jaimwolfe Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Menards has their green outdoor 20' 16awg grounded extension cords on sale for $3.99 each, which is only ~.20 a foot. I was searching for 16/2 SPT-2 and couldn't find it much cheaper than that anywhere online. I bought out the Mishawaka, Indiana Menards, and now I won't have to fool around with cutting and making my own custom cables (Time savers are important to me with a toddler).Just thought other would like to know where some deals are. The sale is through 10/30/11. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wbottomley Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Not a bad deal considering the price of copper right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lester Stone Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I do not have a Menards near me, but was able to order them online. ordered 36 of them and there was only 15 dollor shipping fee. still made them very cheap. Thanks for the heads up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstorms Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Do you have a link? I'm searching their site and not finding this deal....or maybe you already bought them all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james campbell Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 jstorms wrote: Do you have a link? I'm searching their site and not finding this deal....or maybe you already bought them all http://www.menards.com/main/electrical/electrical-cords/extension-cords/16-3-20-green-cord/p-1462564-c-6410.htmI had to put in my zip and find a store around me to get the 3.99 price.otherwise it was 5.39 I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medman2000 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 OMG so sweet! Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lester Stone Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I found it online for 3.99 plus they charged for shipping. Even after the shipping charge it was cheap. Just went to menards.com and searched for 20 ft. extension cords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisl1976 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 purchased about 50 for a project I have from there.....30 were purchased a week ago before the sale.....for a $30 price adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imawlkr2 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I bought 26 25' orange cords earlier this year for $4.99 each. I should have waited for the green...oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaimwolfe Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 Imawlkr2, You paid the exact same price per foot, but just with orange, so you didn't really miss a deal. The green is less easy to see though. Someone else posted that last year Lowes had 40' 16/3 for 5.99, so I will be jumping all over that deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medman2000 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 a few years ago someone posted a breakdown of cost/foot for self-made 18/2 lamp wire + male/female vampire plugs, and it included a "break even" length. I just don't remember the specifics. Anyone remember the details?If I were to make a 20' cord right now = 0.12/foot for the sp2 = $2.40 plus $1.20 for male+female vampire plugs = $3.6. I'd pay the extra $0.40 for the difference between these cords for sure.Off to buy more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james campbell Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 medman2000 wrote: a few years ago someone posted a breakdown of cost/foot for self-made 18/2 lamp wire + male/female vampire plugs, and it included a "break even" length. I just don't remember the specifics. Anyone remember the details?If I were to make a 20' cord right now = 0.12/foot for the sp2 = $2.40 plus $1.20 for male+female vampire plugs = $3.6. I'd pay the extra $0.40 for the difference between these cords for sure.Off to buy more short runs are less cost effective but where spt has an advantage is longer and custom length runs. also .40 adds up over the cost of 100 or more cords Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medman2000 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 so 100 cords x 0.40 = $40.00 - I guess it depends on how fast you can make cords vs buying them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james campbell Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 medman2000 wrote: so 100 cords x 0.40 = $40.00 - I guess it