Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 25 May 2014, 20:10:01

Title: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 25 May 2014, 20:10:01
Due to having a bigger, more lavishly bordered* garden than I've ever had before, I need an extension lead to power the hedgetrimmer. To give me enough length to run it out of the kitchen, down the garden, round the neighbour's cat's neck, I reckon 25m. Is there anything to look for when I buy one? I shall, of course, be unfurling the full length of it before use so as not to melt it.

 Do Aldi get them in, maybe? Or are they all much of a muchness in terms of quality?

*It's long and thin with a massive bush. Like Trinny Woodall when she lets herself go.
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: TheBoy on 25 May 2014, 20:33:41
A cordless or petrol version ::)
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: chrisgixer on 25 May 2014, 21:24:02
Is it really necessary to pull out all (of my 50metre ) extension cord, every time is use 10metres of it?

I guess the fact that the last time I pulled out 30odd metres and the cord was slightly stuck together, would suggest yes, it is. ::) ;D

I never wondered why. ;D
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: Kevin Wood on 25 May 2014, 21:25:21
Is it really necessary to pull out all (of my 50metre ) extension cord, every time is use 10metres of it?

I guess the fact that the last time I pulled out 30odd metres and the cord was slightly stuck together, would suggest yes, it is. ::) ;D

I never wondered why. ;D

Not if you're only running a hedge trimmer. A more substantial load, then yes.
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: chrisgixer on 25 May 2014, 21:26:01
Is it really necessary to pull out all (of my 50metre ) extension cord, every time is use 10metres of it?

I guess the fact that the last time I pulled out 30odd metres and the cord was slightly stuck together, would suggest yes, it is. ::) ;D

I never wondered why. ;D

Not if you're only running a hedge trimmer. A more substantial load, then yes.

Tyre warmers? It was a while ago.
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: tidla on 25 May 2014, 22:26:32
The only thing i manage to trim when using an electric hedge trimmer is the power cord..
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: Andy B on 25 May 2014, 22:57:10
The only thing i manage to trim when using an electric hedge trimmer is the power cord..

likewise ..... done it quite a few times now. You'd think I'd have learned by now  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: pscocoa on 25 May 2014, 23:09:48
Lay some cable and put in power points / spikes as longer term measure. Otherwise petrol.
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: Vamps on 25 May 2014, 23:58:27
The only thing i manage to trim when using an electric hedge trimmer is the power cord..

likewise ..... done it quite a few times now. You'd think I'd have learned by now  ;D ;D

If right handed, put the power cable over your left shoulder, should help........ :y :y
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: tidla on 26 May 2014, 00:15:35
The only thing i manage to trim when using an electric hedge trimmer is the power cord..

likewise ..... done it quite a few times now. You'd think I'd have learned by now  ;D ;D

If right handed, put the power cable over your left shoulder, should help........ :y :y

probably end up cutting my head off .
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: chrisgixer on 26 May 2014, 00:22:54
;D ;D
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 26 May 2014, 01:06:38
I can see this thread extending somewhat....  :-\
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: Andy B on 26 May 2014, 08:29:02
The only thing i manage to trim when using an electric hedge trimmer is the power cord..

likewise ..... done it quite a few times now. You'd think I'd have learned by now  ;D ;D

If right handed, put the power cable over your left shoulder, should help........ :y :y

I do. Incompetence still prevails though  ::)
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: GastronomicKleptomaniac on 26 May 2014, 09:32:57
I'd get a petrol one, but the extension lead will also be useful for plugging in stereos and grinders and the like - whereas getting a new hedgetrimmed would be pretty much a one trick pony. Until they legalise me chasing cats out of the garden with it...
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: TheBoy on 26 May 2014, 10:04:14
I'd get a petrol one, but the extension lead will also be useful for plugging in stereos and grinders and the like - whereas getting a new hedgetrimmed would be pretty much a one trick pony. Until they legalise me chasing cats out of the garden with it...
Ideally, all coiled leads *should* be fully unwound when plugged in, which may (or may not?) make a 25m one also a 1 trick pony, only used for the hedge trimmer.

Strangely enough, for some bizarre reason, I had a lot of visits from the fire brigade to give advice, and amongst all the other advice were these 2 electrical ones:

Coil extension leads, always fully unwind when plugged in (I always did when actually in use, even if under the wound limit, but they say even when in use).
Never use those 3 way block type mains adapters, to plug more than 1 plug in a single outlet. Not recommended, but if you do need more sockets, use those standard 4 way ones on a short cord, from a reputable manufacturer.


One of the possible reasons for what happened here was a coiled extension lead plugged in when fully wound, even though nothing plugged in.
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 26 May 2014, 10:12:31
One of the possible reasons for what happened here was a coiled extension lead plugged in when fully wound, even though nothing plugged in.

Ooooo I often do that.....  :o  ::)
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: TheBoy on 26 May 2014, 10:29:13
One of the possible reasons for what happened here was a coiled extension lead plugged in when fully wound, even though nothing plugged in.

Ooooo I often do that.....  :o  ::)
I am paranoid (long before last year), and anally always go around unplugging stuff. Hence, I don't believe that is the reason, but it was one of the most likely reasons that the Fire Service's investigators came up with (but not the reason that forensics came up with).

