Rob Virgo

iTrader: (6)

Was, like many out in the garage in the cold weather last few days.Had two heaters going which are 2k each which didn't dawn on me as warm and occupied with jobs on project trackshed...

Didn't leave garage while heaters were on luckily enough and with hindsight I should have known better.

Was running the heaters on an extension reel to get them as close to work bench as possible.didnt unreel it and this is what happened....!!!!




Cables melted through and wires exposed




Could have been dodgy if I'd nipped out or a cuppa....




Holy copper batman



Just to pre warn peeps...

Eigdoog

You gunna tape that back up and use it?

SMILER258

Hmm close call. Least you got away and lesson learnt!

Rsmat

iTrader: (2)

Great heads up mate

S1

If i'm using anything with a decent current draw I always unreel the extension fully, was taught to do so by my Dad about 30yrs ago! Even my Henry hoover gets unwound completely before use, thought it was common knowledge tbh.

Rob Virgo

iTrader: (6)

Make a good pectal loom

Rob Virgo

iTrader: (6)

Knew about it but forgot as mind was on long list of jobs on car

Cossie Sean

never ever ever use extension cables when coiled up, ever!

even without heaters this is dangerous lads

i bought a 30m one today and refused to buy one without a thermal cutoff switch purely for this reason
this is what i bought, 12mnth warranty too
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...ermal-overload

you might wanna go put a lottery ticket on mate

**just seen the above post about unreeling......... i thaught it was common knowledge too

Shings

Tat that shit

james kiely

iTrader: (5)

that was a lucky one rob,what are you doing with two heaters on anyway mate lol

H15 FSC

im surprised the fuse didn't go as 2x 2kw heaters are 16 ish amps. and the cable is on the limit at that, coiled or not.

Rob Virgo

iTrader: (6)

Both on stats so would prib be cycling at different times

Rob Virgo

iTrader: (6)

Fupping frezzing down here lad

james kiely

iTrader: (5)

same here

Danster76

iTrader: (2)

Looks like an efi conversion 'work in progress' shot to me!

Lucky you caught that

stu21t

as said, its not just heaters.
a customer of mine ran his washing machine on a coiled up extension lead and it melted the neutral in the socket of the lead.
and new belle cement mixers dont work properly if on a coiled up lead, unwind it and theyre fine.

Psycho Warren

iTrader: (5)

thermal cutoff is your friend if you forget to uncoil it.

~nomad~

iTrader: (4)

Likewise, i thought it was common knowledge, but if it isnt then good heads up!

STAFFY OWNER

Leads should always be unwound when in use. From my old physics days i think it's something to do with eddy currents or induction as the windings act like a coil.

I now wait for the intelligent people to come and shoot me down and tell me i'm completely wrong but in my defence my school days are only a distant memory - hell i deserve a pat on the back for even remembering that i did physics.

cjwood555

Purely down to heat dissipation. Fields cancel due to return path (neutral) being in v close proximity.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

It could of been a lot worse.

foreigneRS

it doesn't need to be common knowledge, it's written on a warning label on every extension coil sold. you just need to be able to read

ben_frst

Most new extension cables come with two ratings usually 30amp fully extended and 5amp wound up lol

Brendan

iTrader: (1)

naughty boy! but no harm done (apart from knackered extension lead)and lesson learnt! Each socket is rated up to a max of 13 amps or 3KW not 4KW neither will the flex in the real! especially when wound up !!!

If you run more than 3KW do not do it though 1 normal socket or lead! Garage fires are normally bad as they can involve:

you
your car
petrol
flammable gases
oxidizing agents (oxygen or NOS)
pressured cylinders.
all your tools

I always have a smoke detector in my garage and if using a fire a CO monitor too!

booner999

Someone did this in the flightshed at Westlands where the Apachie is put together and repaired. Lets just say that was a very close call! Imagine the insurance claim on that one