(MONEY Magazine) – The video cassette recorder has found a permanent place in America's living rooms. So secure is its position that there are now accessories that can & extend its life and enhance its versatility. Here are two of the most useful: -- A study by the Electronic Industries Association shows that 15% of all repairs on video cassette recorders result from breakdowns of the machines' rewinding systems. Another 43% involve related wear on the machines' heads, the parts that pick up the signal from the tape and transmit it to the screen. Repairs for rewinder breakdowns, which usually occur after the one-year warranty has expired, can run upwards of $150, and replacing heads can cost $300. But by investing as little as $24 in a separate rewinding machine, you can save wear and tear on both these components, not to mention your pocketbook. The rewinders -- about the size of a hardback book -- plug into your wall outlet and will usually last for about five years with normal use. They will not only rewind your tapes, but some will also offer fast-forward and erase options. You simply eject the tape from your VCR when it is time to rewind, put it through its motions in the independent rewinder and store the tape for its next use or return it to the video store -- saving yourself the common $1 penalty for returning unrewound tapes. You will find rewinders at the same stores that sell VCRs. The most popular model, the Recoton, goes for $60 and offers both erase and forward functions. But strong new contenders from Taiwan -- the Centrong and the Video Vision -- weigh in at just $24 and $30, respectively. -- For those with two or three televisions and only one VCR at home, there are now video multiplier devices that allow you to hook up two TVs, in different rooms, to one VCR. You can then use your VCR's remote controller to change channels or operate the VCR from either room. This is achieved by stringing a thin wire between the VCR and the TV sets. The device consists of two components -- a transmitter and a receiver -- each about the size of a cigar box. If you are a cable subscriber, you can use the multiplier to save the cost of a second cable hookup, although it will not allow you to tune in two different cable channels at the same time. You can find video multipliers such as the Rabbit from Rabbit Systems for about $90 at stores where VCRs are sold. Radio Shack also offers the remote controller and the multiplier as separate devices. Total price: $60.