Last minute place to buy lights for walking, biking?

[friarslantern]

Does anyone know a place open tomorrow (Sun.) that's well stocked with led's, maybe EL wire - I put off shopping for this and now I'm freaking a bit. Live in east bay but can travel.

[Bob]

Walmart.

[knowmad]

I'm just watching. this is already funny.

[gyre]

homedepot and target have led glowsticks.
Usually get red blue green and wear them.

They don't have lanyards.
Add these if you can.

Melting pot had a bright white.

Walmart used to have a bright yellow.
Have not seen these in awhile.
Glued shut battery compartment.

There are quick elwire kis in reno at high prices.
Don't know about sf.

[Bob]

Berkeley has about 1500 bike shops. Any place that's already stocking Halloween items will have blinkylites and such, eg party/costume shops, mainstream art supply shops, Target, Walgreens etc.

[vaddynwashere]

There will be a couple of tents set up by the locals in Gerlach/Empire right along your route to the City, about 9 or so miles from BRC. Never bought from them, so I don't know their prices, but they do sell EL, and LED strings.

[AntiM]

Their roadside prices are a bit high.

Right now is early enough to order online. Hit the big box stores, even Big Lots has seasonal blinkies.

[vaddynwashere]

Yep, I saw that last posts in this thread are from 2011 after I sent a reply

[AntiM]

It happens. Not a bad bump though.

[Earthwalker]

I think i still have enough time to place an Amazon order. Never having used, or even heard of, el wire before, I'm a bit intimidated. Is it pretty self explanatory? What I've seen comes in 9ft lengths and has a small box for 3 aaa power supply.

Just add batteries and turn on?

9ft is fine for bike, but what if i want shorter for backpack? Can i cut it?

Thanks!!!!

[vaddynwashere]

You can cut it. The leftover cut-away orphaned piece will work with another power supply, but it's not an easy thing to solder that joint properly. Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy a shorter lenght?
Or double-triple-quadruple wrap all of the wire's length around your backpack?

Lastly, make sure to order from a source which ships from within the US. EL is supercheap when it is shipped from China, but at this point, it will not arrive on time.

[gyre]

There are things to learn about it.

Different thicknesses and grades.
Care and handling.

[Earthwalker]

Thanks for the great info. Is Amazon/online the best place to purchase? They wouldn't have it at Walmart or home depot? Lighting store?

[weesinator35]

There's a few sites for that. Amazon will have a huge selection. There's a few other ones that are Burner-specific. There's [url]Burnerprep.com[/url], [url]Burningled.com[/url], and House of Rave has a BM section as well stuff as well. If you were talking about physical stores, party supply stores, art stores, or novelty stores should have that too.

[Bexx]

I've bought el wire offa amazon.. And it's arrived super quick. I think the store, or seller is anaconda? Anyhoo.. They work great. The cover is a bit loose, but that is nothing that tape can't fix

[BBadger]

Extreme Glow always has a 10% BM coupon code for their lights each year. That's where I've gotten my stuff these last two years.

[Ugly Dougly]

Most Army/Navy surplus stores are hip to Burning Man. Might even offer a discount.

[Elliot]

9ft is fine for bike, but what if i want shorter for backpack? Can i cut it?

Electro Luminescent wire is not very bright. Just wrap the nine-footer around a couple of times.

[Earthwalker]

Thanks for the great replies. Very helpful

[ZaphodBurner]

El-wire is expensive and weak compared to other stuff that's available now.

We got super-bright spoke lights including one that changes colors for $6 at Ace Hardware, and at Harbor Freight you can get a 9" strand of 12v LEDs that you can drive with a 9v battery. Either way, just wear them on a lanyard or pin them to your outfit and you'll save a bunch of money.