depends on how fast you can make cords vs buying them.40 bucks is almost halfway to 1000 foot roll of spt,plus if you have a 60 to 75 foot run it makes more sense to make your own then waste buying a 100 or even an 80 footer. imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medman2000 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I'm not sure the formatting will turn out well here, but below is a cost assessment, considering cost of plugs (lowest I've seen is 0.6 per male and 0.6 per female), lowest I could find per foot of SPT2 (0.18), and considering labor cost depending on how much you make per hour ($15, $30, $45, $60) just for some anchors of cost. The columns for users to consider are probably #3 (number of feet of cord) and then the last 4 columns (which takes into account how much it costs to personally build vs buy at a store).Looking at this, assuming I make $15 per hour as my salary, and assuming I can make each cord in 4 minutes, I should buy any 6' cord if it is less than $3.28, any 9' cord if it is less than $3.82, any 15' cord if it is less than $4.90, any 20' cord if it is less than $5.80, any 25' cord if it is less than $6.70, any 50' cord if it is less than $11.20.The $$/hr will be different for each of us, and the value on our personal time will be different for each of us, but looking at these numbers.... I feel pretty good about buying 20' cords for $4.60 (my cost plus tax and shipping). 15/hr 30/hr 45/hr 60/hrplugs wire feet ext total labor labor labor labor cost1 cost2 cost3 cost41.2 0.18 1 0.18 1.38 1 2 3 4 2.38 3.38 4.38 5.381.2 0.18 2 0.36 1.56 1 2 3 4 2.56 3.56 4.56 5.561.2 0.18 3 0.54 1.74 1 2 3 4 2.74 3.74 4.74 5.741.2 0.18 4 0.72 1.92 1 2 3 4 2.92 3.92 4.92 5.921.2 0.18 5 0.9 2.1 1 2 3 4 3.1 4.1 5.1 6.11.2 0.18 6 1.08 2.28 1 2 3 4 3.28 4.28 5.28 6.281.2 0.18 7 1.26 2.46 1 2 3 4 3.46 4.46 5.46 6.461.2 0.18 8 1.44 2.64 1 2 3 4 3.64 4.64 5.64 6.641.2 0.18 9 1.62 2.82 1 2 3 4 3.82 4.82 5.82 6.821.2 0.18 10 1.8 3 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 71.2 0.18 11 1.98 3.18 1 2 3 4 4.18 5.18 6.18 7.181.2 0.18 12 2.16 3.36 1 2 3 4 4.36 5.36 6.36 7.361.2 0.18 13 2.34 3.54 1 2 3 4 4.54 5.54 6.54 7.541.2 0.18 14 2.52 3.72 1 2 3 4 4.72 5.72 6.72 7.721.2 0.18 15 2.7 3.9 1 2 3 4 4.9 5.9 6.9 7.91.2 0.18 16 2.88 4.08 1 2 3 4 5.08 6.08 7.08 8.081.2 0.18 17 3.06 4.26 1 2 3 4 5.26 6.26 7.26 8.261.2 0.18 18 3.24 4.44 1 2 3 4 5.44 6.44 7.44 8.441.2 0.18 19 3.42 4.62 1 2 3 4 5.62 6.62 7.62 8.621.2 0.18 20 3.6 4.8 1 2 3 4 5.8 6.8 7.8 8.81.2 0.18 21 3.78 4.98 1 2 3 4 5.98 6.98 7.98 8.981.2 0.18 22 3.96 5.16 1 2 3 4 6.16 7.16 8.16 9.161.2 0.18 23 4.14 5.34 1 2 3 4 6.34 7.34 8.34 9.341.2 0.18 24 4.32 5.52 1 2 3 4 6.52 7.52 8.52 9.521.2 0.18 25 4.5 5.7 1 2 3 4 6.7 7.7 8.7 9.71.2 0.18 26 4.68 5.88 1 2 3 4 6.88 7.88 8.88 9.881.2 0.18 27 4.86 6.06 1 2 3 4 7.06 8.06 9.06 10.061.2 0.18 28 5.04 6.24 1 2 3 4 7.24 8.24 9.24 10.241.2 0.18 29 5.22 6.42 1 2 3 4 7.42 8.42 9.42 10.421.2 0.18 30 5.4 6.6 1 2 3 4 7.6 8.6 9.6 10.61.2 0.18 31 5.58 6.78 1 2 3 4 7.78 8.78 9.78 10.781.2 0.18 32 5.76 6.96 1 2 3 4 7.96 8.96 9.96 10.961.2 0.18 33 5.94 7.14 1 2 3 4 8.14 9.14 10.14 11.141.2 0.18 34 6.12 7.32 1 2 3 4 8.32 9.32 10.32 11.321.2 0.18 35 6.3 7.5 1 2 3 4 8.5 9.5 10.5 11.51.2 0.18 36 6.48 7.68 1 2 3 4 8.68 9.68 10.68 11.681.2 0.18 37 6.66 7.86 1 2 3 4 8.86 9.86 10.86 11.861.2 0.18 38 6.84 8.04 1 2 3 4 9.04 10.04 11.04 12.041.2 0.18 39 7.02 8.22 1 2 3 4 9.22 10.22 11.22 12.221.2 0.18 40 7.2 8.4 1 2 3 4 9.4 10.4 11.4 12.41.2 0.18 41 7.38 8.58 1 2 3 4 9.58 10.58 11.58 12.581.2 0.18 42 7.56 8.76 1 2 3 4 9.76 10.76 11.76 12.761.2 0.18 43 7.74 8.94 1 2 3 4 9.94 10.94 11.94 12.941.2 0.18 44 7.92 9.12 1 2 3 4 10.12 11.12 12.12 13.121.2 0.18 45 8.1 9.3 1 2 3 4 10.3 11.3 12.3 13.31.2 0.18 46 8.28 9.48 1 2 3 4 10.48 11.48 12.48 13.481.2 0.18 47 8.46 9.66 1 2 3 4 10.66 11.66 12.66 13.661.2 0.18 48 8.64 9.84 1 2 3 4 10.84 11.84 12.84 13.841.2 0.18 49 8.82 10.02 1 2 3 4 11.02 12.02 13.02 14.021.2 0.18 50 9 10.2 1 2 3 4 11.2 12.2 13.2 14.2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBullard Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Labor cost?I set a spool of SPT wire at the controller. Grab one end and walk to the prop or string. Slip on the female (5 sec)walk back to the controller, cut wire and slip on male (7 sec).I don't see labor as being a factor, since the same steps are involved using premade cords. Possibly more, if you have to find and plug multiple cords together.My average cost for the green SPT 1/3 that Paul at CDI sells, is 8 cents foot. Couple years ago one of his dealers was going out of business and selling out. Paid $79 per 1000 feet DELIVERED. I bought 10,000 feet and still have several full spools in inventory.I usually pay 40 cents for the males and females during the off season. This vendor is selling them for .50 males and .52 females.http://store.lightsmusicmagic.com/Male-Plugs_c_947.htmlJust my opinions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beeiilll Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I agree.I try to pick up a few rolls of zip during the CDI spring sale along with 500 or so female and male plugs.During setup it is so easy to just set up a couple of rolls around the yard and pull off as needed.After the second year I had most all the cords I needed set up but it is no problem to have a roll out there if I decide to change things around.Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medman2000 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 That's fair, and for sure I respect JBullard's opinion - I guess in my experience I've never found lamp wire less than 0.12 and searching before my post best price I could find was 0.18 - regardless, in looking at the numbers it really does come down to the labor (the other numbers +/- a few cents probably do not matter). My perspective is probably skewed in that I have always made my homemade cords to a standard length, and never made them faster than 4 minutes per cord (measuring length, affixing the plugs). I also admire anyone who can measure a length of wire and affix both a female and male end in 12 seconds (sincerely - admiring that skill - I just can't do it that fast - takes me 12 seconds just to make sure I have the polarity right on one end and then the other!).Perhaps for me, then, it comes down to how I value my time. If labor is the differentiating factor (comparing buying online or buying online and then making my own) the numbers would suggest the balance ends up being purchasing pre-made. I'll also share that this is the first time I've looked at this, and up to this point, have made (easily) 2000 feet of my own cord - but moving forward, considering my own pace of making cords vs. buying a 20' or 40' pre-made (at 16/3 vs 18/2) - I'm never making my own again!to each their own I guess? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medman2000 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Ok, I can see the differences... below takes the best case scenarios into consideration, wire at 0.08 per foot and plugs 50 cents per end = $1 - and assuming an equal labor cost (taking it out of the box and plugging it in vs making your own, and for me that isn't an equal cost not even close). Assuming shipping costs/tax are equal (fair assumption). Please note, for people who can't make their own wire as fast as taking it out of a box, and for people who can no longer find wire at 0.08/foot the numbers will be different:plugs feet per footlength total1 1 0.08 0.08 1.081 2 0.08 0.16 1.161 3 0.08 0.24 1.241 4 0.08 0.32 1.321 5 0.08 0.4 1.41 6 0.08 0.48 1.481 7 0.08 0.56 1.561 8 0.08 0.64 1.641 9 0.08 0.72 1.721 10 0.08 0.8 1.81 11 0.08 0.88 1.881 12 0.08 0.96 1.961 13 0.08 1.04 2.041 14 0.08 1.12 2.121 15 0.08 1.2 2.21 16 0.08 1.28 2.281 17 0.08 1.36 2.361 18 0.08 1.44 2.441 19 0.08 1.52 2.521 20 0.08 1.6 2.61 21 0.08 1.68 2.681 22 0.08 1.76 2.761 23 0.08 1.84 2.841 24 0.08 1.92 2.921 25 0.08 2 31 26 0.08 2.08 3.081 27 0.08 2.16 3.161 28 0.08 2.24 3.241 29 0.08 2.32 3.321 30 0.08 2.4 3.41 31 0.08 2.48 3.481 32 0.08 2.56 3.561 33 0.08 2.64 3.641 34 0.08 2.72 3.721 35 0.08 2.8 3.81 36 0.08 2.88 3.881 37 0.08 2.96 3.961 38 0.08 3.04 4.041 39 0.08 3.12 4.121 40 0.08 3.2 4.21 41 0.08 3.28 4.281 42 0.08 3.36 4.361 43 0.08 3.44 4.441 44 0.08 3.52 4.521 45 0.08 3.6 4.61 46 0.08 3.68 4.681 47 0.08 3.76 4.761 48 0.08 3.84 4.841 49 0.08 3.92 4.921 50 0.08 4 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBullard Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I agree, to each their own.A difference I guess is I never measure. Just pull what I need across the yard, and slip end on. I never look, can just feel the ribs on the neutral, and slip on the plug (less then 5 sec)Back when i used store bought cords, always ended up with too much cord, or not enough - then had to walk back to the tote to get another one to finish.Most of my zip cords are made into wiring harness and I label with tyvex labels the prop they go to. In my case, really speeds up set up.Just my experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts