Rank: Forum user 
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Hello, does anyone have opinions on the various cable tidying equipment normally associated with DSE equipment. The only reason I though they may raise a flag would be if several cables were tied together, they may possibly generate enough heat to possibly perish the flex ? Anyone had experience of this?
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Rank: Forum user 
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The current flow would have to be huge to cause overheating like that.
Balance of risk...
eliminate a trip hazard - v - minuscule risk of overheating?
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Rank: Super forum user
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Never, ever coil electric cable when carrying current. The coils act like a transformer. This applies to wind-up extension leads for garden equipment and 'small' electric heater, inc fridges etc.
If you need to tie them then try and keep separate units to themselves. Also try and ensure that the units are connected to the same phase. Makes life a little safer
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Some extension reels are rated for safe coiled use.
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Rank: Super forum user
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A 13A load 'coiled' would lead to a large enough current to over-heat the insulation and lead to a fire. The load current would not need to be 'huge' to achieve this problem i.e. the transformer reference.
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Rank: Super forum user
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But most are not. Not many people are aware that for the most part, extension leads need to be 'opened' to be safe under the rated load. As the man at B&Q?
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Rank: Forum user
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not an expert in this by any stretch, surely it depends on what wattage is being drawn through, i.e fully coiled 600w uncoiled 1630w as stated on reels??
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Rank: Forum user
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The op was speakng about display equipment i think.
My monitor pulls 20 Watts, sothat tied up with the other av cables coming out of it arent goingto be a problem.
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Rank: Forum user
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zimmy wrote:A 13A load 'coiled' would lead to a large enough current to over-heat the insulation and lead to a fire. The load current would not need to be 'huge' to achieve this problem i.e. the transformer reference.
No it wouldn't.
And in my understanding the OP was referring to tidy kits where the cables are run along side each other within plastic flexible tubes and the like. Not about coiling up cables in extension leads.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Its the Induction Coil Effect
By the way roshqse if any safety professional spots a hazard they should report it and do something about it.
Don't be getting picky about what the OP originally referred to - someone may just have learned something by us going off on a slight tangent?
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Rank: Forum user
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I'm well aware of the induction effect, Faraday's principles, transformers etc etc. thank you.
I wholly concur that a safety professional should pick up on safety issues , hence why we are all here. I myself have asked for advise on many issues on this forum.
The original posters question was related to cable tidies. Which was answered.
And no I have NEVER witnessed a fire caused by the induction effect of coiled up cables. I have though seen LOTS caused by over loaded circuits, for example too many extensions and appliances inducing greater current loads than they were designed to carry.
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Rank: Super forum user
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roshqse
Quite right. I did run off with the wrong idea there. I was thinking and talking of one thing, reading another and came up with the right answer in the wrong place.
And by the way, I have seen fires started by half-coiled extension leads. Two in number at local schools here in Swansea. One in a home not too far from ours. One in a home in the Mumbles area when a 'handy man' wired in a string of socket outlets off an extension lead behind new kitchen units. And come to think of it a lemon in a large boat moored in Swansea marina. Comes with the turf of being a professional electrical inspector and lecturer along with a H&S supervisor and NVQ assessor.
Use the 'tidy' by all means.
Have a nice day
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Rank: Super forum user
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Looking back to my first note #3 the first paragraph was relating to coiled extension leads and the second paragraph talks about tied cables. The part about bunched cables being on different phases stands and does the first paragraph so... as far as I can see I'm on the right track after all and if not well....
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Rank: Forum user
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zimmy wrote:roshqse
Comes with the turf of being a professional electrical inspector and lecturer along with a H&S supervisor and NVQ assessor.
My experience is only practical I'm afraid. . . . 13 years FRS , active duty and involved in Fire Investigations.
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Rank: Super forum user
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And? So what? Granted the fires/melting cable reels I've seen have not involved the fire service but after 40 years in the electrical game, 15+ as an electrical tester/inspector I've seen enough. I would have thought that being in the fire service you would have had more experience than you have. Maybe you've been lucky.
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Rank: Super forum user
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I should have put a :-) there. Better late than never
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Rank: Forum user
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Well thanks to all answers, I was referring to cable tidies as my little practical experience was suggesting it shouldn't be a hazard, however I'm always eager to learn from someone else's experiences. And whilst I'm grateful to have learned a little more slightly off my subject, I didn't think I'd nearly start a fire with topic !! Not to sound ungrateful but to agree with one point someone mentioned, slightly off tangent had led to a learning point - as H&S professionals it's not hard to see why we can be misunderstood as too opinionated sometimes ey ? ha ha. But again thank you all for contributing
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