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Author
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Topic: Price of wire.
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Joe Manes
Knows what it's all about
Member # 686
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posted September 08, 2006 09:53 PM
Today I went to Lowes to get some 14/3-300 V wire for a project at work. I looked and they had 14/3 on the spool for 89 cents/ft. Which would have been $44.50.
Now Ive been hearing about how much copper is going
up etc...etc....so I started looking for an alternative.
I found an extension cord for 15 bucks-50 ft. long.
It was made of 14/3 at 300 V.
Which makes it a much more reasonable 30 cents/ft. Just cut the ends off.
Something to keep in the back of your mind, I thought I would pass it on.
Posts: 31 | From: Phoenix | Registered: Jul 2005
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Leonard
HMFIC
Member # 2
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posted September 08, 2006 11:09 PM
Yeah, sometimes it pays to just buy a made up extention cord, SO, SJ, three or even 4 conductor, whatever? But, some of that plastic stuff will crack when frozen, so while it (vinyl) may be suitable for some applications, it is a problem for some others.
Good hunting. LB
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EL BEE Knows It All and Done It All.
Don't piss me off!
Posts: 31462 | From: Upland, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Tim Behle
Administrator MacNeal Sector
Member # 209
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posted September 09, 2006 10:07 AM
Joe, you probably don't have to worry about that wire getting too cold up in Phoenix, but watch out for the sun! It will literally eat the protective coating off of the wires, leaving you with three bare wires about a millimeter apart.
I've even found wire that is rated to be sun resistant decomposing under our desert sun.
But I'm with you on finding cheaper ways to wire. I just had to replace the 4 conductor cable that runs from my power shed to my house, to a meter that lets me know how my solar panels are charging, and the fullness of the battery bank.
The four conductor wire sold for this purpose is $1.29 a foot. I bought 100' of two pair phone line from Wal-mart for $6
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Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take
an ass kickin'.
Posts: 3160 | From: Five Miles East of Vic, AZ | Registered: Jun 2003
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Cowboyvon
Knows what it's all about
Member # 854
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posted September 09, 2006 11:51 AM
Don't forget to keep your scrap copper. I had over 500 lbs. Burned the coating off of it and took it to the scrap yard and it brought $2.50 lb. $1390.00 just laying in my junk pile ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtVDfG3GPTm8FbNY0Bb-oBA
Posts: 23 | From: Rincon NM | Registered: May 2006
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Rowney
PAKMAN
Member # 934
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posted September 11, 2006 12:06 PM
hell in dallas people are driving by the light poles and stripping the wire on the highway rightaway during the night, tie a wire puller to their bumper and off they go. Hell, with copper at 3.25 /lb here, i dont blame em. But it sure is screwing up all the contractors, most are having to hire security for there job sites.
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There's more than 1 way to skin a cat...
Posts: 8 | From: Lewisville, TX | Registered: Aug 2006
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