How to Choose the Right Hose or Cable Reel for Your Application

Posted on 06/08/2020

The perfect reel can enhance your operations by increasing productivity and improving safety on the job site. Choosing the right reel can be determined by a few key factors, including what the reel is holding, how it will be used, and what application it will be used for. We have outlined the most important things to consider when looking to purchase a reel.

Important Hose and Cable Specifications 

The first thing to consider is what kind of hose or cable you will be using. Size, length, bend radius, and type are critical when it comes to purchasing the correct reel for the job. You will want to be certain that the reel will be the correct size to accommodate your equipment. For example, a hose or cable with a large I.D./O.D. and a high bend radius will require a fairly large reel to accommodate its size.

Do You Need a Storage or Live Reel?

Storage reels wind up your hose or cable, but don't allow fluid or current to flow while still on the reel. The hose or cable must be taken off the spool of the reel to be connected and used.

Live reels connect to your hose or cable, allowing fluid or current to pass through while still on the reel. If you plan on using a reel for live applications, you'll want to determine a few things in order to avoid any damage to your operation.

For a live hose reel, the fluid you'll be handling matters. Fluids like fuel, pesticides, fertilizers, drinking water, and food products all need different types of fluid paths specific to their use. You want to be sure that the fluid you are running through your reel does not get contaminated, which can cause damage to your equipment. For example, stainless steel internal piping is an important feature for food handling because it resists corrosion and prevents contamination.

For live cable reels, it is very important to make sure the cable and the reel you are using both have the correct number of conductors, voltage, amperage, and specifications for your situation. 

 

How and Where Will the Reel Be Used?

Rewind type, mounting positions, and roller options will determine which reel model will best fit your needs.

Rewind options are available for manual, spring, electric, air or hydraulic rewinds. Power rewind options make winding heavy, longer lengths of hose easier and safer, while manual rewinds are best for limited use reels or shorter, smaller hose sizes and do not require wiring or connections.

Reels can be floor-, ceiling-, wall-, cabinet- or truck- mounted and optional roller packages are available to help guide hose easily back on to the reel from any position.

Finding the Right Reel

Once you have all the information gathered, our Reel Selector can help you get started. By answering a few simple questions about your situation, the Reel Selector can guide you to the ideal reel. We first ask you to choose your application – this will determine if you need a hose or cable reel – then you can filter results based on hose or cable size, length, rewind options, and more to find reels specific to that application.

If you cannot find exactly what you are looking for, you can email us at reels@hannay.com and we'll personally help you find the right reel to get the job done! All Hannay reels are built to your unique specifications. We work with you to adjust the height or width of your reel to get the most out of the space you have and provide the best installation option for your needs.

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