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[EMD]

Ive had this 25mtr extention lead for a few years and its been fine being used unwound for various jobs and wound up in the shed for other jobs but yesterday while it was being used wound up the reset button kept popping out and would not reset 
So after unwinding it the cable felt hot , once cooled down it reset and is fine but is it time to renew  Like i said it been fine for quite a few years 

[Andy B]

Best to always unwind extension reels  Is it showing signs of melting? It'll probably be ok ....... just unwind the bugger 

[EMD]

Best to always unwind extension reels  Is it showing signs of melting? It'll probably be ok ....... just unwind the bugger 

No melting andy , i checked every bit of the cable for cuts ect but nothing . Its only a few years old and not the old rubber style cable which i recall did heat up if wound up    Just a pain having all the cable lying around , weird how its only just started playing up 

[Bigron]

It is PROBABLY still ok. but might I suggest that you remove a couple of metres of cable from the reel and make a short extention lead (means buying another plug and rubber socket) to use for those occasions when you don't need the full Monty?

Ron.

[EMD]

It is PROBABLY still ok. but might I suggest that you remove a couple of metres of cable from the reel and make a short extention lead (means buying another plug and rubber socket) to use for those occasions when you don't need the full Monty?

Ron.

Mite do that ron  Least the trip switch did its job anyhow .

[Mr Gav]

When you use an extension lead wound up it effectively becomes a coil, I`ve always unwound mine no matter how small the job.

[tigers_gonads]

Pop the plug and socket covers off and check the tightness of the neutrals.
That's the blue or black wire, depending on the age of the cable 
If they have been getting warm, strip them back a few inches and remake the connections 


Tbh, the lead should be unwound when in use regardless 

[Kevin Wood]

Yep, many extension leads are not exactly conservative with their rating of the cable. When wound up, the cable can't dissipate anything like as much heat as when extended. If you're using at at any significant level of loading, it's best to pay out all the cable.

[zirk]

The cut out ii's current dependent as well.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Always unwind the cable. Best practice. Up there with always using axle stands. 

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Always unwind the cable. Best practice. Up there with always using axle stands. 

My axle stands won't fit in a plug socket 

[Entwood]

Always unwind the cable. Best practice. Up there with always using axle stands. 

My axle stands won't fit in a plug socket 

They will if you try REALLY hard ...... 

[omega2018]

in a coil it's an electromagnet albeit running ac. so a magnet changing polarity 50 times a second.   it will use current and heat up.

[Keith ABS]

 Later extension leads have a label telling the max amperage you can use with the lead wound up and unwound. Anything over a lead light and it should be unwound anyway or it can catch fire to itself or combustable material it is laying on

Keith ABS

[EMD]

Later extension leads have a label telling the max amperage you can use with the lead wound up and unwound. Anything over a lead light and it should be unwound anyway or it can catch fire to itself or combustable material it is laying on

Keith ABS

Ive just spotted the stamp on the casing  I'll only use it unwound now as the 2 electric fires plus a dremel were a bit too much load on it 
Thus why its just happened with this recent cold snap and didnt want to be cold in the man cave