I was robbed.......at the big box store

Desk Jockey · Aug 5, 2013

I used to buy 12 gauge 25-foot extension cords for 16 bucks a pop. Now with copper so high they are nearly $30.00 a piece. :eekk:

The worse part is they only had (6) on hand at Home Depot, only yellow ones at Lowes and Menards. I prefer a color less common so we can distinguish ours form theirs.

Does that look like $200.00? :frown:

SMRBAP · Aug 5, 2013

I have replaced so many of those red and black cords Doc I could puke.

Pretty sure it's a crappy connections in the female side of the cord corroding, and a not so good grade of copper inside them - both connects and runs.

I don't buy their current draw ratings as a nominal rating - designed for that amp draw at short intervals off and on, not for 5 days contiguously. Even a consistent 10-11 amp of draw on the 50' / 100' the insulation shrinks up due to heat on the wires. 8-10 months and I am tossing them. On the other hand - the yellow guys from lowes, they are stuuupid expensive - but I don't have those issues, plus both ends have the lights.

I have gone to the utilitech pro 10/3 gauge, 20A, 100' runs, and hacked off the female end and wired a 4 way outdoor box on the end. I'll connect them to the little mytee converter boxes. Sets come as 2 units, gray cord/black cord. Black cord hits any 220 plug (dryer, range) I'll pull off the old style gray plug and leave exposed wire to connect directly to the panel. 2 boxes/connects, 4 cords = 80 amp on tap, enough to power just about any resi job.

As soon as I have a free $100k to burn - I'm getting all new AM's, the PC low amp fans. 10 on high per 15 amp circuit. Should remove about 75% of the cord games on jobs.

Desk Jockey · Aug 5, 2013

Sure now you tell me! :neutral:

I just ordered another $200.00 online from Home Depot, free shipping. :redface:

100 foots a lot of cord, we rarely need that long but we do have a few of them. 25-footers are what is on the trucks.

Willy P · Aug 5, 2013

I always carry 250 feet of 12/3 with me. Watch the tool company ads and websites, especially around Christmas and after. I got the last 100 footer for 49 bucks.Last week it was 40 footers for 35, but it was 16 gauge. I strip off the old plugs pretty quick as that's usually the weak link. Hubbell plug ends are the toughest I've found. You might also want to go to and electrical supply store and buy a roll of 12/3 cabtire and whatever tough p;ug ends themselves. If a simpleton like me can figure it out, it ain't rocket science.Ask if there's a discount for a whole roll.
http://www.hubbell.com/

dealtimeman · Aug 5, 2013

Costco has has a good deal on some good cords.

Desk Jockey · Aug 5, 2013

It's obvious they are pushing the 14 & 16 gauge, there was more section and quantity. Very limited in the 10 & 12 gauge.

Dan goes to Costco frequently, it's in KC but just 25-minutes from his house. I'll have him keep an eye out for them.

We only have Sam's here and they don't have extension cords.

SamIam · Aug 5, 2013

What about amazon??? They usually have good stuff for cheap

Desk Jockey · Aug 5, 2013

Thanks!
You're right but only the yellow. The blue are $30.00 but now I have a source to order blue.

 http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Cable...-33&keywords=25+foot+12+gauge+Extension+Cords

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Cable...-21&keywords=25+foot+12+gauge+Extension+Cords
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dealtimeman · Aug 5, 2013

Costco is a 12 gauge 3 wire lighted lit ends in blue

Scott Rogers · Aug 5, 2013

http://www.milspec-direct.com/Category.aspx?CategoryId=7

choice of 8 colors and they print your company name on the cords for free. and just under 27.00 for a 25 foot 12/3 cord

O and they include lighted ends!!

your_good_sons · Aug 5, 2013

At Harbor Freight, the 10 gauge are $30 for 25'. They have a lousy triplex female on the end, but that can be replaced. With 20% coupon, that makes them $24.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=extension+cord

Desk Jockey · Aug 5, 2013

Thanks guys I check them out.

Buy few and see how well they hold up.

Thanks!

Jim Martin · Aug 5, 2013

I use the 12/3...25 foot cords with the lighted ends.......anything over 25 foot just ends up being a tangled mess........

I have been using the same one forever.......

these cords have a memory............when you roll them up...take a few min and lay it out and let it twist itself the way it wants to go....so it can re-coil it up nice and neat...
if you do this..it will last a long long time............once it starts to twist inside the sheathing....might as well start ordering more.......

Desk Jockey · Aug 5, 2013

I agree Jim, we have a 50's and 100's but they don't get used much. 25-footers are mainly what we use, these Cable Wraptors are zip tied and used to keep them from being a tangled mess.

http://www.amazon.com/Gardner-Bender-CW-T3RR25-Large-Wraptor/dp/B002TRI1MG

Willy P · Aug 5, 2013

And then buy one of these to store your cord on. You will have to cut the hoses and shit, but they reel up like a fishing reel and don't get all twisty.

http://www.rona.ca/en/hose-reel---wall-mounted-hose-reel-79715037--1

bob vawter · Aug 5, 2013

Harbor Fright :evil:

steve g · Aug 5, 2013

that milspec place is pretty cool for custom cords. I personally like 12/3 lighted 50ft tri tap cords, for water damage. I used 14 gauge for alot of years but honestly I was being dumb. its not worth it to use cheap cords. 25 ft cords wouldn't work for me because often we are running the cords upstairs to get power off the main floor. you think those are expensive try the cords, plug ends and adaptors for spider boxes and power boxes.

Desk Jockey · Aug 5, 2013

Yea we an investment in spider boxes and extension cords too. ETES extension cords too.

Anyone need an ETES?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/E-TES-240-V...200?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a7edd2878

TomKing · Aug 5, 2013

I spent a grand on cords this year. I got the yellow ones. 50 footers. I went and got the Rubbermaid action packers to keep them stored so they don't get lost or come up missing.

Askal · Aug 6, 2013

just bought 5 100 footers at Costco for 40 bucks each cut them in half put on a new end and I have 8 50 footers.

SMRBAP · Aug 6, 2013

Doc,

I have spent at least $4000 on those cords over the years. As I said, a year and gone. I have 3 year old yellow utilitechs, zero signs of failure due to heat/corrosion. And those guys have been getting used a ton in the recent few years.

We run into a lot of :bullshit:

wire jobs in homes here in Indy. I have jobs where we have to run 20 AM's, 2 dehus, and have to pull from the 1st and 2nd floors to not pop breakers. A lot of handyman/craigslist quality basement finishing in this city.

And most of the newer homes we do have 2nd floor laundry, or the breaker panel in the garage on the far outside wall - so we use those 100's a good bit. 50's come up short for us a lot - 100's are a little too long. I was thinking about making my own 75'ers.

I'll probably cut up my 100' 10/3's and make a 75 and 25 out of each.

Extension cords is one place I won't cheap out on - I can't see saving $50 even $100 per cord, when a single fire could cost me well into the 6 figures.

Cheap insurance imo.

Desk Jockey · Aug 6, 2013

Big D is headed to Costco this weekend, he will look for them and see if them have them. I just both 12 for $400.00 but I need 8-10 cords for each of my 5-water trucks.

Lockhart sell me that damn Rover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and your Cimex, I know you're not using it! :winky:

I was robbed.......at the big box store

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