Make your own Extension cord retractable reel

[@DarrenPauli]

note this is not self-retracting, but a hand wound reel. Drill one inch hole on side opposite the handle 0:58 then take male end extension cord and feed it through the hole outside to centre. You need about 4ft to plug into the wall. You latch that 4ft to a hook inside the wheel see 2:00 for location.

[@X32BBFY]

Almost returned this reel until I saw this video. Going to try this out. Thanks!

[@lmalino695]

'Wind-able' not 'Retractable'; misleading title.

[@theopiner402]

Well, he didn't say it was automatically retractable. So, the title is actually correct.

[@PRIMETHECHOSE]

you are the Man! I bought and electric lawnmower and was trying to figure how to make this reel work to my advantage... genius... now I just need to borrow a drill lol!

[@jefffisher993]

Thanks for passing on the idea you just saved me money and allowed me to use something I already had.

[@sonicboomin]

no problem. glad it helped

[@alidortaj9671]

Very helpful video for a 10 piece of sxxx , this made it much much better. Thanks for the DIY video

[@kiney0713]

The title is misleading but the idea is fantastic. Thank you, implemented it yesterday and it worked out very well.🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@alfirst9087]

Caution, if you use a wounded cord you severely decrease the number of amps you can run through the cord. A cord rated for 14 amps will only be safe for about 4 amps when wounded. The reduced amps could damage the device you are powering at best and start a fire at the worst. I know it's a terrible inconvenience but its best to unwrap a wound cord entirely. And even more bothersome, it's best to use the shortest possible cord that will get the job done. Stay safe.

[@ralphmowery2898]

You are half right. The heat will have no where to go. There will not be any reduced amps at the load compared to the cord off the reel to damage the load.

[@brettguse6224]

Who taught you how electricity works? If you don't know, you shouldn't be typing anything about electricity. Lying out your ass. Amps won't reduce from a wound up cord just like waterfowl won't reduce from a wound up waterhole. So please go to an actual electrician school before spreading lies.

[@tweetspie06]

Thank you for this! I don't understand why this isn't manufactured like this!

[@sonicboomin]

if I had money I manufacturer them like them

[@mysss29]

I could see a lot of people complaining about having to unplug the cord before reeling it in/unreeling more.... I dunno if that's why, but it could be. I think we tend to expect more if a manufacturer intends us to use something a certain way than if we just decide to use it that way in contrast to their intentions. *shrug*

[@Corondragon]

There are reels like this already.

[@JessVideoDude]

THANK YOU! I have that same reel and I was getting ready to throw it in the recycling bin. Gotta love KZbin!

[@duenge]

I made 2 the very same way a few years ago. One holds 100' , the other only about 35'. Word of caution here.... When I was a firefighter, we somehow acquired a small metal reel that had about 150' on it. One night we only pulled a short amount off, maybe 40', to run a portable light. The amount of amps (we were running a 110v lamp) must have been too much for that large amount of cable being tightly wound, as it melted and fused the insulation on the remaining cable. We were able to save the reel, but it was a real bitch cutting the old cord off.....Guess who had that job. My point here is, if you have say a hundred feet on your reel, and you need to use just a short amount, it might be safer to pull off some extra cord......thanx. Tom

[@mysss29]

D= Sounds like maybe the cord on the reel wasn't a big enough gauge to be that long? Was it multiple cords plugged into one another?? You may know this already, but the longer the cord, the more resistance [I guess you kind of alluded to that], /and/ the thinner the wire, the more resistance; and resistance in a circuit is what makes it start giving off a ton of heat. That's why if you buy a 100' extension cord, it should be 14 or 12 gauge instead of the usual 16. In addition, any connection where you're plugging a cord into a cord also introduces resistance into the circuit, which is apparently why you're not supposed to do that if you can help it.

[@CordosaDK]

What has happened is that you created an electromagnet with an iron core. Because you only unwinded 40" it made the rest into an inductor (electromagneti coil) around the metal reel. The metal made it stronger. When the current goes through the tight wire, it creates a magnetic field around each number of windings. More windings means more power and this raises the amps. Your coil basically induced more amps than it could handle and overheated.

[@alandobb950]

HI Jacob, you are correctin what you say, only one thing wrong, "Because he only unwounded" he should have only UNWOUND,, sorrry to correct you.

[@ralphmowery2898]

@@CordosaDK The iron core had very little to do with the heating. The 2 wires in parallel cancel out most of the magnetic field. The wire needs to be air cooled at high current draw. There was no air circulating across the wound up wire so the heat had no where to go and caused the melt down.

[@thisisntforsharing]

Thank you - very informative! I understood the concept, but your explanation helped me understand where to drill the hole etc.

[@jaykay18]

Very clever. If I had one of these I would definitely mod it as such. It's such a simple idea, you'd think China would just make it that way to begin with! They'd be saving a 1-inch round piece of plastic for each of the hundreds of thousands of these things they're cranking out, which can be used to mold the next batch.

[@sonicboomin]

lol recycling

[@jaykay18]

Eddiesteady73 Sort of is, yes. If you look at a standard electrical plug, the two little holes in there serve two purposes: 1. There are balls in the electrical socket in the wall that are spring-loaded, they sort of grab onto the plug through those holes making for a nice, tight fit. You know an overused outlet when you plug something in and the plug almost falls out, that's when people bend the prongs of the plug in or out to help make it stay in the outlet correctly. The proper fix is to replace the outlet. 2. Cost savings. Those 2 little dots of metal are remelted for the next batch.

[@sonicboomin]

+jaykay18 I just learned something new

[@jaykay18]

Eddiesteady73 People have said that I know all the things you didn't know you needed to know.

[@sonicboomin]

+jaykay18 hey one day I may be on a trivia show and cause of u i may win big dollars

[@stan224]

THanks for the video. I have modified mine like yours, but I noticed that when winding or unwinding, the end male end will twist and start to get shorter and shorter to the point that it may detach from the outlet if you're unwinding while using the cord. Anyone else have this problem and know how to solve it?

[@petermypope7591]

fold the cord in half so that the middle half can be hooked and reel it in.

[@mr.c6674]

@@petermypope7591, electrical cords should never be folded. A slight bend is fine, but not a "fold"

[@kyleleblanc8954]

Unplug when winding

[@100PercentOS2]

Just got done doing that to mine. Wow, it is so much better with the hole and the end through it coming out of the center. Very pleased and thanks for the great video.

[@renemarrero2906]

Thank you so much for posting this video. Just got the reel today 4/7/17 I am going to modify mine just like you.......Drilling away.

[@tfusel]

This is extremely helpful! You made my day! Precisely what I needed to do for my electrical mower!

[@sonicboomin]

that's great. happy it helped

[@willgero7189]

This method worked really good, thanks!!!!!!

[@bobvanwest]

Now if we can figure out how to not twist the male end while it's plugged in when rolling and un-rolling I think we'd have something. But all in all, this was a good video and I will make the mods in my current designs as well. Thanks

[@jacencko011]

Use the female end instead of the male end coming from the center to the side hole. Basically you’ll have the reel near you instead of it being near the outlet if that makes sense. You can also use the reel like it was designed to by hooking the cord at its center on that little hook (use zip ties to secure if it’s a thinner gage) and wind the cable on it. Your male & female will be on the same spot when it’s wound on the reel. Then the reel will be in-between you and the outlet. Hope that helps!

[@Manuelthe3rd]

superb vid, exactly what I was looking for, thank you!

[@sonicboomin]

anytime

[@QuanJNSUspartan]

Thanks...works as it should be intended now!!!

[@ken125y]

Thank you! Simple and easy yet very useful.

[@sonicboomin]

glad it helped

[@vergilcase4101]

Genius my man. Great video and idea.

[@RxPravda]

This really helped me out, thank you posting. Worked like a charm.

[@100PercentOS2]

Thank you. I had the same thing in mind but wanting to get some closure on this so I'm really glad I found your video. I knew something else had to be done in order to use my reel effectively.

[@thomasjenkins1885]

What about the extension cord wire getting all twisted up

[@mikemalachy]

Yeah..It's not perfect. You just need to disconnect from socket when unwinding and rewinding. Works well enough for me though.

[@eman-3]

Great DIY video Eddie. Keep up the good work my man!

