DiyLightAnimation
Fun => The Porch => Topic started by: zwiller on September 09, 2011,
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Anybody have a leads for "indoor" 6 foot extension cords at a good price? (better than $1.47 each). I suppose I am spoiled cause I got a ton of em last year at Menards for 69 cents. Holding out for a sale...
Thanks in advance!
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Dollar General has them for... $1 :) And their green.
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Dollar General has them for... $1 :) And their green.
Have you seen them for $1 lately?
Ron
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Wow.... I meant to say Dollar Tree and yes, I saw them there on Saturday... but I might second-think getting them when I saw this: http://www.dollartree.com/assets/product_files/pdf/recall_20060810.pdf (http://www.dollartree.com/assets/product_files/pdf/recall_20060810.pdf) I know it's from 2006 but the cords on the shelf look just like this one.
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I asked if you have seen them lately because I bought some of the green dollar tree ones. I went back to the local dollar trees last fall to buy a bunch more and all stores were out. I have not looked this year so far. I will check them out.
Thanks
Ron
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Anybody have a leads for "indoor" 6 foot extension cords at a good price? (better than $1.47 each). I suppose I am spoiled cause I got a ton of em last year at Menards for 69 cents. Holding out for a sale...
Thanks in advance!
Home Depot has white or brown for $1.14, I bought all they had in my area.
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I went back to the local dollar trees last fall to buy a bunch more and all stores were out.
As I have posted (perhaps on this board, perhaps elsewhere), Dollar Tree has an unusual inventory policy -- whatever comes on the truck they put out and when it's gone, it's gone. Sometimes the same product comes on the next truck, sometimes not.
If history is any guide, Dollar Tree puts out extension cords once a year and when they're gone ... well, you get the idea. You pretty much have to start prowling the stores right about this time of year and buy them out. I open my wallet, see how much money I have and buy that many cords.
I was speculating recently that they'd be selling five-foot cords this year, as their Cat5 cables suddenly got shorter a few months back. When you can't raise the price, you have to lower the cost somehow and we all know that the price of copper is skyrocketing.
HTH.
\dmc
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Well finally made it out to me Dollar Tree. No cords... I will make it a point to stop out now and then to see if they make it in. I looked at last years post and Menards ran a $.75 special in November. I can't pin it down, but around this time last year they had them on sale for $.69. I am watching like a hawk... But preparing myself to shell out $1 a pop if I have to.
Thanks for the replys!
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I had a few more expresses that needed cords and went with female vampire sockets on spt2 wire instead of more extension cords to save money. I know it is not as good but it is much cheaper.
Ron
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Not entirely against going that direction. However, when I run the numbers I just don't see the value. 6' of spt1 @$.15/ft plus a socket of $.50 is $1.40. Am I way off?
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Slightly off original discussion... I did put in a request to have custom cords made for my controllers from a vendor and they did come back with fairly reasonable pricing (although it did require a 500 pcs minimum order). For a 3' long 2-prong connector (not the 3-way blocks found on normal extension cords but just a single inline) the price was $0.97. For a 3' long 3-prong connector (like a heavy duty grounded outdoor (as in bright orange kind) extension cord), it was $1.51. Additional length was possible and was priced based upon current (as of time of order) copper and PVC costs. Lead time was only 21 days.
The cord drawings are attached for a better perspective of what's possible... maybe down the road one we could see a possible group buy to help DLA members source them cheaply and not have to worry about finding enough.
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http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10228 is where I bought a bunch of 1 ft to stick on my LEs.
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Not entirely against going that direction. However, when I run the numbers I just don't see the value. 6' of spt1 @$.15/ft plus a socket of $.50 is $1.40. Am I way off?
I thought you were cutting off all but 2 feet for controllers or something like most do. If the off site coop comes through I paid less then 30 cents for the plugs. I had a big box full of plug side of extension cords I cut for controllers. (about 4 feet with plug) I cut 2 feet off those cords and added a vampire socket. I see it costing me about 30 cents per plug/channel for my expresses.
You are not way off. It depends on what you have and need I guess.