Given that I believe that something catastrophic happened, followed by a fire, I don't believe it was an electrical fire that heated the gas, as the Fire Service suspected.
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: Kevin Wood on 26 May 2014, 10:36:07
One of the possible reasons for what happened here was a coiled extension lead plugged in when fully wound, even though nothing plugged in.

I don't buy that, but I guess there aren't that many electrical engineers in the fire service. ;)
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: TheBoy on 26 May 2014, 10:45:49
One of the possible reasons for what happened here was a coiled extension lead plugged in when fully wound, even though nothing plugged in.

I don't buy that, but I guess there aren't that many electrical engineers in the fire service. ;)
I didn't buy it either, for other reasons explained earlier. But also, if no current flow, no heat.  OK, being AC, and being a coil, maybe there is a potential for a few mA, but hardly enough to overheat...

...what there are good at is locating where a fire likely starts, and I think that's why they concentrated on that corner of the garage rubble. They could prove that it was plugged in, but not that it was switched on (although the switch was on when then found it). Electrical specialist couldn't prove if it was definitely on or off either. They could prove nothing was plugged in the reel.

I must say, it was an impressive sight to watch them locate where and how they thought it started, even if my mind was not focussed at the time.
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: Andy B on 26 May 2014, 17:44:09
One of the possible reasons for what happened here was a coiled extension lead plugged in when fully wound, even though nothing plugged in.

I don't buy that, but I guess there aren't that many electrical engineers in the fire service. ;)
I didn't buy it either, for other reasons explained earlier. But also, if no current flow, no heat.  OK, being AC, and being a coil, maybe there is a potential for a few mA, but hardly enough to overheat...

...what there are good at is locating where a fire likely starts, and I think that's why they concentrated on that corner of the garage rubble. They could prove that it was plugged in, but not that it was switched on (although the switch was on when then found it). Electrical specialist couldn't prove if it was definitely on or off either. They could prove nothing was plugged in the reel.

I must say, it was an impressive sight to watch them locate where and how they thought it started, even if my mind was not focussed at the time.

Unless they suspected 'foul play' why such an investigation into a garage fire?  ???
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: TheBoy on 26 May 2014, 19:23:59
One of the possible reasons for what happened here was a coiled extension lead plugged in when fully wound, even though nothing plugged in.

I don't buy that, but I guess there aren't that many electrical engineers in the fire service. ;)
I didn't buy it either, for other reasons explained earlier. But also, if no current flow, no heat.  OK, being AC, and being a coil, maybe there is a potential for a few mA, but hardly enough to overheat...

...what there are good at is locating where a fire likely starts, and I think that's why they concentrated on that corner of the garage rubble. They could prove that it was plugged in, but not that it was switched on (although the switch was on when then found it). Electrical specialist couldn't prove if it was definitely on or off either. They could prove nothing was plugged in the reel.

I must say, it was an impressive sight to watch them locate where and how they thought it started, even if my mind was not focussed at the time.

Unless they suspected 'foul play' why such an investigation into a garage fire?  ???
Because of the explosion.  Although even if there wasn't, they'd have to look into any likelihood of foul play
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: Andy B on 26 May 2014, 20:34:22
....
Because of the explosion.  Although even if there wasn't, they'd have to look into any likelihood of foul play

It seems a huge investigation into an explosion where you'd have far more to lose than gain if you'd engineered the accident  :-\
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: TheBoy on 26 May 2014, 21:06:42
....
Because of the explosion.  Although even if there wasn't, they'd have to look into any likelihood of foul play

It seems a huge investigation into an explosion where you'd have far more to lose than gain if you'd engineered the accident  :-\
Sorry, I'm not experienced in these matters to know if this was normal or not  :-\. I know they were keen to get to the bottom of the reason why there was an explosion. I think after talking to us, and other residents of the road, they were happy it was not a malicious act, but they still carried on investigating why there was a very significant explosion.
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: Andy B on 26 May 2014, 21:27:24
....
Because of the explosion.  Although even if there wasn't, they'd have to look into any likelihood of foul play

It seems a huge investigation into an explosion where you'd have far more to lose than gain if you'd engineered the accident  :-\
Sorry, I'm not experienced in these matters to know if this was normal or not  :-\. I know they were keen to get to the bottom of the reason why there was an explosion. I think after talking to us, and other residents of the road, they were happy it was not a malicious act, but they still carried on investigating why there was a very significant explosion.

Neither am I, just curious. Perhaps you have a guilty face!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Dreary extension lead question
Post by: TheBoy on 26 May 2014, 21:30:06
....
Because of the explosion.  Although even if there wasn't, they'd have to look into any likelihood of foul play

It seems a huge investigation into an explosion where you'd have far more to lose than gain if you'd engineered the accident  :-\
Sorry, I'm not experienced in these matters to know if this was normal or not  :-\. I know they were keen to get to the bottom of the reason why there was an explosion. I think after talking to us, and other residents of the road, they were happy it was not a malicious act, but they still carried on investigating why there was a very significant explosion.

Neither am I, just curious. Perhaps you have a guilty face!  ;D ;D ;D
I must have - one of the coppers who came round reached for his braclets when I said it was caused by the lamps I use for my "Tomato Plants" ::)