Retracting cables

[knotian]

I'm modelling underground mining equipment. Many of these are electrical ( in the real world) and use power cables that extend and retract as the equipment moves. Does any one have an idea for a mechanism to do this in a piece of lego equipment. The problem is that the Lego power cords are so stiff. I've had limited success with EV3 cables from a third party. I cannot find a vendor of PF connectors or I would build my own. Any ideas?

Thanx

[letsbuild]

1 hour ago, knotian said:

I'm modelling underground mining equipment. Many of these are electrical ( in the real world) and use power cables that extend and retract as the equipment moves. Does any one have an idea for a mechanism to do this in a piece of lego equipment. The problem is that the Lego power cords are so stiff. I've had limited success with EV3 cables from a third party. I cannot find a vendor of PF connectors or I would build my own. Any ideas?

Thanx

PF connector cables are actually quite flexible, at least, my experience, and they can be purchased online pretty easily.

[knotian]

I'm looking for something like a flat cable that can be easily rollod up on a small drum.

[letsbuild]

8 minutes ago, knotian said:

I'm looking for something like a flat cable that can be easily rollod up on a small drum.

The PF cables are applicable to that. They are quite flat.

[Isak]

I think as long as you use a drum to roll the pf cables onto, they should work out great. They are quite flat:

[Saberwing40k]

Unfortunately, the problem is not just the cable. You need a slip ring to get power from the cable out the reel, otherwise you get tangled wires. Unless, you want a faux cable, and reel. I have never seen any sort of mining vehicle that had a flat cable, round ones are so much easier to manage. I'd try using pneumatic hoses as a faux cable.

[Captainowie]

Do you particularly need to use a drum? I imagine you could construct a flexible cable-tray around track links that folds back on itself a greater or lesser extent as the machinery it's connected to extends or retracts.

Owen.

[nbTMM]

Worth noting that there are counterfeit PF cables out in the wild which are much stiffer than the genuine Lego PF cables. If you are buying cables from china then they are bound to be counterfeit. They use stiff, shiny plastic insulation on the wires whereas the Lego PF cables use flexible silicone rubber which has more of a matte finish.

[knotian]

Thanks for all the suggestions and help. I believe Saberwing brought out the killer item (slip ring). So I am going to use a mix of equipment.  Both will use sbricks for control. The equipment that does not move very far/fast (Continuous miner) will have a faux cable and a reel with a twisted rubber band for power. The other equipment (Shuttle car, bolter, etc) will use the battery models like in 'real life'.

Thanx,

Ed