Ron
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Truthfully, moving and putting away the LE with 6 footers can be a bear but often times I get to my lights without additional extension cords. I think your solution is perfect! Just wish I had a box of plug sides too...
This is making me rethink how I do things, and that's a good thing. Also giving me an idea for a new post. How do most people prefer setting up.
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I just arrived home from my latest foray to Dollar Tree ... no extension cords ...
But they were pretty surprised when I bought 16 night lights (I'm going to use them for testing midi-tree sequences).
What was I going to use 16 night lights for, asked the clerk.
My Christmas lights show, I allowed.
Oh, getting started early, she said.
No, I said. I'm late. I am so damn late.
\dmc
PS: Wife said the other night, "I don't suppose we could take a vacation in the last week of October, could we?" Only if you want to go alone, I said. "Christmas lights?" she said with scorn. Of course.
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I just went to my local walmart where the 6 footers were priced at 1.27 I took all they had to the register (60) and told them dollar tree has them for a dollar. Walked out for 60 bucks plus tax! :)
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What about just order them from MonoPrice http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10228&cs_id=1022802&p_id=5296&seq=1&format=2 1ft 16awg extension cord at 1.11 each for 16 of them. And 6ft 16awg extension cords at 2.52 for 16 of them. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10228&cs_id=1022802&p_id=5299&seq=1&format=2
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What about just order them from MonoPrice http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10228&cs_id=1022802&p_id=5296&seq=1&format=2 1ft 16awg extension cord at 1.11 each for 16 of them. And 6ft 16awg extension cords at 2.52 for 16 of them. http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10228&cs_id=1022802&p_id=5299&seq=1&format=2
2.52 each and not for 16 of them ...way to expensive unless there is something i misread
cheer
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I know thw post is about cheap indoor but some people my want high great outdoor cords that can eandle max load per channel. those dollar tree ones are 22awg and indoor only and most I have seen is no ground I like ading a grounding bar and grounding the whole thing. Because this controllers can be used on more then just christmas lights.
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The ones I got from walmart are 16 ga spt2.
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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.037600,-97.326668
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Heads up. Grabbed all 44 cords at the Dollar Tree yesterday. Manager said more on the way. Maybe you guys have access to Dollar Tree in your area.
Check out the psuedo fake UL style logo... :o
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I bought some at Dollar Tree when I bought the lights for my pumpkins. Haven't seen them lower than that.
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ETL (now Intertek) is another testing lab, like UL, and that does look like their logo. The C US on the logo means that it meets both Canadian and US standards.
/mike
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I know thw post is about cheap indoor but some people my want high great outdoor cords that can eandle max load per channel. those dollar tree ones are 22awg and indoor only and most I have seen is no ground I like ading a grounding bar and grounding the whole thing. Because this controllers can be used on more then just christmas lights.
22awg can handle max 7 AMP load, each channel on (for example) LE can only handle max 4amp, so I would not expect any load issues with 22awg per channel. For most Christmas lights, there are only 2 wires and polarity is not an issue. If I was using my controllers to make motors and other gadgetry operate, then 3 prong and polarity is important.
Hay, that gives me an idea, I could sequence Vixen and use an Exprsss for the rotisserie motor on my Gill for cooking a ham to Christmas music. Heck I could have 16 Grills going at once!
<pop..
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Now that gives me an idea!
I could use an Express to control motors to add water and wood chunks to my smoker automagically :)
now to come up with a way to lift the lid, pour water, and pour in wood chunks.
hmm..... I wonder If I could tie in a sensor to adjust the air louver based on the temperature in the smoker... that would be even more important than the water and wood chunks!
-Rimist
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BTW the Dollar Tree cords I just bought are 16AWG SPT2 but most importantly GREEN! ;D
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well this is what i did ..i purchase a 1000 ft of spt 2 wire from Criss @ http://wlcventures.com that come to 13 cent a ft ( shipping include) then purchase some vampire plug for them , 50 cent each ... so my extension for the LE are 63 cent a ft ... best deal i ever get on extension cord ... and of course i also get the old style casing for the LE lol
cheer
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well this is what i did ..i purchase a 1000 ft of spt 2 wire from Criss @ http://wlcventures.com that come to 13 cent a ft ( shipping include) then purchase some vampire plug for them , 50 cent each ... so my extension for the LE are 63 cent a ft ... best deal i ever get on extension cord ... and of course i also get the old style casing for the LE lol
cheer
Let's take a look at this. You spend $.63 a ft. to make your own extension cords. So for you to make 6ft it cost you $3.78. If you go to Home Depot, you can get 6ft ALREADY MADE for $1.14. I don't see the rational for spending twice the amount and spending all that time to make it. Am I missing something?
