10-2 Retractable Extention??

[Gilbert Vega]

I've been looking for a 10-2 retractable reel to hang on the ceiling above my PM66. Is there such a thing? I only need around 8-10 foot cord.

[John McClanahan]

I have seen such a thing, but I don't know where it came from. Have you tried Grainger?

John

[Doug Ladendorf]

I've seen 12 gauge but not 10. Maybe an industrial supply or McMaster? Otherwise rig something yourself. Assuming its a 30 Amp breaker that you need 10Ga. I put receptacles in my ceiling then ran an extension I made down a pole to be centrally located.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Cord sets are rated different from regular wiring, especially for motors.

[Justin Ludwig]

Make your own. Buy some 10-2/10-3 SO cable and put it on a reel.

[Gilbert Vega]

Make your own. Buy some 10-2/10-3 SO cable and put it on a reel.

That's what I was thinking also. I could use a 25 ft 14-2 reel and replace the wire with about 10' of 10-2 wire. Don't think I can get more than that. Thanks.
Gilbert

[Bruce Wrenn]

Look at the amperage on a #12 ret. cord. Shorten the cord to match your needs, and change the plug sets.

[Jason Roehl]

Be careful with how you do this. If part of that cord is still in the reel, and you use it at levels approaching its rated amperage, you could see some really high temperatures inside the reel. Even the smaller corded reels, like 14 AWG, warn in the instructions to fully extend the cord before using it.

[David L Morse]

That's what I was thinking also. I could use a 25 ft 14-2 reel and replace the wire with about 10' of 10-2 wire. Don't think I can get more than that. Thanks.
Gilbert
That's probably not a good idea. A retractable cord reel needs some kind of rotary connector to keep the cable from twisting as the reel turns. Typically this is slip rings with carbon brushes and this assembly also has a current rating. If you operate it at twice current it will have four times temperature rise. This has several effects, all of them bad.

[Rollie Meyers]

A "10/2" cord would be a 2 wire cord, no grounding conductor. A cord reel that is suitable for more then 20 amperes will be real costly.

[Wade Lippman]

How about attaching the cord to a retractable cable.

I wanted a 10gauge reel also but couldn't find one.

[Eric DeSilva]

You're not kidding. Grainger has one for 10/3--50 ft--but it is over $2K. http://www.grainger.com/product/HUBBELL-WIRING-DEVICE-KELLEMS-Cord-Reel-WP20010/_/N-nd3?s_pp=false

[Duane Meadows]

You're not kidding. Grainger has one for 10/3--50 ft--but it is over $2K. http://www.grainger.com/product/HUBBELL-WIRING-DEVICE-KELLEMS-Cord-Reel-WP20010/_/N-nd3?s_pp=false

Well you can save a few bucks over Graingers price... Still quite expensive!

http://www.zorotools.com/g/00060124/k-G0701897?srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=33-283709634-2&utm_source=channel_intelligence&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricegrabber

[Gilbert Vega]

You're not kidding. Grainger has one for 10/3--50 ft--but it is over $2K. http://www.grainger.com/product/HUBBELL-WIRING-DEVICE-KELLEMS-Cord-Reel-WP20010/_/N-nd3?s_pp=false

At that price maybe I should order 2 and have a spare. lol :D

Wade, I've considered that as well but the only retractable I could think of is a dog leash.

[Jim Andrew]

I just hung a cord down from the attic where I wanted it above my unisaw. My neighbor was an electrician, he said to put a box above the saw, and take the size cord I need and tie a knot in it to keep it from working down out of the box.

[Dennis Nagle]

That is a big chord for a wood shop. What are you powering that will hang over your lathe?

[Ralph Butts]

Can you just use 10/3 SO cord on a strain relief and use a home made hook to hold the cord out of the way when not in use. A lot cheaper than 2k like 98% cheaper.

[David L Morse]

Wade, I've considered that as well but the only retractable I could think of is a dog leash.

The search term you need is "tool balancer"

Here's a reasonably priced one I've had good results with: http://www.mcmaster.com/#6739a41/=rlef0g

[Gilbert Vega]

That is a big chord for a wood shop. What are you powering that will hang over your lathe?

Dennis, the cord will hang over my Powermatic table saw (3 hp motor on a 30A circuit).

That tool balancer looks like it will work. Thanks.

Gilbert

[Jim Neeley]

Before you buy 10/2 or 10/3 cord, be aware the ground wire is implied. 10/2 = 2 power conductors + ground. 10/3 = 3 power conductors + ground.

Jim in Alaska

[Bob Cooper]

Also 30 amp seems like more than would be required for a 3HP motor

[Bruce Wrenn]

Instead of a knot, use a strain relief, commonly called Chinese Finger Grips.

[Gilbert Vega]

Before you buy 10/2 or 10/3 cord, be aware the ground wire is implied. 10/2 = 2 power conductors + ground. 10/3 = 3 power conductors + ground.

Jim in Alaska

Right, I will be using 10-2 for most of my power tools although I will have one or two circuits that require 10-3 for my 37-2 SuperMax drum sander.

Bob, you are correct that 30 amps is more than is required for 3hp. I should have explained that in fact I have a 20 amp breaker in the electrical panel but each circuit is wired for 30 amp service in the event that I need to upgrade.

[Jim Neeley]

Thats what I'm doing as well, Gilbert.

[John McClanahan]

Where I saw those expensive cord reels, they were mounted above heavy machinery that wasn't moved. Something was always plugged in, so the cord is never retracted. For that location, the reels (3 of them) were a waste of money.

John

[John Lanciani]

Before you buy 10/2 or 10/3 cord, be aware the ground wire is implied. 10/2 = 2 power conductors + ground. 10/3 = 3 power conductors + ground.

Jim in Alaska

This is not a true statement for S (service) cord. 10-2 will have a black and a white, 10-3 will have a black, white, and green. The implied ground is correct for building wire only.

[Rollie Meyers]

Well you can save a few bucks over Graingers price... Still quite expensive!

http://www.zorotools.com/g/00060124/k-G0701897?srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=33-283709634-2&utm_source=channel_intelligence&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pricegrabber


Just a FYI, Zoro Tools are owned by Grainger.