Straightening curly cable

[richardabeattie]

I've just bought an extension cable for my dinghy trailer lighting board which was advertised as 1.7m long. But I failed to take note of the fact that it is coiled up like a spring so its effective length is far less. I could use brute force to straighten it out but it that might strain the end fittings. Any suggestions on how to straighten it permanently? Boil it?

 

[prv]

Buy one which isn't coiled. These things are remarkably cheap.

I don't think you'll ever be able to do more than slacken off the spiral slightly. I've tried with other kinds of cable where only curly was available, without success.

Pete

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

Curly cables are extruded that way, they arent straight cables that have been curled. So there just isnt the same amount of plastic on the inside of the bend as outside.

 

[richardabeattie]

I've strung it up in the garage and will see what happens!

 

[Thistle]

I've just bought an extension cable for my dinghy trailer lighting board which was advertised as 1.7m long. But I failed to take note of the fact that it is coiled up like a spring so its effective length is far less. I could use brute force to straighten it out but it that might strain the end fittings. Any suggestions on how to straighten it permanently? Boil it?

It may well have a few strands of stainless steel in the wire to give it its springiness. This won't straighten properly without heat treatment which would, of course, ruin the plastic insulation. Cut your losses and sell that extension and get a non-curly one.

 

[macd]

Curly cables are extruded that way

I think you'll find that they're actually straight cables which have been laboriously back-combed by slave labour toiling in unspeakable conditions. We should boycott them, if only in the name of humanity.

 

[JohnGC]

I think you'll find that they're actually straight cables which have been laboriously back-combed by slave labour toiling in unspeakable conditions. We should boycott them, if only in the name of humanity.

OK, a bit late for April 1st, but....

Increase the supply voltage to the cable and restrict the output with a resistor. The resulting increase in electrical pressure inside the cable will straighten it. A bit like those X-hoses and a certain part of the male anatomy.

Sorry, I'll get me coat.

John