Lighting and electrical parts sourcing

[grantjd]

Im at the point where i need to buy all the electrical parts for my shop. Id like to make a mass order, is there a preferred retailer online you guys use?

I have plastic gang boxes for all the 120V stuff, nailed to studs. I need like 50+ duplex 120V receptacles. Any particularly good ones or ones to stay away from? cover plates too.

I have 5 30amp boxes that id like to run 220v 30amp twistlock plugs to. does the gangbox for this need to be metal? Is there a better option for 30amp outlets? this is for welders, a lathe, mill, etc.

I then have a 40amp and a 50 amp circuit - id like to run the nema 50amp receptacle. metal gang box required for these?


For lighting, im planning on 7 of the 4x48" t8 fixtures. I found the contractor lighting supply link for those in here.

Any good motion lights for the outside?

I have wall mount light boxes i need to get lights for, cantilevered off the wall over the workbench.

Thanks for any advice! Ill be wandering around the internet as well.

Great site!

grant

 

[tmars]

I too am getting ready to wire my building. Where are you getting your lights? Thanks

 

[mrb]

I have alot of the good quality hubbell industrial grade 15A duplex receptacles in black and red, and 20A duplex receptacles in blue. I also have 10 or so leviton 6-50 welder receptacles. Let me know if i can help you out.

 

[jbs]

I have had good luck with Fruit Ridge Tools for receptacles, cover plates, etc.

They have a pretty lousy website (hard to browse, you have to use the search), but excellent prices. I got lots of Leviton 5362 receptacles in various colors for $2-4. I also got all my switches, dimmers, 6-50R, and L6-30R/P there too.

They may not be the best for one big order, but a good place to save some money if you start there and order what you can't find there, somewhere else.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Go to a local electrical supply house.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Get the unbreakable nylon cover plates you won't regret it. The cheapies will break if you tighten the screw one extra turn. Get outlets with holes in back that wires insert into and then tighten screw to make connection, not just insert wires and done as its a very bad connection just a little spring holding wire.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Go to a local electrical supply house.

This would be my first choice as well, unless you live on a remote island somewhere. You can deal with someone face to face at the counter - you'll get the parts you need, and it's a lot easier if you need more parts or do need to exchange or return something.

 

[mrb]

the problem with supply house is unless you have an account youre going to be paying retail list prices ie $12 for a $4 receptacle.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I disagree. I have a cash account at several suppliers and get very fair pricing. Sure I'm not a contractor spending 6 figures a year but they take good care of me. The parts are all good quality brands and they will order in anything I need.

 

[mrb]

I disagree. I have a cash account at several suppliers and get very fair pricing. Sure I'm not a contractor spending 6 figures a year but they take good care of me. The parts are all good quality brands and they will order in anything I need.

you just said you have an account...

 

[jeffmoss26]

Yeah but not a charge/net 30 account like a large contractor. There are many levels of pricing, and I highly doubt you will be ripped off by any reputable supplier.

 

[mrb]

Yeah but not a charge/net 30 account like a large contractor. There are many levels of pricing, and I highly doubt you will be ripped off by any reputable supplier.

Not ripped off, but harvey homeowner walking into a supply house is not going to get discounted pricing. You have an account and I would assume have a sales rep and purchase regularly.

I am speaking generally based on dealings with a couple large chain wholesalers. There may be local mom and pop places that will sell at low pricing levels to anyone off the street..

 

[jeffmoss26]

I will admit mine is a local chain. I don't have my own rep, I just go to the counter and whoever is free will wait on me. I don't spend a whole ton of money but I try to go to them first. I've got credit card accounts with some of the national suppliers too but mostly use only them for datacom.

 

[StumpjumperDave]

for your Motion light...i'd go with a RAB Lighting fixure...

 

[Cobra6]

My local supply houses could not match Home Depot and Lowes prices on Romex.

I noticed that Home Depot lowered their Romex prices about ~ 5% or so last week.

 

[Cobra6]

correction - Romex prices are down at Home Depot even more this week - 12% - 15% depending on the lengths

 

[PT Doc]

correction - Romex prices are down at Home Depot even more this week - 12% - 15% depending on the lengths

6/3 romex at hd was 91.50 and 141 at lowes for 50'.

 

[ishiboo]

I buy a lot of electrical stuff and 90% of it comes from the big box stores. Most of my stuff is purchased at either Lowes or Menards with a 10% Lowes coupon. It's hard to beat their prices, and they can order and sell you inexpensively a ton of stuff not stocked in the stores.

After that, I'll hit the Internet unless I need something ASAP, in which case I'll hit a supply house. For example, lighting fixtures I typically buy online. As StumpJumper said RAB is great for outdoor lighting.

I buy decent quality switches/receptacles, usually from Lowes. Has to have a good feel and not a hollow click, and receptacles need to have a nice solid plugging action, and preferably screw back wire.