Non tangle mains flex
 

I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a tangled mess as soon as you turn your back. The biggest
culprit is the vacuum cleaner with the hedge trimmer a close second, but they all seem to do it (?2 core worse than
3core). Does anyone know a source of a non-tangle flex? I've Googled 'til I'm google-eyed without success.
TIA
--
Richard

Non tangle mains flex
 

Richard Walker coughed up some electrons that declared:

I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a tangled
mess as soon as you turn your back. The biggest culprit is the vacuum
cleaner with the hedge trimmer a close second, but they all seem to do it
(?2 core worse than 3core). Does anyone know a source of a non-tangle
flex? I've Googled 'til I'm google-eyed without success. TIA --
Richard

Rubber flexes are usually better in this regard.

But I've also found "artic blue" flex quite good.

Cheers

Tim

Non tangle mains flex
 

In article ,
Richard Walker wrote:
I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a tangled
mess as soon as you turn your back. The biggest culprit is the vacuum
cleaner with the hedge trimmer a close second, but they all seem to do
it (?2 core worse than 3core). Does anyone know a source of a non-tangle
flex? I've Googled 'til I'm google-eyed without success.

Any cable can get in a tangle. The trick is to coil it properly for
storage and unwrap carefully. Easiest cable to coil is rubber. But it's
around 60% more expensive than PVC.

--
*Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things? *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Non tangle mains flex
 

On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:52:43 +0100, Richard Walker wrote:

I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a tangled
mess as soon as you turn your back.

Learn to coil the cable properly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqbYyaUY5Sk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLBUzmA4kTU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLwwB29uQRg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaEv9wm6gy0

If the cores of the cable have started to twist and come out of place
due to mistreatment, replace the cable.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Non tangle mains flex
 

On 7 Aug, 12:52, Richard Walker wrote:
I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a tangled mess as soon as you turn your back.

Heavy, round rubbery insulation and three cores not two. If it's
double-insulated, still fit a three core cable.

Other than that, decent cord-storage. Make yourself a "rugby goalpost"
winder from plywood and fasten some velcro straps to hold things.
Coiling and uncoiling a decent cable doesn't take long and it's much
quicker than untangling.

Non tangle mains flex
 

In article ,
Andy Dingley writes:
On 7 Aug, 12:52, Richard Walker wrote:
I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a tangled mess as soon as you turn your back.

Heavy, round rubbery insulation and three cores not two. If it's
double-insulated, still fit a three core cable.

I do that with hedge trimmers (although leave the earth disconnected
at the double-insulated hedge trimmer, or 2-pole safety break).
That way, when you slice through the cable, you generate an earth fault,
with higher likelyhood of instant tripping of the RCD.

Would be good on lawn mowers too, but I've managed not to cut through
any lawn mower cables as yet, so they haven't needed replacing.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Non tangle mains flex
 

On Aug 7, 12:52*pm, Richard Walker wrote:
I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a tangled mess as soon as you turn your back. The biggest
culprit is the vacuum cleaner with the hedge trimmer a close second, but they all seem to do it (?2 core worse than
3core). Does anyone know a source of a non-tangle flex? I've Googled 'til I'm google-eyed without success.
TIA
--
Richard


Coil them in a figure of eight shape instead of in circle.

Robert

Non tangle mains flex
 

Dave Liquorice pretended :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaEv9wm6gy0

I have never come across that method before, thanks.

--
Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk

Non tangle mains flex
 

"Robert Laws" wrote in message
...
On Aug 7, 12:52 pm, Richard Walker wrote:
I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a tangled
mess as soon as you turn your back. The biggest
culprit is the vacuum cleaner with the hedge trimmer a close second, but
they all seem to do it (?2 core worse than
3core). Does anyone know a source of a non-tangle flex? I've Googled 'til
I'm google-eyed without success.
TIA
--
Richard


Coil them in a figure of eight shape instead of in circle.

Robert


It's all in the technique. Figure of 8 is one option. Other is to always
start at the appliance end and as you make a turn of the coil - apply a
twist. Imagine you are coiling a rope on the deck of a boat.

Non tangle mains flex
 

On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:33:22 +0100, Harry Bloomfield wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaEv9wm6gy0

I have never come across that method before, thanks.

Is that the funny fold it in half and pull loops through loops
method?

Personally something that heavy and long I'd just "figure of eight"
on the ground.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Non tangle mains flex
 

On Fri, 7 Aug 2009 18:58:44 +0100, John wrote:

Coil them in a figure of eight shape instead of in circle.

It's all in the technique. Figure of 8 is one option. Other is to always
start at the appliance end and as you make a turn of the coil - apply a
twist.

It's the twist in the same direction for each loop that is the
problem.

The methods I linked to earlier put a twist in the loop but adjacent
loops have twists in opposite directions thus they cancel out.
Effectively you are making a figure of eight in a hand held coil.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Non tangle mains flex
 

Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Dave Liquorice pretended :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaEv9wm6gy0

I have never come across that method before, thanks.

That's sometimes used for caving ropes, but with 4 thicknesses rather than
two.

Non tangle mains flex
 

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
ll.co.uk...
On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:52:43 +0100, Richard Walker wrote:

I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a tangled
mess as soon as you turn your back.

Learn to coil the cable properly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqbYyaUY5Sk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLBUzmA4kTU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLwwB29uQRg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaEv9wm6gy0

If the cores of the cable have started to twist and come out of place
due to mistreatment, replace the cable.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Great links! The "fold double" method reminds me a bit of the way my mother
in law used to coil her mower cable (she used to mend WW2 bombers so I guess
she might have learned it there). You have your cable spread out on the lawn
after mowing. Take the plug and hitch it to the power trigger. Straighten
out the rest of the cable so that it is a double length ending in a loop at
the mid point. Then back to the handle, and from that end wrap the double
cable around the handle (assuming you have the "pram" type U shaped handle).
It's usually less than a dozen loops so doesn't generate too much twist.
Secure by knotting the mid-point loop around the windings. Unhitching is the
reverse process (and reverses the twist). This does depend on having
something to wrap the cable around, though.

It is horses for courses, though. I keep power cable on a drum, and wrap up
the fifteen feet of Cat 5 which lives in my laptop case using the elbow
method; it doesn't unravel because it lives in a document slot. But that's
definitely the way for mike, speaker, and guitar cables.

Non tangle mains flex
 

"Steve Walker" wrote in message
...
Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Dave Liquorice pretended :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaEv9wm6gy0

I have never come across that method before, thanks.

That's sometimes used for caving ropes, but with 4 thicknesses rather than
two.

Ah, as soon as you said that I knew what you meant - chaining them. Must
admit, I'd not use that method for extension cables. Might consider folding,
a la climbing rope, though.

Non tangle mains flex
 

Harry Bloomfield wrote:
Dave Liquorice pretended :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaEv9wm6gy0

I have never come across that method before, thanks.

Not seen that last one before either.

Learnt the 'single twist' method during years of coiling hydralic hoses on
pressure washers, works on rope & cable too.

Some of the others seem over complicated to me.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Non tangle mains flex
 

Andy Dingley wrote:
On 7 Aug, 12:52, Richard Walker wrote:
I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a
tangled mess as soon as you turn your back.

Heavy, round rubbery insulation and three cores not two. If it's
double-insulated, still fit a three core cable.

Other than that, decent cord-storage. Make yourself a "rugby goalpost"
winder from plywood and fasten some velcro straps to hold things.

You can buy plastic ones from B&Q for a squid, sans velcro, but with clips.
Tough as old boots.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Non tangle mains flex
 

On Fri, 7 Aug 2009 23:02:26 +0100, newshound wrote:

It is horses for courses, though. I keep power cable on a drum,

Don't like drums for power cables far to much of temptation to only
pull off what you want and leave the rest coiled up. Put a
significant load on (for some value of significant) and the cable on
the drom can get rather warm insulation melt or even catch fire...

and wrap up the fifteen feet of Cat 5 which lives in my laptop case
using the elbow method; it doesn't unravel because it lives in a
document slot.

Bet it doesn't lie nicely though, creating trip a hazard. Mind you
CAT5 patch cable is not nicely behaved cable at the best of times but
mistreating with the "elbow wind" must make it even worse.

But that's definitely the way for mike, speaker, and guitar cables.

Personally anything coiled gets the twist/counter twist method. From
3' patch cables to the garden hose.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Non tangle mains flex
 

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
om...
Andy Dingley wrote:
On 7 Aug, 12:52, Richard Walker wrote:
I am fed up with long mains flexes that twist themselves into a
tangled mess as soon as you turn your back.



An old friend used to wreck Hoovers, Hair Driers, irons --just about
everthing - his family all used the same method (Genetic maybe) of unlugging
the item and wrapping the flex around their elbow - working from the plug
end. The resulting twisted lump at the applience end eventually gave up the
struggle and broke.

