[G & M]

Electric reels a great idea but I would like to know why they are so expensive

[Paul erithwc]

I have been looking at these over  the last few weeks and can't see any reason to spend £500 to save 5min a day

I had a stopwatch in the van to see how long it take to reel the hose in with a fixed reel it takes 34 secs to reel in 50m of hose

on average i spent 3-5 minutes a day reeling the hose in.

[CLEANCARE WC]

I hear what your saying and agree, but I will be purchasing one soon as it has become a must due to arthritis.

[Spruce]

Electric reels a great idea but I would like to know why they are so expensive

I don't think any of us can give you the exact reason or reasons.

But I would say that this is a typical example of economies of scale principles.

Added to that are other factors like manufacturer profit margins and what the acceptable perceived value of an item  is in the market place. Shareholder demands are another contributory factor.

My perception is that these items are more popular in the USA than anywhere else. The Americans have a different view of the value of mechanical items. For example, American finance houses still repossess 15 year old vehicles they have a title on (watch the Reponut channel on YouTube) where we in the UK have been hoodwinked into believing that a 10 year old car is worthless.

Added to that would be import duties for manufactured goods outside the EU, transportation costs for limited quantities and UK supplier markups.

One of the things I would especially like in a motorized hose reel is one that has an automatic layering system. The last time I looked, these were being marketed in the US for around $3000. 

When Nat Jones in Ireland was window cleaning he spent a lot of time working on a motorized hose reel with a layering system, but it never got off the ground for lots of reasons. I still believe he has it on the proverbial back burner for a future project.

[Spruce]

I have been looking at these over  the last few weeks and can't see any reason to spend £500 to save 5min a day

I had a stopwatch in the van to see how long it take to reel the hose in with a fixed reel it takes 34 secs to reel in 50m of hose

on average i spent 3-5 minutes a day reeling the hose in.

In your case it would be a waste of money. For someone else it could be the only way they can continue to earn a living, so for them their perceive value would be totally different to yours.

[kempy]

Water works , Jordon king do one , £200 to £450 , as does Sebastian Mcclusky .

[robbo333]

For anyone who has problems reeling in, what I do is use 50m of pole hose on the end of my normal microbore. So 100m in total. Most of the time I'm only reeling in the pole hose which is very light and easy.  I have used pole hose instead of microbore for a few years now and it's tough, good water pressure, no pump problems and best of all easy on the joints.

[duncan h]

Water works , Jordon king do one , £200 to £450 , as does Sebastian Mcclusky .

Just got one of him. Fixed type (HD) I can say it makes life much better. Still have issues, like it unwinding, but saves my arms to no end. A must to any windy if you ask me. I think they are over priced but got a fare deal

[Nathanael Jones]

When Nat Jones in Ireland was window cleaning he spent a lot of time working on a motorized hose reel with a layering system, but it never got off the ground for lots of reasons. I still believe he has it on the proverbial back burner for a future project.

I still want to finish that project - my dad's past 60 now & still cleaning windows & this kinda thing would make his working day a little easier.

My design is probably over-complicated,.. I want a layering mechanism to keep the hose tidy as it winds in (What's the point in having it motorised if you still have to stand there & watch it?!) and remote control.... If I ever manage to clear enough space in my garage to start tinkering I'll get something working - but it is unfortunately on the back burner for a little while...

[Frankybadboy]

been looking at these since me injuries and could see a need to use one.
may even put it to the insurance company to pay for it 

[Spruce]

When Nat Jones in Ireland was window cleaning he spent a lot of time working on a motorized hose reel with a layering system, but it never got off the ground for lots of reasons. I still believe he has it on the proverbial back burner for a future project.

I still want to finish that project - my dad's past 60 now & still cleaning windows & this kinda thing would make his working day a little easier.

My design is probably over-complicated,.. I want a layering mechanism to keep the hose tidy as it winds in (What's the point in having it motorised if you still have to stand there & watch it?!) and remote control.... If I ever manage to clear enough space in my garage to start tinkering I'll get something working - but it is unfortunately on the back burner for a little while...

I agree 100%.

I would imagine that a self layering system is very complicated, especially as it has to work for different hose diameters, ie. microbore, minibore and 1/2" garden size hose.

[NWH]

If you run a diesel heater you will need a split charge setup for the reel alone,if you dont it will run the leisure battery down. That's the good thing about ionic they independently isolate things like heaters etc with there own battery,any electric reel will drain the battery I found

[Nathanael Jones]

The best solution for the self layering mechanism is a moving guide arm driven by a self reversing screw. The tollerences are very tight on something like this, so my plan was to build a 4th axis CNC machine (I was planning on building one anyway just as a hobby project) and getting this to produce the parts.

Unfortunately my new house is smaller than my last one & I'm struggling for space for this kind of project,... I'm going to have to have a serious clear out of the garage & get to work.

[G & M]

I got the kit from water works before and it works fine, however I would like to buy a reel with the motor attached but they are very expensive especially when you take sterling into account.

[Smudger]

The best solution for the self layering mechanism is a moving guide arm driven by a self reversing screw. The tollerences are very tight on something like this, so my plan was to build a 4th axis CNC machine (I was planning on building one anyway just as a hobby project) and getting this to produce the parts.

Unfortunately my new house is smaller than my last one & I'm struggling for space for this kind of project,... I'm going to have to have a serious clear out of the garage & get to work.

Jesus, what sort of house did you have in mind to house a cnc 4 axis machine

Darran

[mark m]

been looking at these since me injuries and could see a need to use one.
may even put it to the insurance company to pay for it 

I have got two now Rich and i love them next time you are down my way give me a shout and i will let you have a play

[Smurf]

The best solution for the self layering mechanism is a moving guide arm driven by a self reversing screw. The tollerences are very tight on something like this, so my plan was to build a 4th axis CNC machine (I was planning on building one anyway just as a hobby project) and getting this to produce the parts.

Unfortunately my new house is smaller than my last one & I'm struggling for space for this kind of project,... I'm going to have to have a serious clear out of the garage & get to work.

Jesus, what sort of house did you have in mind to house a cnc 4 axis machine

Darran

Well nats missus is not going to let him put it in her front room now is she 

[Nathanael Jones]

LOL - I've a workroom and a double garage in the new house,.. problem is its full of junk at the moment! I'm planning a big clear out over the winter & then start putting it together. 

[Clever Forum Name]

When i designed my hose roller system (hose goes through floor and under van) I never allowed for winding in 100M THROUGH the system as awkward angles. Electric cox reel fixed that. Very high torque.

Its noisy, slow and eats power but easily my best purchase.

Have to say my van to work from in an absolute dream.

Extreme poles with metal bands, hose roller system through floor and electric reel. Love it.

As for hose layering device. Yep sorted mine, just need to compact it. Works 110% every time!

There will be a race on Me VS another supplier on who brings out the video footage first ahahaha!

[Spruce]

I know this is an old thread.

There were a few windies and suppliers who were working on a hose layering system with electric hose reels a few years ago, but everything has gone very quiet. Nathanael Jones, Peter Fogwill who has sadly since passed, Waterworks, to name a few were all looking at this.

Has anyone still got an ongoing project?