Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Suggestions on how to straighten 12v coiled cig-adaptor cables?

Been thinking if I can't find the 2 wire 18ga thing I might cut the heads off the cables I have here for a older cell phone 12v adaptor but withthe cable coiled I am loosing a lot of cable length. Is there a way to straighten this out yet maintaining the soft flexibility of the cable after straightening it out?

Thanks.

I don't think so - at least, I've never seen it done successfully.

I feel your pain on finding the right cable. Sometimes, I go through electrojunk and scavenge just the cables and save them. Is there a computer recycler in your town? Often you can pick up obsolete electronic parts for pennies. Some might have some nice cable. Cut it off and recycle the rest.

Lite,

Well how did you straighten your up? I do have a Master heatgun with nozzle and curled attachment for circulating the heat back. I think my two settings are 550F/1000F.

You can't do it. That coil in the cord is a spring running along side the wires under the plastic. You can stretch it so it's not so curly but there will always be some curl to it. Have you thought about making your own with zip cord wire? Check your local Radio Shack for the required parts IF they stock parts. Some continue to stock parts and others have no clue about anything other than cell phones.

I was thinking I might just drop $5/ea for the fe/male cord at Batt.Space. I would like something nice looking but more importantly I like the uncoiled so it's not tangled up. I like the way the NiteHawk AL-X cord is. It is easy to work with while riding or setting it up on the helmet or bike and I've had some situations where some sketchies are coming up to me a little distance away calling on me and the faster and simplier I can get the light mounted on the bike the faster I can be in motion which it is harder and less valnurable I am.

It's a bummer trying to find that type of wire tho. I'm not sure if there is a specific name for it. I mean if Battery Space has it as with TrailTech and such there has to be some off the shelf source somewhere. Everytime I say 'two wire in one' I get pointed tot he speaker wire. :(

I was thinking I might just drop $5/ea for the fe/male cord at Batt.Space. I would like something nice looking but more importantly I like the uncoiled so it's not tangled up. I like the way the NiteHawk AL-X cord is. It is easy to work with while riding or setting it up on the helmet or bike and I've had some situations where some sketchies are coming up to me a little distance away calling on me and the faster and simplier I can get the light mounted on the bike the faster I can be in motion which it is harder and less valnurable I am.

It's a bummer trying to find that type of wire tho. I'm not sure if there is a specific name for it. I mean if Battery Space has it as with TrailTech and such there has to be some off the shelf source somewhere. Everytime I say 'two wire in one' I get pointed tot he speaker wire. :(

Heavy gage speaker wire is the same as lamp cord wire also known as zip cord wire. Hardware and building supply stores also sell it by the foot. If you look closely at it you will note one of the wires will have ribs embedded in the plastic. Thats how you know which wire is positive for DC circuits and neutral wire for AC circuits. I always add a bit of red heat shrink tubing to the positive wire as a second way to designate the positive lead. A little black electrical tape on the negative lead works as well but it's not pretty and can come off after exposure to the weather.
DX has inexpensive 12 volt splinters. would something like this take care of your needs?

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6772

http://www.dealextreme.com/productimages/sku_6772_2.jpg
This one has a USB connector so you could recharge your phone or a GPS unit as well.