Incidentally - I am trying to imagine how to develop a flex that wouldn't
twist. I don't think it could be done - if the technique is wrong then it
will twist. (or it ain't flex)

Non tangle mains flex
 

In article ,
"John" writes:

Incidentally - I am trying to imagine how to develop a flex that wouldn't
twist. I don't think it could be done - if the technique is wrong then it
will twist. (or it ain't flex)

I used to have some Sennheiser headphones where the lead wouldn't twist.
At some point, I tried to change the plug on the cable, and found that
the conductors in the wire were something springy which you couldn't solder.

Something which you see for phones occasionally is a cable entry or
adapter which allows the cable to twist freely.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Non tangle mains flex
 

In article ,
Andrew Gabriel wrote:
Incidentally - I am trying to imagine how to develop a flex that
wouldn't twist. I don't think it could be done - if the technique is
wrong then it will twist. (or it ain't flex)

I used to have some Sennheiser headphones where the lead wouldn't twist.
At some point, I tried to change the plug on the cable, and found that
the conductors in the wire were something springy which you couldn't
solder.

Could be something similar to GPO style patch cords used on old exchanges
- and audio jackfields. The conductors are woven round a fabric core.

--
*No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver,purple

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Non tangle mains flex
 

In article ,
"Dave Plowman (News)" writes:
In article ,
Andrew Gabriel wrote:
Incidentally - I am trying to imagine how to develop a flex that
wouldn't twist. I don't think it could be done - if the technique is
wrong then it will twist. (or it ain't flex)

I used to have some Sennheiser headphones where the lead wouldn't twist.
At some point, I tried to change the plug on the cable, and found that
the conductors in the wire were something springy which you couldn't
solder.

Could be something similar to GPO style patch cords used on old exchanges
- and audio jackfields. The conductors are woven round a fabric core.

That's tinsel wire.

What these had were stranded conductors, but the strands weren't
copper -- more like sprung steel.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Non tangle mains flex
 

In article ,
Andrew Gabriel wrote:
I used to have some Sennheiser headphones where the lead wouldn't
twist. At some point, I tried to change the plug on the cable, and
found that the conductors in the wire were something springy which
you couldn't solder.

Could be something similar to GPO style patch cords used on old
exchanges - and audio jackfields. The conductors are woven round a
fabric core.

That's tinsel wire.

What these had were stranded conductors, but the strands weren't
copper -- more like sprung steel.

The HD414s I still own have a very strong cable. And since it unplugs from
the earpieces when snagged perhaps overkill?

But you can change the plug - the BBC supplied them with GPO style TRS
ones.

--
*Red meat is not bad for you. Fuzzy green meat is bad for you.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Non tangle mains flex
 

On 8 Aug, 15:41, (Andrew Gabriel) wrote:
In article ,
"John" writes:



Incidentally - I am trying to imagine how to develop a flex that wouldn't
twist. I don't think it could be done - if the technique is wrong then it
will twist. (or it ain't flex)

I used to have some Sennheiser headphones where the lead wouldn't twist.
At some point, I tried to change the plug on the cable, and found that
the conductors in the wire were something springy which you couldn't solder.

Something which you see for phones occasionally is a cable entry or
adapter which allows the cable to twist freely.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

somewhere in the depths of my past I have still got some neoprene
covered elec. guitar lead (i.e guitar to amp) which in my day was a
revelation as it refuses to twist or stay "bent". - could there be
similar mains cable available?

cheers
jim

Non tangle mains flex
 

"Owain" wrote in message
...
On 8 Aug, 14:49, "John" wrote:
Incidentally - I am trying to imagine how to develop a flex that wouldn't
twist. I don't think it could be done - if the technique is wrong then it
will twist. (or it ain't flex)

ISTR an iron flex having stripes of different-coloured and possibly
harder plastic (a bit like toothpaste)

Owain



I think it was claimed to be non-kink. If determined you can twist it. It
uses a lot of cord in it. If wound up from the plug end there is a twist
which has to go somewhere - unless you let the iron swing free on the flex.

Non tangle mains flex
 

Andrew Gabriel wrote:

In article ,
"Dave Plowman (News)" writes:

Could be something similar to GPO style patch cords used on old exchanges
- and audio jackfields. The conductors are woven round a fabric core.

That's tinsel wire.

Not fun for soldering, ISTR.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK


Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

Non tangle mains flex
 

In article ,
Chris J Dixon wrote:
Could be something similar to GPO style patch cords used on old
exchanges - and audio jackfields. The conductors are woven round a
fabric core.

That's tinsel wire.

Not fun for soldering, ISTR.

You normally crimp on tags and solder those.

--
*I was once a millionaire but my mom gave away my baseball cards

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.