[@ZillaYT]

I believe these reels were designed so you loop the cord halfway onto itself, forming a long U-shape with the loop on one end and both plugs on the other end, then hook the loop onto the reel's hook so when you reel the cord in, the 2 ends, male and female, are at the end. Make sense? So it's not a design flaw,. just a different design purpose. With your method though, if you're gonna use the reel for equipment with short plugs, e.g., yard tools, you're gonna have to leave a long female end out so you don't drag the reel as you use the tool. This defeats part of the purpose of reeling the cord.

[@portobelloedinburgh8891]

Also this is an unnecessary waste of the short cord. Not necessary at all. He could of just ran 4-5 ft of the long cords male end thru the hole and out the side. Pointless use of the 6fter.

[@Jack-Surreal_Panes]

I do something similar with my small water tubing. I leave the in line short so doesn't kink or whip you when reeling in. Ideally I need a swivel fitting so won't have to disconnect the hose to reel in. Brace with foot and 100' 3/8 tubing rolls up very quickly.

[@sonicboomin]

great idea also

[@oilwings]

I prefer to have the cord end the other way.

[@ryanwort18]

Would you be able to use this with a four socket extension lead which is fixed in place or would the cable turn too much and break?

[@renemccourt7275]

When using one of those extension Leeds you should always pull out all of the cord. If you don't it can cause 'eddies' (super hot areas in the cable) which can end up setting the reel on fire. I've seen this happen. Stay safe.

[@tito732]

saved the day thanks man great vid

[@scottredman5122]

Thanks, man!

[@Thejbelow]

ummm... and how about that spinning male end? dont you think that will pose problems when its plugged in lol

[@karenmoberly8428]

Josh Bellows I did this modification.. the male end twists really bad whether plugged in or not. It was ruining the cord. What did I do wrong?

[@quantran3728]

Big thanks for this great video!👍

[@lp2540]

nice idea. i had thought of this then i started thinking some more. what if you need more length then what you had pulled out? if you are not aware or forget that you have it plugged in, the more you pull, the more twist you will introduce to the outlet end. so this could be potentially dangerous. if anyone has any simple idea around this, please do share.

[@wootexclusive8499]

Unplug it. 🤣

[@user-gv2or6bp8r]

WOW thankyou 👍

[@robertocarlos1305]

Thank you! It works great!!!! 😀

[@AlirioSilva]

Very useful! Thank you!

[@sonicboomin]

no problem

[@MannyC711]

Thanks bro!

[@c9gunner1]

Thank you for sharing!

[@sonicboomin]

you are very welcome

[@mikev4870]

Thanks for making this video

[@JohnBurgess37]

if you put a slip ring in where the male end comes out, you never have to unplug the cord from the wall

[@SebCII]

What is a slip ring?

[@MichaelStalbaum16]

The end through the middle twists and breaks

[@juancarlospimentel6462]

Usted si sabe lo que hace caballero! Muchas gracias por el truco!🙏

[@linus2878]

Yes

[@toddolatheks.1328]

Cool Thanks 🙏

[@scotcrazy]

Thanks!!!! Now I just have to find a way to make that 1" diameter hole without a drill!!!

[@crabbyhayes1076]

You could probably met through the plastic. Just heat a knife or other flat object over your stove.

[@dominic4630]

I made it do that without having to drill a hole I just wrapped it back around the opposite

[@Harleyguy03]

Good concept but 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 cheap hose reel is a pain to use. (I have one) especially for 12ga. cord.

[@gregbenwell6173]