<pop..
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Absolutely, you're gonna miss out on all the fun making it yourself. After all this site is DYI. ;)
Leon
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well this is what i did ..i purchase a 1000 ft of spt 2 wire from Criss @ http://wlcventures.com that come to 13 cent a ft ( shipping include) then purchase some vampire plug for them , 50 cent each ... so my extension for the LE are 63 cent a ft ... best deal i ever get on extension cord ... and of course i also get the old style casing for the LE lol
cheer
Let's take a look at this. You spend $.63 a ft. to make your own extension cords. So for you to make 6ft it cost you $3.78. If you go to Home Depot, you can get 6ft ALREADY MADE for $1.14. I don't see the rational for spending twice the amount and spending all that time to make it. Am I missing something?
<pop..
Well, it's actually only $1.28 for a 6' home-made cord from SPT wire. $.50 for the end and $.13 a foot for the wire. 6ft of wire @ $.13= $.78, + $.50 end = $1.28. So not much of a price difference and you can make custom length cords. The most important part to me!
Donny
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FWIW, I take the Dollar Tree six-footers and make them any length I want by adding more SPT2 -- I just spice in the difference between six feet and I what I need. So, some solder and some heat-shrink tubing and I'm all set.
\dmc
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My math wasn't very good and really, I didn't flunk math...must have been a finger fart on the keyboard. I like the idea of having all that cord around so if you need to make one you can cusomize it. At first I wanted to make my own, but when I came across the $1.14 6 ft cords, I thought; self, that would save a little time. If you're NOT lazy like me, then being a true DIY would make sense; especially if you concider travel and the fuss of shopping around everytime there is an extension needed.
I think next year I'll just pick a spool of cord; that way I can make it when I need it.
<pop..
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It’s not all about the numbers. Everybody has their own preference on how to hookup. Until this year I’ve never considered mounting a controller closer to the majority of my lights. In the past I kept my controllers hidden behind trees close to my house. Don’t really know why. Kinda worried somebody might rip it off or open it up, etc. Problem is I used a lot of long extension cords to do this.
This year I am trying to design a layout where I can mount a controller close to the lights but still kind of hidden by another element. Hopefully this eliminates some really long extension cords. Anybody just stick a controller in the middle of the yard for optimum cord efficiency? Am I the only one trying to hide the controllers? I know you can’t see it at night, but just seems weird to me.
I need to build 4 LE’s this year. For 2 of them I am going to make 2 footers with vampire plugs from my 6 foot cords and see how it goes. Kinda weirded out by the vampire connectors but I figure they must work if that many of us are using em. My current LE’s have full 6 footers attached. Can be a bear to setup and tear down but I can get a lot hooked up to em with out extension cords.
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I use 1000' spools of spt and vampire plugs. Since going to this method I have stopped buying the extension cords. As I can make the cords any length that I need.
I put my controllers close to the lights, yea they can be seen but most people don't see them at night.
Bill
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I'm now finding that by putting my controllers near the lights and using smart strings which have power thru ethernet that I have a surplus of cords. How things change. And I'm not selling any at the moment. Always good to have extras around.
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Found plenty of the 16ga 6ft cords at local Dollar Tree stores. Can't find a single one of the metal clip light bases though
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After 2 years, I finally assembled my two LE's and then scrambled to get cords before Thanksgiving. Did a little homework, Homedepot has 6ft varieties for 1.47 and Lowes has a special for 1.19. Long story short I picked up 59 brown and white 6 footers for a 1.07 a piece, if I remember right. Now I just need to fix all my lights. Rust sidelined two led sets this year >:( and seems every multi set has had problems and problems and problems.