Curly cables

[prv]

Here's an odd one for you - is it possible to untwist a spiral cable, so it lays straight?

I've bought a cockpit mic for the radio on the new boat. It's quite a big cockpit, though, there are several places I might be standing when wanting to use the radio, and there are not many suitable places to mount the socket. Given all this, the mic cable is really too short.

It's special cable (ten cores, two pairs of which are shielded) and the ends are moulded into the mic and the plug rendering the whole thing submersible. For these reasons I don't really want to try to splice in an extension. However, if the fairly stiff, tight spiral in the cable were removed, leaving it straight, the length would be closer to what I need.

I'm guessing the answer is no, but it never hurts to ask. Someone made the middle part of this cable coil up - can it be made to uncoil?

Cheers,

Pete
(I feel a bit like DanCrane, asking something so daft )

 

[William_H]

No you can't uncoil the cable. The coil is molded into the outer sheath. I suggest you make an extension cord to the mic if you can find the right connectors. Sorry not much help at all good luck olewill

 

[Thistle]

Not easily. These cables often have a springy steel wire incorporated somewhere to give the curl and spring: this won't straighten readily.

 

[Stork_III]

Someone made the middle part of this cable coil up - can it be made to uncoil?

Cheers,

Pete
(I feel a bit like DanCrane, asking something so daft )

Hang the cable up from end remote to the mike, allowing the mike to spin, leave for a bit, should sort out the cable twist in the centre, not the general curl though. Method worked on telephone handset cables, remember those?

 

[rob2]

I believe that even if there is no "spring" in it the insulation is moulded onto the wires in the curled position, so to straighten it, you'd have to strip the outer off and replace it! I'd go with the extension cable idea... or multiple sockets.

 

[prv]

Hang the cable up from end remote to the mike, allowing the mike to spin, leave for a bit, should sort out the cable twist in the centre, not the general curl though. Method worked on telephone handset cables, remember those?

You misunderstand - there isn't a kink in the middle, just that the last four inches or so each end are not coiled. Hence "somebody made the middle part of the cable coil up". This implies to me that the cable is originally made straight - I can't imagine they lay up individual four-foot bundles of cores, rather than making the usual 300m drum of cable in one go. It would then get cut into lengths for each mic, and each length has its middle part made curly.

Pete

 

[Stork_III]

You misunderstand - there isn't a kink in the middle, just that the last four inches or so each end are not coiled. Hence "somebody made the middle part of the cable coil up". This implies to me that the cable is originally made straight - I can't imagine they lay up individual four-foot bundles of cores, rather than making the usual 300m drum of cable in one go. It would then get cut into lengths for each mic, and each length has its middle part made curly.

Pete

Yes I did misunderstand you.

Here is how they make curly cable. Seems to be made in long lengths then curled to the final required lengths. The cable cover is heat treated to keep the coiled shape. http://www.engineering.com/Library/...rticleID/2417/How-to-Make-a-Coiled-Cable.aspx . Seems you are stuck with it, unless you can reverse wind it again and heat then hold straight whilst it cools.

 

[rob2]

Even if you manage to make a straight lead, you'll have a wire lying around the cockpit to trip over and snag on all manner of things. There is a reason they coil them! Most people carry a handheld for use at the helm...

Rob.

 

[prv]

Here is how they make curly cable. Seems to be made in long lengths then curled to the final required lengths. The cable cover is heat treated to keep the coiled shape. http://www.engineering.com/Library/...rticleID/2417/How-to-Make-a-Coiled-Cable.aspx . Seems you are stuck with it, unless you can reverse wind it again and heat then hold straight whilst it cools.

Thanks, that's about what I thought. Encouraging that they say "thermoplastic", as that means the stuff can be softened and re-formed multiple times. Of course, whether I have the guts to blast a hot-air gun at brand new electronics is an open question

I highly doubt I could ever get it back to a completely straight cable, but even backing off some of the excessive tension in the coil would be good.

Cheers,

Pete

 

[prv]

Even if you manage to make a straight lead, you'll have a wire lying around the cockpit to trip over and snag on all manner of things.

Nah - it still won't be long enough for that!

I think the designers were specifically thinking of powerboat flybridge dashboards when they chose the length of the cord. If you imagine sitting at an ordinary table, it would just about reach from the table in front of you to the normal position in front of your mouth.

The old blue-handset Sailor VHF (not the ancient green boxes) got this right, with a nice long lead.

Pete