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For quite some time now, I’ve had to unwind an extension cord whenever I’ve needed power in my garage, but mostly just outside my garage. After doing this for a couple of years, I’ve grown tired of doing this whenever I needed electricity. I’ve seen people running retractable power cords in their garage all the time, and never thought much of it. But, I finally got tired of dealing with the extension cord and decided to install one of these retractable extension cords.
Looking around online, I see a bunch of different options for these types of ceiling or wall-mounted retractable power cords. They all practically operate the same way, so I picked up one that I found a good deal on. The specific one I got is a Husky 50ft Retractable Power Cord that mounts on the ceiling. But, there are all kinds of choices when it comes to retractable power cords, so look for one that fits what you’re looking for.
Search Amazon for Retractable Power Cords
Search Ebay for Retractable Power Cords
What to Look for in a Retractable Power Cord
When picking a retractable power cord, you’ll need to decide on a few things: what length you need for your cord, and what gauge cord you’ll need. Everyone’s need for the length will differ, so get the length you need. Keep in mind that you may need the cord to reach outside of your garage, so add that length as well. As for the gauge of cord, a minimum is probably a 14-gauge, but if you want something more heavy duty, you can go up to a 16-gauge wire. Just remember that the higher the gauge and the longer the wire, the larger the retractable hose housing and weight of the overall product will be.
Tools Used For Installation
Stud finder: Zircon StudSensor A100 Stud Finder
Power drill: DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill Driver Set
Screws: Fixlink 2″ #8 Wood Deck Screws / Nuvo 2-1/2″ #8 Decking Screws
How to Install a Ceiling-Mounted Retractable Power Cord
Mounting these retractable power cords is pretty easy. You need to mount this onto something secure like a wall stud or ceiling joist in your garage. Use a stud finder if you need to, line up the mounting bracket of the retractable power cord, and install some construction, decking, or wood screws to mount it securely to the ceiling.
After the mount is secured, the retractable power cord can be installed and secured. Each product may differ, but on mine, you slide the retractable power cord onto the mount, and then secure it with a screw. Then plug in the power cord to test.
By default, the power cord might hang too low, which can hit your head if you’re walking around the garage depending on how low your ceiling or mount is. Readjust the stopper until it is at just the right height so that no one’s bumping their head on it, yet is easily reachable when you need to grab it.
And there you have it, an easy install for a retractable power cord that is easily accessible whenever you need it. I’ve found this thing to be extremely convenient, especially if I need to run a power washer outside.
It has been incredibly convenient to be able to pull this power cord out and plug in all kinds of tools, and retract the whole cord all back to its retractable housing so that it’s out of the way. I’m so glad I got around to installing one of these and I think it will be of great use to you too if you plan to do the same.
