4 ms·

Smart Alternative for Extension Cords

27 points by AndrewWarner 17y ago

rbritton 17y ago
While I like the idea, when building a cord into the wall, it should be of a gauge that can support the maximum current of the breaker installed. I don't know what European plugs are (pictured), but US ones are typically 20 amps. It takes a minimum of a 12-gauge electrical cord for that and the pictured cord looks like 16-gauge at best.
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
- cracki 17y ago
  in germany at least, we have 10 or 16 amps rated, on 230V, and cables have 1.0 or 1.5 mm^2 cross-section per wire. what is 12 and 16 "gauge" and what voltage do you folks use?
  - Zak 17y ago
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge US household current is 110V, 60Hz and typically 15 or 20 amps on a circuit. 16 gauge is approximately equivalent to a 1.5mm^2 cross-section solid wire, or to 30/0.25 (which I assume means 30 0.25 mm^2 strands).
- lutorm 17y ago
  Remember that European cords only need to carry half the current due to the higher voltage.
moron4hire 17y ago
I rarely need an extension cord for any purpose, and I rarely need it in the same place. Part of the appeal of an extension cord is that it is modular and mobile. With these plugs, I would have to replace every socket in my home. With an extension cord, I need only one. It also comes with me when I move. This is a fix in need of a problem.
- nopassrecover 17y ago
  It would be great for garage plugs or rooms near an external door.
gvb 17y ago
Looks like a mechanical problem waiting to cost you more money. * Winding means sliding contacts to transfer the power... when they wear and ultimately fail, the failure mode is often overheating due to higher resistance. Now you have heat in a confined space (wall) with poor access. If you call the fire department to make sure there is no fire along with the smoke, they will make sure, which is a good thing, but it won't be pretty. * The spool must have a spring rewind mechanism... again, rewind mechanisms tend to fail and now you have a cord that won't go back out of sight.
- cool-RR 17y ago
  Yes, problematic. I guess though that if the box in which the wire is rolled can be fully pulled out of the wall (after unscrewing of course) then maybe these problems won't be so bad.
JulianMorrison 17y ago
YAGNI
njharman 17y ago
"Cute" maybe, not smart. It doesn't seem easily replaceable (or even inspectable for damage) It's not portable / it's fixed to that particular socket. So, if I occasionally need an extension cord in the garage and in the den I need to buy two of these instead of only on cord. It's more complex, almost guranteed to be more expensive and more prone to break down. Winding a cord that tightly probably damages it unless it's specially constructed. Doesn't look like it can be all that long. 50',75',100' ext cords are common.
proee 17y ago
If this is using a spring-loaded rewind, it's potentially dangerous. One of the kids in my school up was blind in one eye (it looked terrible). He was next to one of those vacuum cleaners with a retractable cord and the end of the cord flew up and hit his eye when his mother was winding up the cord. I'm pretty sure they don't allow spring-loaded rewind cords on vacuum cleaners any more.
- grinich 17y ago
  Why not have a low-power electric winch pull the cord back?
  - chancho 17y ago
    Because then you need a motor and a battery, adding weight and cost to an already heavy and expensive item.
- lutorm 17y ago
  The Miele vacuum cleaner I got a couple of years ago has a spring-loaded retract.
Devilboy 17y ago
I've seen similar concepts before, but they never actually make it into production. There's too many things wrong with this, not least of which the costs to manufacture and install. Also remember that tightly coiled power cables carrying significant load will heat up and could cause a fire.
ars 17y ago
That's probably not legal in the US. Fixed installations must not use flexing wires. Flexing wires must be detachable from the fixed installation.
elblanco 17y ago
It's usually not the distance to the plug I have a problem with, it's the number of outlets I need more of.
jsz0 17y ago
Smart? Eh I dunno... don't install it on your outside walls or you won't feel too smart when your heating bill arrives. Insulation in wall keep warm in? That's umpossible!
lallysingh 17y ago
Seems like two changes could hit many of the concerns here: (1) The box can unclip from the wall, and disconnect from an internal fixed plug. An emergency pull handle is all you really need. (2) A slow-but-steady retract mechanism. grinich's idea for a small electric winch makes a lot of sense if a spring version couldn't do it slowly and steadily enough. And if you're worried a moron won't listen to your amperage ratings, a built-in breaker. Still, a nice-to-have in the kitchen, workshop, and garage. The electric knife we use at thanksgiving has a uselessly short cord, and nobody remembers to find a good extension until way too late in the evening -- too many other concerns first!

27 points by AndrewWarner 17y ago

While I like the idea, when building a cord into the wall, it should be of a gauge that can support the maximum current of the breaker installed. I don't know what European plugs are (pictured), but US ones are typically 20 amps. It takes a minimum of a 12-gauge electrical cord for that and the pictured cord looks like 16-gauge at best.

deleted 17y ago
[deleted]
cracki 17y ago
in germany at least, we have 10 or 16 amps rated, on 230V, and cables have 1.0 or 1.5 mm^2 cross-section per wire. what is 12 and 16 "gauge" and what voltage do you folks use?
- Zak 17y ago
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_wire_gauge US household current is 110V, 60Hz and typically 15 or 20 amps on a circuit. 16 gauge is approximately equivalent to a 1.5mm^2 cross-section solid wire, or to 30/0.25 (which I assume means 30 0.25 mm^2 strands).
lutorm 17y ago
Remember that European cords only need to carry half the current due to the higher voltage.

moron4hire 17y ago

I rarely need an extension cord for any purpose, and I rarely need it in the same place. Part of the appeal of an extension cord is that it is modular and mobile. With these plugs, I would have to replace every socket in my home. With an extension cord, I need only one. It also comes with me when I move. This is a fix in need of a problem.

nopassrecover 17y ago
It would be great for garage plugs or rooms near an external door.

gvb 17y ago

Looks like a mechanical problem waiting to cost you more money. * Winding means sliding contacts to transfer the power... when they wear and ultimately fail, the failure mode is often overheating due to higher resistance. Now you have heat in a confined space (wall) with poor access. If you call the fire department to make sure there is no fire along with the smoke, they will make sure, which is a good thing, but it won't be pretty. * The spool must have a spring rewind mechanism... again, rewind mechanisms tend to fail and now you have a cord that won't go back out of sight.

cool-RR 17y ago
Yes, problematic. I guess though that if the box in which the wire is rolled can be fully pulled out of the wall (after unscrewing of course) then maybe these problems won't be so bad.

JulianMorrison 17y ago

YAGNI

njharman 17y ago

"Cute" maybe, not smart. It doesn't seem easily replaceable (or even inspectable for damage) It's not portable / it's fixed to that particular socket. So, if I occasionally need an extension cord in the garage and in the den I need to buy two of these instead of only on cord. It's more complex, almost guranteed to be more expensive and more prone to break down. Winding a cord that tightly probably damages it unless it's specially constructed. Doesn't look like it can be all that long. 50',75',100' ext cords are common.

proee 17y ago

If this is using a spring-loaded rewind, it's potentially dangerous. One of the kids in my school up was blind in one eye (it looked terrible). He was next to one of those vacuum cleaners with a retractable cord and the end of the cord flew up and hit his eye when his mother was winding up the cord. I'm pretty sure they don't allow spring-loaded rewind cords on vacuum cleaners any more.

grinich 17y ago
Why not have a low-power electric winch pull the cord back?
- chancho 17y ago
  Because then you need a motor and a battery, adding weight and cost to an already heavy and expensive item.
lutorm 17y ago
The Miele vacuum cleaner I got a couple of years ago has a spring-loaded retract.

Devilboy 17y ago

I've seen similar concepts before, but they never actually make it into production. There's too many things wrong with this, not least of which the costs to manufacture and install. Also remember that tightly coiled power cables carrying significant load will heat up and could cause a fire.

ars 17y ago

That's probably not legal in the US. Fixed installations must not use flexing wires. Flexing wires must be detachable from the fixed installation.

elblanco 17y ago

It's usually not the distance to the plug I have a problem with, it's the number of outlets I need more of.

jsz0 17y ago

Smart? Eh I dunno... don't install it on your outside walls or you won't feel too smart when your heating bill arrives. Insulation in wall keep warm in? That's umpossible!

lallysingh 17y ago

Seems like two changes could hit many of the concerns here: (1) The box can unclip from the wall, and disconnect from an internal fixed plug. An emergency pull handle is all you really need. (2) A slow-but-steady retract mechanism. grinich's idea for a small electric winch makes a lot of sense if a spring version couldn't do it slowly and steadily enough. And if you're worried a moron won't listen to your amperage ratings, a built-in breaker. Still, a nice-to-have in the kitchen, workshop, and garage. The electric knife we use at thanksgiving has a uselessly short cord, and nobody remembers to find a good extension until way too late in the evening -- too many other concerns first!