caravan power leads

How it is rolled up can cause this problem. It should not be rolled up around the hand and elbow. It should be looped on one hand and the twist taken out as it is coiled.

Absolutely correct Rod.

It is the quickest way to destroy any cable. Eventually the wires will break out of the plug and render the cable useless and even dangerous if high voltage is required.

Any cable will last years if the correct coiling procedure is used.

Hi
Not only the way it is rolled important , the way it is unrolled is equally important.Treat it the same as a garden hose never force it to wind up/unwind against its natural curve.

The biggest problem causing this is not so much rolling it up around the the hand and the elbow but by not removing BOTH ends from their mating plugs and sockets. We noted this effect with cleaners, they used to roll the cord around the barrel of their back pack vacuum cleaners. Those who rolled the cord up without disconnecting the plug from the wall had badly cork screw twisted cables. Those who unplugged first were OK (they were the ones who did not get electroplated.) There were written directions from the Dept of Supply to all their cleaning contractors to instruct their cleaners in the proper care in rolling up their power cords.

PeterD

Take the others word for it Peter - it IS the way you roll up the lead (winding from wrist to elbow) !

Kiwi Kia - I think what Peter is getting at is that if you have the lead out straight with the far end unplugged and roll up over wrist and elbow the cable untwists its self as you roll....meaning no damage (effectively the same as rolling it onto a reel).

Same theory applies for garden hoses, steel cable, rope etc etc.

Many thanks for the range of information. However, we always roll up the lead in the correct manner. The suggestion that it may be due to the manufacturer is a real possibility. We bought this lead from the caravan section of Big W while three other 25m x 15amp leads were bought from Lawrence and Hanson and these three leads have never (in more than 20 years) developed the same problem. But, only the caravan lead is left unused for about nine months each year while the other three are used regularly throughout the year. The appearance of the lead doesn't offend me in any way so I'll continue to use it now that it appears safe but "unsightly". Again, many thanks for the help.

It must be an Aussie thing.

I couldnt believe how my new(aussie) wife rolls cords up and gets them like this.
You hardly ever see it in NZ and the cords I brought with me have been used on building sites for several years and are as straight as the day I bought them.

I had one which was over 100 meters long and even it didnt twist.
It did however melt when someone plugged it in to run a clothes drier whilst it was still rolled up on a drum.
She didnt live that one down easily.
Needless to say I dont let her touch them now.

Even the hairdrier I brought with me which is over 10 years old she had the cord in a twist in a few months.

ROFL