Cable Reels Selection Guide
Cable reels differ by housing material, with or without cable, cassette or automatic type, and thermal protection; winding capacity matters too.
This guide covers the points to look at when choosing products in the Cable Reels category.
Cable reel types
- Housing material: plastic reels are lightweight; reels with a metal housing are meant for places exposed to impact, such as construction sites. Bemis also lists metal models on a cart.
- With and without cable: on an empty reel (without cable), the cable is not included with the product. The winding capacity is given in the product data; you choose the cable separately by type, cross-section and length, for example from among TTR cables.
- Cassette type and automatic: listed separately as a product type. On an automatic reel, the cable is retracted by a pull-and-release mechanism, without winding by hand.
- Thermal protection: an element that opens the circuit on overheating; not every model has it, and the thermal protection row on the product card states whether it is present or not.
Fixed-length solutions without a reel are in the Industrial Extension Cords category.
How to read the label and type code
- 3G1,5: three cores; G indicates the presence of a green-yellow protective conductor, and 1,5 is the core cross-section (mm²). 5G2,5 is a five-core cable and is used on three-phase models.
- H05VV-F: a flexible, fine-stranded cable with a rated voltage of 300/500 V, PVC insulation and PVC sheath; known in Turkey as TTR.
- H07RN-F: a flexible cable with a rated voltage of 450/750 V, rubber insulation and polychloroprene sheath; chosen for jobs with high mechanical stress, such as construction sites and outdoor environments.
- IP rating: according to IEC 60529, IP20 protects only against finger-sized objects, offers no protection against water and is for dry, enclosed areas. IP44 and IP54 refer to protection against water splashing from all directions, and IP67 to protection against temporary immersion.
Relationship between cross-section, length and load
As the cable gets longer, voltage drop increases; as the cross-section gets smaller, both voltage drop and conductor heating increase. If a machine that draws high current will be run on a long reel, a 2,5 mm² cross-section causes less voltage drop than a 1,5 mm² cross-section. You can check the current of the device with the current from active power calculation tool, and the loss at the length and cross-section you have chosen with the voltage drop calculation tool; the general logic of cross-section selection is in the article How to choose a cable?.
The reel carries its full rated current only when the cable is completely unwound. Thermal protection opens the circuit on overheating, but it does not replace choosing the correct cross-section. A copper-clad aluminum (CCA) conductor has higher resistance than copper at the same cross-section, so it heats up more under the same load and causes more voltage drop. Check the conductor material from the product card if it is stated there, and if not, by confirming it before ordering.
How to choose the socket standard
The type F (Schuko) socket is grounded at the sides and has a rated current of 16 A. On the type E (French) socket, the ground connection is made through a pin protruding from the socket; a plug made only for Schuko (CEE 7/4) does not fit this socket, while a CEE 7/7 hybrid plug fits both sockets. Type G (BS) is the British system with three rectangular pins, and type H is used in Israel. For a reel to be used in Turkey, choose models with a type F socket; for export or construction sites abroad, go by the standard of the target country.
Brands in this category
- Bylion: the larger part of the category; reels with plastic and metal housings, with and without cable, cassette-type and automatic models, in different socket standards including types F, E and G.
- Bemis: metal and plastic reels, models on a cart; IP44 and IP67 ratings. The cable supply condition and winding capacity are stated on the product card.
Order notes
Products are listed by the piece. Most of them are made-to-order items, and the lead time is confirmed before the order is placed. You can reach a product directly by typing its stock code (for example 133-303-1250) or model code (PME-50315-G) into the site search.
Cable reel length and protection rating comparison table
| Cable Length | IP Rating | Conductor Size | Recommended Application | Direct Filter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 m – 20 m cable reel | IP20 / IP44 | 3x1.5 mm² – 3x2.5 mm² | Workshop power tools and short-reach maintenance tasks | 20 m Cable Reels |
| 25 m – 40 m cable reel | IP44 | 3x1.5 mm² – 3x2.5 mm² | Construction interiors, assembly sites, and medium-distance power | 25 m Cable Reels |
| 50 m cable reel | IP44 (Covered sockets) | 3x2.5 mm² / 5x2.5 mm² | Outdoor job sites; uncoil fully under continuous high load to prevent overheating | 50 m Cable Reels |
Frequently asked questions
Can a cable reel be used while it is wound?
A wound cable cannot dissipate its heat; for this reason, the power a reel can carry while wound is noticeably lower than when unwound, and manufacturers give the two values separately on the label. How much needs to be unwound is determined by the wound and unwound power values on the label; for high-current devices such as heaters or compressors, the cable is unwound completely. If thermal protection is present, it cuts the circuit on overheating.
What is the difference between a 3G1,5 and a 3G2,5 cable reel?
Both are three-core cables made up of a phase, a neutral and a protective conductor; the difference is in the core cross-section. Because the 2,5 mm² conductor has lower resistance, it heats up less at the same current and causes less voltage drop; for this reason it is preferred for long lengths and for machines that draw high current. The 1,5 mm² reel is lighter and is chosen for low-power hand tools; the device current and cable length decide.
What is the difference between an H05VV-F and an H07RN-F reel with cable?
H05VV-F is a flexible cable with a rated voltage of 300/500 V, PVC insulation and PVC sheath, known as TTR; it is meant for moderate mechanical stress. H07RN-F is a cable with a rated voltage of 450/750 V, rubber insulation and polychloroprene sheath; it is suited to high mechanical stress and continuous outdoor use. For this reason, H07RN-F cable is sought for construction-site and outdoor reels.
What is the difference between an IP20 and an IP44 cable reel?
According to IEC 60529, the first digit shows protection against solid objects and the second digit protection against water. An IP20 reel protects against objects larger than 12,5 mm, offers no protection against water and is for dry, enclosed areas. An IP44 reel is protected against objects larger than 1 mm and against water splashing from all directions. Among Bemis products, the IP67 rating, which refers to protection against temporary immersion, is also listed.
What does an empty cable reel (without cable) mean?
It is a reel sold without a cable fitted; it does not mean a wireless product. The drum and housing are ready, and you buy the cable separately in the type, cross-section and length you need. When choosing, look at the winding capacity of the reel and the cable cross-section the manufacturer intends. The connection of the cable to the reel must be made by a qualified electrician in accordance with the regulations in force.
What is the difference between a CCA cable reel and a copper cable reel?
The core of a CCA (copper-clad aluminum) conductor is aluminum and its outer layer is copper. Because the conductivity of aluminum is lower than that of copper, a CCA cable of the same cross-section has higher resistance; under the same load it heats up more and causes more voltage drop. For this reason, a reel with CCA cable should not be considered equivalent to a reel with copper cable of the same cross-section, and for continuous, high-current jobs the conductor material should be checked from the product card, or, if it is not stated there, by confirming it before ordering.