For a start, they are usually quite big and can be heavier than you expect when fully wound with cable. In this article you’ll learn to differentiate between the best extension leads and workout the value. Now, if you have a smaller garden, the idea of unwinding 50 metres of cable might sound like a bit oof a nightmare, but thankfully, this product is also available in smaller sizes of 20 and 25 metres. So as you go through my site you'll watch me document some of the professional garden installs I make as well as the major projects I take on at home. I’ve caught it in my van door and done absolutely zero damage – a personal testament to my stupidity and the quality of the lead 😀 And I’ll say this, I use it with a 2000 Watt router and 1200 Watt extractor for extended periods of time.

The lead is hot to touch: This suggests that you are overloading your extension cord beyond its capacity and marks a real safety hazard, as noted above. With both of these types of products you have to know the maximum power they can handle and then make sure you don’t overload them by plugging multiple tools or appliances into them that all require a lot of power. Unfortunately, I could not see any internal covers in the socket holes to protect from dust and debris, but for such a low-cost product, that is not that surprising. READ NEXT: The best shed and garage alarms for home security Can I plug an extension lead into another extension lead? However, once you unwind the cable, that maximum current jumps to 10 amps (2400 watts) which is much more practical and should allow you to run two electric garden tools at the same time without issue.

If they did, it wouldn’t be for long and defies science 😀 After all you have a max Watts rating of 13 Amps * 240 Volts (3120 Watts). If you do manage to overload the cable and pop the fuse then you’ll not have much trouble replacing, it is designed for easy swap over. This one from Kasa may have a short lead but it is fantastic to use: you simply add a new device on the Kasa mobile app and follow the instructions to connect it to Wi-Fi.

Using power tools or jet washers outside wouldn’t be too practical without an extension lead, after all. I had one that failed and actually melted the cable together once (not this model or manufacturer) but worth remembering just how important it is to unwind the cable. The cable is surprisingly flexible, and I ran into no big issues with winding and unwinding it, although there is something to keep in mind.

If you’re planning on using high powered electric garden tools, then the cable must be unwound to prevent excessive heat build up in the cable reel. To save on space, the backside features mounting holes to get the lead off your floor or desk and out of the way. Of course, this is another thing that goes wrong, leaving you to wind the cable by hand; a very monotonous job indeed.

It benefits because you can cut power to the unit at the point of plugging in machinery, but it can also lead you into a false sense of security in terms of power still being live up to the unit. You can then take full advantage of 13 Amps which is about 3000 Watts in power with a 230 Volt home circuit. No leaks of any kind around the socket point so its as close as you’ll get to an outdoor permanent extension lead though I must point out, that is not ideal but will work for a while. Before we talk about the obvious, the first thing you want to do is workout if the cable reel has the safety covers inside the socket that mean you need to push in a 3 pin plug for the cover to disengage.It also looks quite quirky and sleek too, considering its an extension lead, which can’t always be said for these types of home accessories. The cable itself seemed fine to me, but the outer housing probably wouldn’t take much of a beating, so you’ll have to be careful about dropping or standing on it. Purchasing an extension lead from a trusted supplier, perhaps one with a guarantee period included, can add to that peace of mind and let you use your extension leads without any worries. Just looking for a low-cost extension reel to plug the lawnmower or hedge trimmer into at the bottom of the garden? To protect those expensive devices, this extension socket incorporates systems that help with too much voltage, overcurrent, anti-static, short circuit, and there is also 1050 joules surge protection.

This article was last updated on April 23rd, 2022 at 1:33 am What is the best extension lead for outdoors that is waterproof? It will not overheat because of power overloads since it has a thermal cut-out to prevent fire risk – simply press the red button to reset and use again. The first thing you’ll notice though is how easy the H-frame is designed to undo and get the cable out quickly when compared to a cable reel. For example, there is always one on my workbench in the shed, and I have even created a little area on the far corner of the bench with small pieces of wood to stop the extension socket from slipping or getting knocked off by some clumsy idiot such as myself.

If I do have to have a long trail of cable, I try my best to leave it running along a wall or fence, again to make it less likely it will be stepped on or tripped over. For those wanting to use extension cables outside, it’s essential to use ruggedised and waterproofed cables that are IP rated for outdoor use. When using either of these products, I always try my best to keep the cable out of the way, and preferably off the floor to prevent tripping or stepping on it.