Retractable cord reels are disclosed. The retractable cord reels include a housing portion and a spool disposed within the housing portion. The spool has an outer surface associated with an expansion chamber within the housing portion, an inner channel configured to hold a wound length of flat electrical cable and a passage extending between the outer surface and the inner channel. The retractable cord reels also include a flat electrical cable having a first portion disposed in the expansion chamber, a second portion disposed in the inner channel, and a third portion disposed in the passage to follow a path from the outer surface of the spool to the inner channel.
