Sp1 wire

O

olingerjccj

Active member
I have been searching sorry if this is duplicate looking for a good source for sp1 wire and vampire plugs. Dreading using crazy extension cords. Making your own seems the way to go.
 
MartinMueller2003 said:
I dont use SPT1 wire. I use SPT2 wire. Bout these plugs from amazon. They are working well:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G [QUO...earch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1[/QUOTE]
I am just thinking i can get 500ft of 6ft extension cords from home depot for like 160. Seeing if i cam beat that.
Click to expand...
 
FYI - SPT wire, both SPT-1 and SPT-2, can have a wire size of 18AWG. The difference is the coating thickness. SPT-2 is physically thicker and usually has a longer lifespan, especially if used outdoors.

SPT-2 is also available in 16AWG, as stated by Martin. Slightly higher amp capability.

Several of the local pro-light installers (friends for years) have informed me that the SPT-1 wire is getting better coating now than it did 10 years ago, so it may be usable for the same amount of time as SPT-2.

My personal choice is SPT-2 with the 16 AWG core.
If I had a nickle for each foot of SPT wire that got used over the past 25 years, I might be able to aford moving to warmer climates where I could really test the longevity of the different coatings, but sadely it isn't so. ;)
 
I have a 1000ft role of green SPT 2 I will never use since I stopped doing a display. I would part with it for a reasonable offer. Looks like I have a "butt load" of connectors as well.
 
I've been using SPT-1 for all my AC controller outputs, because I felt SPT-2 was overengineered. They're carrying 110vac and most AC controller channels have a 2 amp upper limit anyway, so why be so rugged? I haven't had any issues.

However, mostly, though, I use neither. I recycle a lot. A bunch of my wiring goes behind a privacy fence, where ugly is good (or...at Halloween, ugly is good everywhere. Even the orange extension cord). I even recycle some broken AC string lights as extension cords--because if they partially work, they light up; so it's easy to identify the channel just by looking at it. Especially at night.
 
1pet2_9 said:
because I felt SPT-2 was overengineered.
Click to expand...
I live in Minnesota and my first year, 20 years ago, it was about 10 degrees during setup. I found that SPT-1 easily cracked and SPT-2 didn’t.

I also found that squirrels easily bit through the insulation of SPT-1 and SPT-2 was partly chewed but didn't reach the wire.

Once snow covers everything on the ground, that problem area goes away.

Otherwise, there's no difference in current carrying ability.
 
Besides plasma bringing fourth a solution, did you find any good pricing from a vendor? I have been looking and looking and can't seem to strike much below almost $1/plug which just seems insane to me? Why!!!? Ive always been one to prefer SPT-2 over SPT-1 , very similar reasoning to what Ernie has presented.. especially being just 1 state south of him. I feel I missed my mark on a spool of SPT-2 at $179 earlier this year, darn. If anyone knows of a supplier for SPT-1 plugs that can hit much below $1.00/each I sure would appreciate hearing about it.
 
If your target is simply under $1 each, Novelty Lights looks like a solid choice, especially if you need enough to hit their quantity discount. This price is the same for male and female.
  • 1 × 50: $63.98 → $1.28 each
  • 3 × 50: $50.03/pack → $1.00 each
  • 5+ × 50: $41.17/pack → 82.3¢ each
 
ErnieHorning said:
If your target is simply under $1 each, Novelty Lights looks like a solid choice, especially if you need enough to hit their quantity discount. This price is the same for male and female.
  • 1 × 50: $63.98 → $1.28 each
  • 3 × 50: $50.03/pack → $1.00 each
  • 5+ × 50: $41.17/pack → 82.3¢ each
Click to expand...
Thanks Ernie. I was hoping perhaps someone could provide a link to a vendor that is a part of the community still but I think so much has transitioned to pixels that the AC realm just really isn't as popular anymore :/ I found a bundle package that includes 20male/20 female plugs and puts the cost around $.55 each. I guess I will continue as I was going to, just was hoping I could support a vendor if possible.
 
I'm an anomaly in this hobby, as an AC blinker who's rarely made my own extensions with vampire taps.

I have a large bin of cords 'indoor' ranging from 6-15" which use the same SPT2 cable as the vampire taps. I have another couple bins of longer 3-prong cords in various sizes.

I've always just treed together a wiring network with these cords.

Where I do use custom cords is when I have a cluster of AC channels in one space, such as my leaping arches which go across the 200' front of our lot. I have a bunch of custom extensions that group these channels together into clusters. But they're not vampire/SPT2, but smaller multicore wire.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top