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DEWENWILS HCRA40K 40ft Retractable Cord Reel: features, specs and fit
A wall or ceiling mounted retractable extension cord reel with 40ft of 12/3 cord, a triple outlet and a 15A circuit breaker. What the specs mean.
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The DEWENWILS HCRA40K is a retractable extension cord reel for garages, workshops and other work areas. It holds 40 feet of cord on a spring-driven reel that mounts overhead or on a wall, so the cord is out of the way until you pull it down. It has a triple outlet at the end for several tools or devices at once.
The cord and its limits
The cord is 12/3 gauge: 12 AWG conductors, with three wires inside. A thicker gauge, which means a lower AWG number, generally carries current with less heat and voltage drop over distance, which matters on a long run. DEWENWILS rates the reel at 15 amps and 125 volts, or 1,875 watts. There is also a 4.5 ft lead-in cord, which is the short length that plugs into the wall outlet.
The listing says the cord is a PVC type called SJTOW and that it is resistant to UV light, ozone, water, oil and acid, and stays flexible in cold. It also says plainly that the reel is for indoor or dry locations only.
How the retraction works
An auto-guide rewind mechanism winds the cord back in, with the aim of avoiding kinks and tangles. A ratchet system lets you lock the cord at any length you choose, and a flexible stopper helps you set where it stops. The brand quotes a bending test of more than 20,000 cycles for the cord.
When you let a retractable cord go, guide it back by hand rather than letting it whip in, to protect both the cord and the reel.
Built-in circuit breaker
A 15A circuit breaker is built in. DEWENWILS says it cuts power automatically if the current goes above 15A, and you press the reset button to carry on. The reel is described as UL listed. A breaker like this is a useful backstop, but the total load should still stay within the figures printed on the reel and the manual.
Mounting
The reel comes with screws and a swivel bracket for walls, ceilings or rafters. The bracket swivels through 180°, so you can pull the cord out in different directions. Mount it into solid framing, as the weight of a full reel plus the pull of the cord is significant. The unit measures about 14 x 12 x 6 inches (36 x 30 x 15 cm).
An indicator light for dim areas
The triple outlet has an indicator light, which the brand says makes it easy to see in dim corners such as a garage or basement.
Who it suits
It suits garage owners, hobbyists and workshops that are tired of loose extension cords on the floor. Tools such as a vacuum, a lamp or a charger work from the outlets, within the 15A limit. Very high-draw tools should be checked against the 15A limit first.
What to check before you buy
- Total load: add up the wattage of what you will plug in and keep it under 1,875W.
- Location: it is for indoor or dry places only, not for wet or open-air use.
- Mounting surface: plan for a solid fixing point and enough clearance for the swivel.
- Reach: 40 ft of cord plus the lead-in; measure from the outlet to where you work.
- Outlet: it needs a standard grounded 125V outlet.
- Manual: follow its guidance on installation, breaker reset and unwinding the cord fully for heavy loads.
The short version
- A retractable cord reel with 40 ft of 12/3 cord and a 4.5 ft lead-in cord.
- Rated 15A, 125V and 1,875W, with a triple outlet and indicator light.
- Built-in 15A circuit breaker with a reset button; UL listed.
- Ratchet lock, auto-guide rewind and a 180° swivel mounting bracket.
- For indoor or dry locations only.
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