Thread: Opinions-Shortening power tool leads

Glen, It may suit you. I go the other way. On most of my older power tools I have chucked the standard lead and fitted double insulated HD (two outer coats, the outermost rubberised) leads 5 to 6 metres long. I rarely need an extension lead and the weight of the plug does not swing off the tool when working at heights.

This way I can fit proper 3 pin plugs which show the wiring colours. Takes a bit, just solder the appropriate terminals to the power tool end and check stops and rubbers. I have found some tools have an earth fitted and a connection for it but only 2 wire fitted.

Don't do this if your not competent with 240 volt wiring.

Just my the way I have gone anyway.

Cheers

No, A good friend of mines a sparky,he generally tags my gear so i would get him to do the wiring.

Originally Posted by GCP310

Whats everyones thoughts on this.

After lookig at the Festool system that utilizes one powerlead that plugs into the power tool, i though about the idea of shortening the leads and replacing the standard plug with a IEC type 240v 10amp plug commonly found on computers. that way when you use powertools on your bench you would only have 150mm lead sticking out of the powertool keeping your workspace clutter free. Also in a workshop environment,no one will "borrow' your tools as they wont have the same plug on their standard power lead. Of course they can go out and get their own lead.

Just thoughts at this stage

Hi Glenn,

shortish leads have a tendency to come apart fairly easily. More so out on site than in the workshop though. You would need to go really short or keep it long. Its the 'in between' length which usually results from having cut through the lead a couple or times that gives rise to problems.

Hooroo..

I think it is a pain. My 9¼ saw by accident had the lead cut off to about 300mm and I just haven't got round to fixing it and every time I use it especially to cut up MDF sheets it keeps getting caught on the edge of the board.

I would go the way of vsquizz.

Yeah i know what you mean barry, hate it when the lead get caught.

No i hads in mind that the lead was really short like 4 inches. I had a job i was continuesly swapping tools and had to keep chasing down the powerlead to unplug it each time. Thats where i thought a stubby length on the powertool would be great.

My 9¼ saw by accident had the lead cut off to about 300mm

It's shocking when this sort of thing happens.

GCP,

I have shortened the leads on all my power tools (except the circular saw) to about 300 mm. I have a 1.7 m extension lead which hangs from a double power outlet, which is suspended on a chain about a metre above the workbench. I find the system is very convenient and makes it much easier to store the power tools neatly in my tool cabinet.

It does pay, though, to check that the lead is not plugged in to a live outlet before you cut it. I had a narrow escape when I cut a live lead, and my garden pruners have a notch in the blade to prove it. :eek:

Rocker

Interesting story there Rocker. :eek:

Thats what i had in mind, by having short leads on the power tools and like you,have a power lead suspended over the work bench. the benefits of storage also come to play. drives me nuts unwinding power leads off power tools.

Now if you fellas were slobs you wouldnt have that problem.
just leave the power tools in the middla the bench when youre finished with them, no winding up leads at all.

you mean you are supposed to put things away??????????????
Im with u Bob

I think the idea has merit, especially for the workshop, with a lead hanging from the top over the bench.
The only think that bothers me is the idea of this bulky plug right next to your hand with some tools it may be a bother, then again you may get used to it. Definitely not good to have it midway say 300 mm long, My Makita 9 1/4 saw is like that and it get's caught in absolutely everything.

I'm with Squizzy on this, if(when) leads need replacing I use a cheap 5M extension cord. This works out cheaper than buying a plug and cable. When I'm working I usually have enough power outlets to plug in everything I'm using which saves all that time consuming plugging and unplugging. With the price of powerboards and leads nowadays it's not worth all the mucking around not having everything plugged in.

Mick

Going slightly off thread I have recently put in two electrical items that have made a big change to my work:

1. I modified an extension lead to have a foot switch built into it.
2. I have a powerboard with individual switched outlets.

This gives me a few very handy options:
I can operate a lot of tools that don't have the power switch on the trigger with two hands (eg drill press)
Even for tools that are trigger operated, I can attach a vacuum to the dust outlet and opearte them both at the same time using the footswitch and the powerboard.
Where I have a number of tools located together, I can use the same foot switch and the individually switched powerboard to opearte a range of tools without having to unplug everything and without having to have a foot switch for each item.

They are a bit pricey it you take into account the foot switch and the extension and the power board, so I have two - one is mobile and one is fairly much fixed in place where most of my power tools are. The extension on that one is quite long to allow me to locate the foot switch in the ideal location (ie under my foot) and it is attached to base for stability.

Simon