A cable retractor for releasing and retracting an application cable. a cable retractor comprises a base; a spool having sides, the spool rotatably secured to the base to permit the application cable to be wrapped around the spool; a mandrel disposed concentrically within the spool, the mandrel being rotationally secured to the base to prevent axial rotation of the mandrel relative to the base; and the mandrel further having a recessed groove running lengthwise, and an internal cable having an outer connector and inner connector, the outer connector being connected through the spool to one end of the application cable, and the inner connector being exposed at one end of the mandrel from within the recessed groove.