This portable power distribution tool consists of a heavy-duty cord wrapped around a central drum. The drum housing typically features multiple outlets and a built-in thermal overload switch. Electricians use them to bring temporary power across large jobsites without dealing with tangled loose cords.
Grab the extension reel from the van so we can run the hammer drill out here on the patio.
Always unspool the entire cord before pulling heavy continuous loads, as a tightly coiled cord acts like an inductor and can melt its own insulation from trapped heat.
Also heard as
- Cord reel
- Cable reel
Related terms
Extension cord
A flexible length of electrical cable with a plug on one end and one or more receptacles on the other.
Suicide cord
Homemade cord with a male plug on both ends, used to backfeed a house from a generator.
Whip
Short flexible conduit or cable assembly with wires already in it, linking a fixture or machine to a junction box.