Coiling and Storing a Pool Robot Cable

Storage is where a lot of future tangles start. The cable remembers how it was left. That's cable memory. A maker's guide says a stored cable can form the same loops again once it's back in the water¹. So how you put it away decides how it behaves next time.

Getting it out of the pool

Pull the robot out by its handle, never by the floating cable². Switch off and unplug the power supply first, following your manual.

Then, as one maker puts it, take the cable out of the water slowly and let it drain¹.

Coiling it

Go for big, loose loops. The same maker says to store the cable dry, shaded, and in large loose loops, and that a figure-eight shape is also a good option¹.

What to avoid:

• Tight wraps around the caddy. One maker says not to wrap the cable tightly around it¹.
• Tight bends in general. Another guide says poor storage in tight bends sets persistent memory².

Where to keep it

Shade and dryness matter. Over time, a maker's blog says, heat and UV light can leave the outer jacket harder and more brittle¹. A sunny corner of the deck isn't a storage spot.

Beyond that, follow the maker. One guide tells owners to store the cleaner as the manufacturer recommends. For corded models it adds that the cable should be managed as instructed, to reduce tangling and wear³.

Straightening a cable that has set

If the cable already holds a coil, stretching it out helps. One guide says to stretch it to its full length every so often to limit memory².

One maker offers a heat step for a stubborn cable. Lay it straight on a flat surface for two to three hours, preferably on a warm and sunny day¹.

That sits oddly beside the UV warning above, so go carefully. Check your own manual before using heat. Don't leave the cable out any longer than you must.

Before you buy

• Does the robot come with a caddy or reel, and does it make you wrap the cable tightly?
• Does the manual describe how to store the cable?
• Is there a place at home that's dry, shaded and big enough for loose loops?

A cable that's hard to store loosely will be hard to keep straight. The other causes of twisting are laid out in this overview of tangles. It's worth a look if storage alone doesn't fix things.

The pattern across these guides is simple. Keep loops wide, keep the cable dry and out of the sun, and straighten it from time to time. Skip the tight wrap, even if the caddy seems made for it.