Cheapest source for SO/SJ cord?

[American Locomotive]

Does anyone have a good source for SO/SJ cord? I'm looking to make some extension cords of various lengths, with non-standard ends. I'm not interested in all of the terrible SJEOOW and SJTW cords that dominate the market. I'm over stiff cords that can be used as tent poles in the winter.

The cheapest source I've been able to find 10/3 and 12/3 SJOW and SOOW cord has been Lowes of all places, but that can't be right, can it? I'd also be interested in a pre-made extension cord that was actually made with SOOW or SJOOW cord.

 

[mike93lx]

The big box stores usually have the best prices on most wire and cable, in my experience. Hard to beat the volume they do.

I'd check wire and cable your way and ebay as well, but shipping might push it past lowe's

 

[Jim greengo]

Have you looked online?

 

[American Locomotive]

Have you looked online?

Yes, and I was kind of shocked to see that a big box store would have the lowest price around on SO cable.

 

[ycgoat]

There is a way of folding up a hard plastic sheathed extension cord, that works pretty good for me, its more like a chain link than a coil.

 

[Davefr]

I'm so frustrated with today's terrible wire quality where the jacket either comes pre-petrified or petrifies in just a couple years. My shop vac. cord has gotten so stiff you can't even coil it and it's become a trip hazard. I don't know why old fashioned flexible rubber insulated cord is so hard to find. I bought a 15' replacement cord from Amazon but it came so stiff I immediately tossed it in the garbage. However here's a really nice brand that I finally bought. It's very flexible, coils like a charm and doesn't have a memory. The jacket is rubber/neoprene called SJEO which I believe is the best for flexibility. (E = elastomeric??)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077YFBG8T/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[theoldwizard1]

You do NOT need SO cord. It is rated for 600V. SJO is rated for 300V !

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I have been known to by pre-made cords and cut off the length I need, if the price is right.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The jacket is rubber/neoprene called SJEO which I believe is the best for flexibility. (E = elastomeric??)

You have it backwards. SJOO use rubber/neoprene for both the inner and outer insulation. Long wearing and flexible down to below freezing. SJEO get very stiff around freezing.

There are special low temp cords that stay flexible to below zero. (Do they use finer stands ?)

 

[nadogail]

Retailers will stock and sell what their customers are buying. If the majority of their customers want the lowest price extension cords, they will sell them to those who want to spend their money on low quality but barely adequate cords.
If you really want the better quality stuff, don’t expect to buy it for the lowest price.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Check Menards for SJOO cords. Precut sections. That’s what I used for the extension cord I use for my welder and plasma cutter.

 

[Davefr]

I don't see anything in the SJOO spec that addresses rubber jacket or flexibility. I assume it can be made with PVC or rubber. The only feature that would suggest flexibility would be something with an E??

SJOOW stands for: S = Service Cord (600 Volts) J = Junior Service Cord (300 Volts) OO = Oil Resistant both inside insulation and outside jacket. W = CSA designation for weather/water resistance.

The first wire I bought was SVO. V=Vacuum rated. It was terribly stiff.

 

[American Locomotive]

SJ and SO without any modifiers like T, E or V by rule have a thermoset rubber jacket. T means thermoplastic, which is usually PVC. E is thermoplastic elastomer, which as properties between the two. E jackets are really flexible, but they can melt if they touch hot things. Rubber jackets won't melt (although they will burn).

 

[vwpieces]

Don't mean to highjack the thread... but with the discussion on types and flexibility I figured I would ask here.
Needing a replacement cord for a cord reel used in the shop. Recommendations?

Old one had a broken conductor inside the cord.

 

[cybrdyke]

Actual rubber hasn't been used in cable for decades. It's not sustainable and is a poor performer. Portable cord (SO and SJO variants) use one of 3 materials for the jacket, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) or crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE). TPE is the cheaper, more common jacket and behaves more like thermoplastic. It can be blended, however, to be very flexible in the cold. CPE is more expensive and stays flexible in cold better than typical TPE. XLPE is the best performer in cold weather and has the toughert abrasion and cut resistance.
The inner core material is either TPE, or EPDM, sometimes referred to as EPDM rubber, because it's very similar to rubber. All of these materials are often referred to as "rubber" even though they're all synthetic.
The best ratings for cold weather are blended TPE jackets and insulation that claim flexibility down to -50c. These use SEO and SJEO nomenclature. Not all TPE cords are blended this way, though. You have to check the specs to see. The CPE cords are rated around -40c. You'll find variations to these claims, of course. Either way, if it's -40c or -50c, you shouldn't be outside messing with extension cords.
CD

 

[PoorUB]

I shop carefully and buy a high quality all weather cord and put on the ends I want if doing something out of the ordinary.

I did a bunch of construction here last summer and bought a bunch of extension cords from Hone Depot and were very pleased with them.

These in various lengths,

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwi...rd-with-Power-Light-Plug-2549SWUSA1/205544538

 

[Mr_fixit]

I bought some 12/3 sjoow on ebay recently. I should get it on Monday....

50’ 12/3 SJOOW Portable Power Cord Outdoor Durable Flexible Wire Cable 300v PRD | eBay

MADE IN USA. WATER RESISTANT.

www.ebay.com

 

[yyc_ranger_4x4]

Call local electrical suppliers....on a regular basis they have rolls of either SOOW or SJOOW that go on sale with a package of cord ends. You can also get off cuts from their bulk area, like end of roll cuts. That's all I run now for cords around the shop/garage. If you need something light and not overly long....get some 16/3 SJOOW. If you're running 100'+, then go with a 12/3. SJOOW is rated for 300V, SOOW is 600V. The SOOW will definitely stand up to a little more wear and tear, but it's jacket is much heavier.

Buy decent ends if you're looking for something non-standard. Hubbell are my go-to....but they're not the cheapest.

 

[rburke65]

Nothing upsets me more when ya purchase a corded power tool and the mfg. ups some piece of **** cordage on it that even in the month of August, the cord won’t uncoil! Charge me an extra $5 and put on a decent cord.