Photo Courtesy of: United Equipment Accessories Inc.
To transmit electrical signals or electrical power, electric cables are typically employed. They are composed of twisted wires coated in an insulating material, which are often plastic based. We see them constantly from day to day, hooking up our different electronics so we can watch TV, play on the computer, etc. Since there are such a wide variety of these cables of various thickness and length, a wide variety of products must also be available to hold them. The decision for what kind of reel would be best depends on how exactly the cable will be used.
Cable reels come in a variety of materials depending on the function they will be used for. Common materials these reels are made of include wood, steel, stainless steel or plastic. Wood and plastic tend to be used for lighter electrical functions, such as holding small cables or small amounts of cable. Meanwhile steel and stainless steel are uses for more heavy duty functions such as housing large industrial cables. Wood and plastic reels are also easier for cables that must be easily moved from place to place, but steel and stainless steel are great for if a large industrial truck is available or if the reels will remain in the same location.
There are also five different forms of cable reels. These are portable, live connection, collapsible, storage, and reel and cable assembly. Portable reels often have handles attached and allowing them to be transported by hand. Live connection reels are able to transmit power while remaining on the reel. Collapsible reels are able to fold flat, allowing them to be used for storage. Storage reels, meant for storage only, cannot be used unless the cable is unwound. Finally, reel and cable assembly contain the reel, wire and other items. Further options exist, such as should it be able to reel itself automatically, or will the person using it have to manually reel it in after each use. Many options exist; it is simply up to the consumer to decide which option would best suit his/her needs.
