Cheap or expensive wanderlead?

HappyHippyDad · Feb 3, 2013

I nearly always buy quality tools, however I just want something to tell me if the gas/water is bonded. Do I really need quality is this instance???

This one is £36 - (cant see any brand)

[ElectriciansForums.net] Cheap or expensive wanderlead?

This one is a metrel ML30 £56

sparkless · Feb 3, 2013

hmmmmm personal choice

could be same said for most tools

Elmer BeFuddled · Feb 3, 2013

Where'd you find the cheap one?

Tbh, I contacted someone on ebay selling 55/0.1mm Extra Flexible Test Lead Cable in 5m lengths and asked for a single length of 15m (green of course!!). That and a male and female banana plug bought total outlay to the region of £6 or £7. For the times I've needed it, its proved adequate and sits nicely in a zip-lock bag in the top of my Fluke case.

sparkless · Feb 3, 2013

you get what you pay for

Geordie Spark · Feb 3, 2013

happyhippydad said:
I nearly always buy quality tools, however I just want something to tell me if the gas/water is bonded. Do I really need quality is this instance???

This one is £36 - (cant see any brand)

View attachment 17059

This one is a metrel ML30 £56

View attachment 17060

The first one is the one I have and I think Telextrix has too.

It's for sale on E-Bay - and is made and sold be a bloke called 332billt In Seaham Co. Durham and costs about £29.

It does exactly what you need it to do. There is NO POINT in paying the silly prices some companies are asking !!

NOTE!! I have no connection with this seller - other than being a satisfied customer.

barneybhoy · Feb 3, 2013

For years I've used a drum of 4mm green/yellow and it hasn't failed me yet

grantr37 · Feb 3, 2013

worst is that I have seen the second one priced at £106.00 in shops, think it was that price truefix

HappyHippyDad · Feb 3, 2013

Cheers guys,

Thats decision made then

. I dont normally mess around with quality and electrics but this time I thought I could probably get away with the cheaper option.

Didn't realise they'd be so many others working nights!

grantr37 · Feb 3, 2013

am in the teahut eating the gaffers jaffa cakes.........

telectrix · Feb 3, 2013

the only thing wrong with the £29 one off fleabay is the 4mm socket in the centre of the drum. you need to make up a short lead with a non-standard 4mm plug. the old type that's not approved as it got to be exposed metal end.

SPARTYKUS · Feb 3, 2013

I made my own, bought a cheap exten lead (about 12 quid) 30metres long, soldered cores together & hearshrunk & soldered the plug & socket either end. Cost about 15 quid & its just the same as the £69.99 one. Apart from only being 100 feet long instead of 200! But never needed it that long anywa

Just remember to zero it out!

wildgoose · Feb 3, 2013

Buy a cheap 240v cable reel from one of the big sheds and take it apart to remove the mains cord.

Mount a banana socket onto the drum.

Fill the drum with 4mm earth cable, connecting one end to the banana socket and the other wander end, to a large crocodile clip. You can get both of these parts from Maplins for less than £5

Measure the total resistance and write it on the side of the drum. This is just in case you forget to zero your meter when measuring!

I've used this cheap and cheerful method for years and it's fine.

telectrix · Feb 3, 2013

why not use the existing 3 core, all 3 joined together?

wildgoose · Feb 3, 2013

telectrix said:
why not use the existing 3 core, all 3 joined together?

Reeling back-up cold 3core isn't always easy but the cable reel loaded with single core is quick and smooth. Plus you can get well over 50meters onto the reel without it being too heavy.

telectrix · Feb 3, 2013

yeah. know what you mean about cold cable .

sparkdog · Feb 3, 2013

I made one out of a Morrisons cable reel as someone here suggested.It got nicked when my van was broken into.Glad it wasn't an expensive one.I didn't use a 4mm socket,you can use a 13A R1 R2 adaptor and just plug it into the 13A socket on the reel.

amlu · Feb 3, 2013

I had a 20 odd meters of old yellow flex lying around. stripped external sheath, used one of the cores with banana plug on both ends. does the job, fits in a pocket of my toolbag.

Elmer BeFuddled · Feb 3, 2013

I'm glad the sense of "necessity is the Mother of invention" is still alive and well.

Blue Peter has a lot to answer for.

telectrix · Feb 3, 2013

but coiling a waNDER LEAD ON A TOILET ROLL CARDBOARD CENTRE IS GOING A BIT TOO FAR.

Des 56 · Feb 3, 2013

telectrix said:
but coiling a waNDER LEAD ON A TOILET ROLL CARDBOARD CENTRE IS GOING A BIT TOO FAR.

Especially when its covered in Elephant poo

applemac · Feb 3, 2013

i got a socket n see adapter that you use on a standard cable reel, not bad and cheap,
like the idea of extra flexible green n yellow flex, stuff it onto a small reel.

- - - Updated - - -

i got a socket n see adapter that you use on a standard cable reel, not bad and cheap,
like the idea of extra flexible green n yellow flex, stuff it onto a small reel.

Dean Williams · Feb 3, 2013

i bought one of the Ebay ones, very tough. its fallen off the ladder a few times and is still in one piece. i had to change the banana plugs, it broke. cheap and nasty one was on it.
other problem is sometimes the cable won't pull out, it knots up inside. ive had to take it apart twice.

Dcf · Feb 3, 2013

I bought one from forum sponsor test meter uk. 50 m kew technic I think. About 60 quid if I mind right.thought it was a bit steep for what it is but it has been a really handy bit of tackle if the truth be told. Bought it along with a set of light mates adapters which I can't recommend highly enough.saying that I used to do the same job with a drum of 4.0mm single....cable must have been cheap then

Andy78 · Feb 4, 2013

Elmer BeFuddled said:
Where'd you find the cheap one?

Tbh, I contacted someone on ebay selling 55/0.1mm Extra Flexible Test Lead Cable in 5m lengths and asked for a single length of 15m (green of course!!). That and a male and female banana plug bought total outlay to the region of £6 or £7. For the times I've needed it, its proved adequate and sits nicely in a zip-lock bag in the top of my Fluke case.

Thanks for the idea. I will be doing exactly this.

-

-

-

-

Geordie Spark

barneybhoy

-

-

-

-

SPARTYKUS

wildgoose

-

wildgoose

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dcf

-

Similar Threads

Electricians Tools | Electrical Tools and Products

OFFICIAL SPONSORS