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. You need to be careful when winding or unwinding a cable reel as it is so easy to get the cable twisted, knotted and tangled up without realising it until it’s too late. Then you have to spend some time carefully untangling it, and it can be really frustrating. This is a common problem with some self-retracting cable reels. There are a number of features to look for when choosing the right waterproof external extension for your needs. 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) Both the metal stand and the plastic reel feel strong and sturdy, and the cable is 13A high quality stuff, not the 10A that is sometimes used in low-cost products claiming to be heavy duty.

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. By taking some time to make a smart and informed decision just now you can avoid the risk of having to buy several of these products over the years to replace broken or worn models that didn’t last long. Also on the power, you’ll see there is a thermal reset switch on this model too. When you compare them you can quite clearly see they are almost identical in that respect. I just prefer the feel and wind of this slightly different model. Now, if you have a smaller garden, the idea of unwinding 50 metres of cable might sound like a bit oof a nightmare, but thankfully, this product is also available in smaller sizes of 20 and 25 metres.

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To break the seal you’ll need to press firmly on the portion of the button that says ‘open’– look close enough you’ll see that: This article was last updated on April 23rd, 2022 at 1:33 am What is the best extension lead for outdoors that is waterproof? Perhaps the most important point to bear in mind is that making a good choice will keep you safe and well-equipped for years to come. You simply never know what outdoor power needs you might have in the future, as your lifestyle changes over time. If you need to keep your electronics outdoors for an extended period of time, or use the same electronic array fon a regular basis, you’ve probably been looking for a storage solution that will allow you to store both your cords and your equipment in the same safe and dry container.This box is roomy enough for lights, timers, reels, and more, and is IP5 weatherproofed to keep your equipment safe and secure. 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.

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! At the time of writing this article, the centurion EXT was on sale for around 15 quid. That’s not bad at all for a ten-metre cable reel, fully enclosed in a plastic casing. Of course, with the low price come a few minor faults, but for simple home use it is fine, and a lot of people don’t want to spend the Earth for their extension leads. A: You should never leave an extension lead outside, even if it is an outdoor extension lead. This is very dangerous and could cause fatal accidents. Just looking for a low-cost extension reel to plug the lawnmower or hedge trimmer into at the bottom of the garden? Well, the Centurion EXT1038 might be the kind of thing you are looking for.A: A wet extension cord should be dried out fully before use. If the extension cord has become damp from saltwater, then you should rinse well with fresh water and use compressed air to dry it out completely. With regards to this being waterproof it most certainly is not and should not be used in the wet. The cable is 1.25mm and you can send a sensible 3000 Watts of power through the lead without cutting out BUT make sure the cable is unwound. If the cable is still reeled and you put some hard work on it, then it’ll overheat and cut out. I had one that failed and actually melted the cable together once (not this model or manufacturer) but worth remembering just how important it is to unwind the cable. 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:

A: No, you should never plug an extension lead into another extension lead. This is very dangerous. 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: First of all, there’s the price tag. At just over 40 quid for a 50-metre cable reel, it is hard to beat, and what’s more, it doesn’t look as if Status have cut any corners to get that price down either. A: If you are worried about the safety of your extension cord, you should only use an extension cord outside if it is weatherproof. Every other method of protection is unreliable. Outdoor enthusiasts and DIY fans will be pleased to see how easily this product lets them work and enjoy their property from now on. The 25 Metre 13 Amp Orange Outdoor Extension Cable by Status is tough enough to handle a variety of uses, from powering your outdoor lighting to letting you cut the grass or trim the hedge safely.

If you only need an outdoor power supply for very occasional, light jobs then you may be tempted to buy a cheap model. This will probably do the job for you but a better approach is to pay a little bit more for a tougher extension lead with a range of useful safety features. IP stands for ingress protection and is a way of measuring how protected an electrical item is from solids (the first number) and liquids (the second number), so it’s important to understand what to look for when you’re after a waterproof extension lead. Solid protection: The main thing that I think will put people off is the bright green casing and cable. Personally, I didn’t really like it, and thought it made it more difficult to see the cable in the grass. It did make things easier when the sun went down though, so I guess it comes down to personal opinion. Although this is advertised as ‘heavy duty’, you should take it with a very large pinch of salt. The plastic used for the casing and other parts isn’t the best, and in some parts felt a bit loose or less than robust.

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 terms of the all-weather suitability, this will also vary widely from one extension cable to the next. Typically, the rugged types that are designed for use on tough outdoor jobs will handle tough weather (as well as higher amp usage). 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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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: Above all else, making a good choice now will keep you and your family safe no matter what you use it for outdoors in the future. FAQ: