Coleman Cable 962384509 500-Feet Solid Copper Wire, CL2 General Purpose Cable, 22/4-Pair

Why we love it?

500-Feet spool of wire Remote control, signaling, security systems, communications, single line telephone, intercom/p.a. systems

Some comments about this we saw on the web:

* /u/LetMeBe_Frank on /r/BurningMan I usually go with eBay from China or Hong Kong sellers. I don’t really have a rush with my projects so I’ll deal with the 2-4 week wait. They have the best prices (usually about 10-35 cents per LED in 100 packs). I used Amazon for 140 assorted 0603 SMD (Xbox/PS3 controller) LEDs, 20 each of 7 colors. That was something like $12. Checking eBay just now, 100 5mm RGB LEDs are about $15 from Hong Kong and $12 From China. Hong Kong has a significantly sooner estimated delivery date, at 7-12 days. Amazon (with Prime) is great for when I needed LEDs yesterday but is typically twice the cost. If searching for 5mm RGB, using “common [anode/cathode]” will help narrow down the search and avoid the RGB strips or single-color LEDs that have red, green, and blue LEDs. I’m not sure about longevity since I’ve been doing this for 3 years and they stay on for relatively short periods. I have a yellow and a blue LED in my car that are always on with my fog/parking lights and still work 2 years later. I put 10 white in my trunk though, and two are dead (weirdly, in mirrored positions on two strips of 5). I haven’t been impressed with prices from Sparkfun and similar, and unless you need it INSTANTLY, AVOID Radioshack for small components. Remember I said I get Regular LEDs for about 15cents each, or 100 for $15? One blue 5mm LED at RS is about $4.50, which is $450 for 100. 3000% increase. Prices for breadboards or protoboard is only like 50-75% more than Amazon though, but forget LEDs/resistors/pots/etc.

For wiring, I use what I find. My dad has a lot of 18-24 gauge wire from various network rebuilds in his offices during the 80s. I like 22ga solid core wire. Solid core holds it’s shape and is thick enough to run the low power needs of LEDs. For RGBs, I use “CL2 ²²⁄₄” (similar style). 22ga/ 4 wires, since you only need 4 wires to run an RGB by combining either the positive or negative. It might be listed as phone or alarm wire. CL2 is just a fire resistance rating, but it helps narrow down results. 22ga solid also works in breadboards well. I’ve never bought wire, but when I run out I’ll probably buy a 500ft spool like that. Even if you don’t need 4 wires, It has 500 ft of each color so you can just cut the outside jacket and save the extras in a box for a similar situation later.

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