Home Made DIY Wander Lead

[SW1970]

Hi, here's the instructions for my home made wander lead. A lot cheaper than the retail versions and only takes a few minutes to put together.


All prices inc VAT and collection only (ie. no delivery charge). This is for a 30m wander lead.

RS Cable: 6285061, 100m of 1.00mm2 tri rated green/yellow. £16.38. Probably could have found a cheaper shorter cable but I'm also going to make a 50m wander lead so bought plenty.

Maplin connectors: 4mm plug L86AZ £2.15 and 4mm socket N35AP £1.15 (I got red ones but could be other colours). If you prefer croc clip instead of plug use that instead of L86AZ.

Wickes reel: 155788, £9.99 - this just fits on 30m of the cable mentioned above; could get the larger one (712911 at £15.55) for a 50m wander lead.

Total cost: £30 compared with at least £60 for a retail version, and I've got enough left over cable to make up a second 50m lead for only an additional £19.

Instructions:

1. Unreel all the mains flex from the extension lead.
2. Unscrew and remove cover that has sockets in it.
3. Unscrew cable grip and cable terminations, remove cable completely. (Save for another job).
4. Remove brass socket bits and pieces (not required).
5. Drill hole for 4mm socket in socket cover (be careful of plastic reinforcing structure on back of cover - need to leave enough space for socket nut and room to tighten it up).
6. Insert socket and tighten.
7. Solder 1.00mm2 cable onto socket.
8. Screw cover back onto reel (make sure cable is not snagged by screw).
9. Wind on 30m of cable. Just fits onto this size reel.
10. Strip end of cable and attach 4mm plug (this particular connector was screw on).
11. Zero Ohm meter with usual short test leads attached.
12. Connect wander lead in series to usual test leads.
13. Measure end to end resistance of cable at 20 degrees C.
14. Record length of cable, CSA and resistance on label and stick to reel.

There you go!

 

[Bradzz]

whats it like to wind up? is it solid core you are using?

 

[rocker]

It's good, quite fancy, but I prefer my method:
50m roll of 1.5 single - £9
2X croc clips - 99p

Take roll of cable. Put a croc clip on one end. Put a croc clip on the other end. Hardcore.

 

[SW1970]

Ha ha rocker, love it. Bradzz, this particular cable is fine stranded so it's really flexible.

 

[a12jpm]

50mtr Extension cable, flukes banana lead one end and a my shorting cable on the plug at the other end for me - not pretty but it works.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

SW1970 ;-) I like it, I did virtually the same except kept the 30 odd metres of 3 core and just added the banana plug bits either end.

100 foot has been enough for me ....

But its good I like it, its called beating the system.

Used the other ways but only when forgot my home made fancy wander lead )

 

[RWJ]

I just use a normal extension lead... Which ever I've got on the van..

Then a socket adaptor View attachment 5902


Then a home made version of the PAT adaptor View attachment 5903


When I showed our area engineer he was impressed and was going to go home a build one

 

[BluSparx]

RWJ just like me I have used your version for the last year so much easier