosures: To protect against environmental conditions that can introduce particulates, moisture, extreme temperatures, and corrosion to a cable reel, both ingress protection (IP) and National Electronic Manufacturer’s Association (NEMA) enclosure ratings should be contemplated to ensure the reel’s internal components are kept protected.
• Gauge: Underneath the insulation, the thicker a cable’s wiring, the more electric current it can carry, which in turn reduces the danger of overheating; the smaller the gauge number, the more robust a cord is, with 16-gauge extension cords sufficient for most domestic applications.
• Length: Cabling should be long enough to reach an electrical outlet, but the active, hook-up, and inactive length also require consideration; for certain cable reel configurations, the lift height is also an important factor.
• Lighting: For workplaces with very little light, like crawl spaces or tunnels and nighttime work, cord reels with inbuilt lighting can brighten up workspaces and make them safer.   
• Materials: Durability is a factor in many applications for which retractable cable reels are used. Reels are made from materials such as aluminum, fiberglass, vinyl, and different steel grades, depending on the ruggedness required for the application.
• Motors: For applications in which paying out or retracting the cable requires greater force, motors powered electrically, hydraulically, or pneumatically aid the steady extension and retraction of an extension cord; reels with motors are also wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted and keep the physical footprint of the reel to a minimum.
• Retraction apparatus: Numerous manual and automated retraction mechanisms are available for an extension cord reel; wall-mounted reels often use spring-loaded cable retraction mechanisms.
• Sag allowance: Closely related to cable length, an unsupported extension cord, when stretched out horizontally, will have a certain amount of slack due to gravity; this should be factored into both active and inactive lengths, adding about 10 percent to the required length to accommodate this sagging.  

Whatever the features, it’s best to consider all the factors that might affect the functioning of an extension cord reel. Along with these features, wall-mounted brackets, ceiling swivels, or floor bases should also be considered, as the positioning and type of installation play a role in a reel’s functionality.

Greater Efficiency with Retractable Extension Cord Reels

Efficiency is key in choosing a retractable reel for an extension cord. Reel wall mounting may provide a practical means for saving space, while installation on a vehicle or mobile equipment may be more practical for other applications. Efficient cable management need not affect mobility, however. More compact retractable cord reels can easily be carried to where needed to provide a reliable power source, giving workers greater flexibility. Some are even capable of powering many pieces of equipment at once.

Getting the Most Out of Retractable Cord Reels with Alert Reel

Alert Reel Manufacturing distributes and manufactures an array of different types of extension cord reels. Our products include high-quality retractable cord reels with wall-mounting hardware that can be used on ceilings, pillars, posts, and other surfaces. To learn more about Alert Reel’s products and services, contact the reel experts today.