This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
Switchable Extension Cord
Dec
7
2010
We have an extension cord that is meant for Christmas lights. It’s a foot-pedal switch, intended to save you the hassle of crawling behind or underneath a Christmas tree to plug or unplug the lights. It looks pretty close to this:
This year, we put Christmas lights around the railings of Beta’s bunk bed. It was a pain turning them on and off, however, because the best plug was behind Alpha’s dresser. I figured we could go buy another switchable extension cord and make life easier. But once we found out it was $7.49, we decided otherwise.
Then I went to a hardware-type store on the way home from work one day. I found this
and this
for a total of this
which is a savings of 33% off the pre-made switch. For $4.96, you too can make your own light switch extension cord. There was another switch that was almost a dollar cheaper, but it was the rotary kind that comes with lamps and is not as easy for little fingers to work. And for less than a dollar (that’s $3 less than the switch I used), you can just use a normal light switch. But then you really should have an enclosure (non-conducting and fire-resistant) and I didn’t want to get into that.
So start with these two things:
and in 4 easy steps, and for less than $5.00, you too can build your own Christmas light switch (indoor use only)
Step 1
Open the Switch
Step 2
Cut the Cord
Step 3
Attach the Wire
Step 4
Close the Switch
Total Time: 10 minutes
It works well. Beta is happy because he can turn on the lights while he is in bed. And I’m happy because I don’t have to crawl under his bed and reach behind the dresser to unplug the lights after the kids are asleep.
Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!
Psalm 2:3
This little article thingy was written by Some Guy sometime around 6:06 am and has been carefully placed in the Projects category.
December 7th, 2010 at 6:34 am
That’s a far cry from the robot you made out of a garbage can when you were younger.
December 7th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
But this works much better. That thing only looked like a robot, kind of.
December 7th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
You wouldn’t be an engineer by any chance, would you?
Reminds me of the engineers I worked with at Intel. Very analytical.
December 7th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
Why yes, I am an engineer. Four years of college to be able to screw two wires into a box.
December 7th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Because you’re an engineer and I am not, I would’ve spent the $7.49.
December 7th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Ditto Phoebe.
December 8th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Pfffft. I would have given Some Guy the $4.96 and had him make the switch for me!
December 8th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
I’d charge $1.00 labor for that, so make it $5.96 and you got yourself a deal.