Not exactly WHAT I am looking for!! I want to build a "retractable" cord that retracts BY ITSELF when you need it too!! Sort of like those that you see in the ceiling of your garage where you give it a quick sharp pull and they suck the cord back up!!!! BUT here is the twist on the one I want to build!! I want to build it "in reverse"!!! The type you see in garages have a female plug on the end that retracts out. ON the reel side there is a short pigtail usually that allows the cord wind to be plugged in (with a male plug) at the ceiling, with a ceiling mounted power outlet!!! And like I say I want this to be REVERSED......and for a interesting reason!!! See what I want to build is a mobile work bench that has outlets for my power tools. My idea is that when I am working away from my home MY home built work bench has large tires under it like those on a furniture dolly so it can be moved over grass. And HERE IS WHERE the retractable cord comes in, because I want the MALE END to retract to any near by power outlet up to about ten or so feet, and I then need the female side attached to the work bench to power any tools (table saw, drill press, miter saw or what ever) is sitting on it or "built into it" as I want to make a couple of "flip top stations" on the work bench!!! This would make my work bench COMPLETELY portable, self contained as a "mobile shop" of sorts!! I roll the thing to the work site, yank out 10 or 15 feet of cord and plug it into house power and I am basically "set up to work" from ONE area!! Now I know a bunch of you will say "Why not just use Battery powered tools?" and you would wonder that, BUT I DO NOT HAVE SPACE to have both corded and cordless tools just hanging around!! And I have already BOUGHT the corded power tools I own!! Besides batteries have to be changed constantly and I don't want to buy 80 batteries just so I have enough stock to keep changing the stupid things!! I would much rather STILL just own corded power tools and every year with my two screw guns I am spending close to $200 a year in batteries for them with money I CAN NOT keep spending just to power stupid cordless tools with!!! To some people (like me) $200 a year is too expensive and every time I turn around the batteries are dead and no longer hold a charge!! So I don't want another tool I have to buy batteries for at all in my shop!!!! Corded tools to me are just more dependable in that way!! Plug them in and they work!! Enough said!!

[@j4k3z]

Do you really need the whole retractable thing just for 10-15 feet? Anywhere, I'm in the same boat as you, I want to make one that auto-retracts! Did you ever end up building one?

[@shawnliu4101]

thank you soooooooo much sir

[@sonicboomin]

sure anytime

[@karenmoberly8428]

I must have done something wrong. The male end twists so bad whether plugged in or not that it ruined my extension cord!

[@geraldhard1562]

Roll power cord is good .exstion .

[@spiritandtruthtoledoisrael8050]

Thnx alot

[@niarfeqa539]

Nice

[@patthemaniacful]

thanks

[@warewolf2304]

Ya know..why the hell don’t they make them like this to begin with 🤦‍♂️ that’s a great idea 💡 I pretty much have the same reel about to do this right now. What I used to do and this works pretty well..is take your extension cord and plug it into it’s self, now find the middle of the cord from both ends, then take the middle of cord and hook it to the reel and start winding. Now when you need to use it just grab the plugs and unwind the cord. I don’t think I need to go into anymore detail, you’re smart picture in your head hiw it works

[@thegunners8565]

I wanted to now how to retract some thing automatically not with your hands

[@UJGQLM]

It would have been better if you showed how you made the hole...because that's after all the trick that you did and not the winding of the cord itself. Thanks for the idea though because it will save me a lot of time.

[@MrBat000]

cool.

[@mikr8199]

Que brutalidad, según el fabricante esto es para resumir los problemas y ni siquiera te dicen como enrollar el cable XD, y la gente tiene que ingeniarse la mejor forma, lo doy un 2 en la escala del 1 al 10 para este producto

[@teaglet]

I just gave my orange reel away... didn't know that, but I hated it

[@t_4178]

you are doing it wrong. attach the middle of the cord to the spool.

[@redrandy81]

Thats what i did too! much easier. Just place the reel halfway between outlet and project, then pull out both ends.

[@coastalcarpetcleaning]

They don’t make them that way because it’s not safe! And there’s nothing “retractable” about this. 🧐

[@PhaniNaraparaju]

Instead, try this one. You need to grab the middle of the wire and hook it to the wheel, once. It works as a retractable one with no other changes needed. m.homedepot.com/p/150-ft-16-3-Cord-Storage-Reel-with-Stand-HD-100PDQ/205382988?MERCH=REC-_-irg_aic-1-_-205038360-_-205382988-_-N

[@texasbmx246]

We all know about that but it's not as convenient that way

[@vincentnguyen7605]

Home Depot should learn you to improve their stupid product. a hole can solve the problem.

[@chrisjohnson4122]

Very dangerous, an extension cord requires totaly unwinding in order to dissipate the heat generated whilst in use, do not copy this hack if you value your own or your families life.

[@TylersALiar]

wtf

[@dryocum]

👎