Alternative to "Tools & Talent" hoses, cheaper (+Issues)

Equipment Proton Packs
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Alright. I wanna say a few things before the real info, so feel free to ignore this and scroll to the recipe of sorts below.

I do not like Tools & Talent. His prices are obnoxiously overinflated and as someone who isn’t exactly liquid, I think that is seriously messed up. Charging 200-300 bucks for a hose thats under 100 bucks in parts…? Insanity. So, naturally, I messaged him about it. Rather short conversation. To sum it up, he stated his “electronics kit” for the life size spirit pack (a 3000mAh talentcell and one of his drastically overpriced hoses) was the perfect way to take the “starter shell” of the life size to the next level… without any electronics changes at all, warranting it to be almost 400 bucks. I called him out for overcharging by over 250%, he blocked me. Not a great look.

So. I’m going to link every part of his hoses for cheap.

I discovered a video not made by him, with the exact same hose, as well as the EXACT same solderless splices… Suspicious. I don’t think T&T made the original design.

Here’s the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZBxNmwS6x8

SHOUTOUT TO RSQUAD911! He’s got great install videos for the FruttoTech upgrades for the GPStar kits, very helpful.

The parts he uses in the video are the following (taken DIRECTLY from the description)

"PACK:

CNLINKO LP20 4 Pin Male Plug and Female Panel

https://a.co/d/jbPAsZG?tag=gbfans-discourse-20

WAND:

CNLINKO LP20 4 Pin Male Plug and Female Receptacle

https://a.co/d/9uUd0tB?tag=gbfans-discourse-20

Black Scuba Hose

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801910590077.html?spm=a2g0o.store_pc_promotion.promoteWysiwyg_6000460001437.1&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

CharlesworthDynamics ETSY Hose

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/764245476/proton-pack-wire-loom-full-size-spirit

T Tap Connector/Splicer

Low Voltage Wire Connectors Solid Connection, T Tap Wire Connectors, T Type 2 Pins Wire Splice Connectors, Solderless No Stripping 3 Way Wire Connector for LED Strip, Automotive Fits 24-20 AWG 12 Pack : Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement"

This, along with some 1 1/2 inch heat shrink (1-1/2'' Heat Shrink Tubing, 3:1 Adhesive Lined Waterproof Tube | Marine Grade Dual Wall Shrink Tube for Wire Protection. 6.6 FT Tubing Provides Waterproof Insulation for Electrical Repairs: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific), is a direct replica of toolsandtalentprops’ hose.

Coming in at a grand total of… $81.69 USD, excluding wiring. I use cheap automotive wire from my local autozone, which costs ~8 bucks for the amount used. This hose (since it includes electronics) would cost… 225 dollars from T&T. (source: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1657236781/haslab-proton-pack-hose-double-connector

Don’t buy from this clown. Make it yourself.

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1 Like
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While I can certainly understand your frustration, calling out a seller because you don’t like their prices…? Wouldn’t it be easier to just NOT buy from them and let the market handle things…?

Curious what you think an acceptable price would be? People often forget that prices aren’t just reflective of the parts but the person’s time and knowledge, whether that be for research, prototyping, building, etc.

For example, you could build a basic LED chaser circuit for let’s than $5 in parts, but if you have no idea how it works or how to assemble it, those parts are useless to the buyer.

Just my two cents…happy to take change back :joy:

Sean

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I apologize for my frustration, it’s just rather irritating when you see a seller marketing their wares as the best thing on the planet and exclusive (his listings explicitly say his stuff only works with the “tools and talent props hose system” when in fact it’s literally just cnlinkos) when in fact their stuff is evidently cheap to make and more than likely not even their design.

I don’t particularly find his prices themselves offensive, it’s more the marketing. If he was to market his hoses as “complete kits” as well as having information with instructions and links to the parts if someone was so inclined to make it themself as opposed to simply being a product. I understand that’s business, but it’s just a little scummy. And the money going into research, prototyping and building is presumably BS, considering the youtube link i posted features the EXACT same design, to a T, before T&T started selling his.

I got nothing against the guy himself, I however think selling the 15 dollar loom from Sean Charlesworth’s store on etsy on his own etsy page for 25 bucks is ridiculous.

I feel ya though, I was a tad harsh.

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You do realise that he’s not buying that loom from Sean and reselling it? You can pick that stuff up in bulk cheaply on eBay. I can buy 100M of split loom for £145, that’s enough for ~55 packs, and comes out to less than £3 per pack’s worth (a little less than US $3.50). I agree his mark up is very high, but so is Sean’s, and you’ve not mentioned that.

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Ik vind die slangen ook aardig prijzig inderdaad maar…

Ik heb de slang gevonden voor €25 haha.. en ik gun iedereen een mooi Protonpack.

Amazon

Mirka afzuigslang 4 meter 20mm

€23,85

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Welcome to the forum. And a Google translation for anyone who needs one.

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Personally I also think his prices are extremely over inflated for what you get. Not to mention the shipping costs to get them here really balloon it (into Canada) further.

And I also don’t love the fact that to get his to work (at least the original version) you had to cut the Haslab hose and use the end of it. So you couldn’t really undo it. And if your power sled was the issue in the first place it may not even fix anything.

So I did go make my own. Used my 3D printer to print the “Ghost fighting power sled” from Cults. A “Mod Endcaps for Spengler Neutrona wand” from Thingiverse. Bought 6ft of split loom, a 12 pack of solderless wire connectors, LP-20 connector, 6 feet of 20awg wire for like $75 CAD off Amazon (so free shipping too).

I opened the pack, clipped the wires to the original connector and added quick connects/solderless connectors there (which was the most destructive thing I did). I added quick connects to the original stock Haslab parts and the end of the CNlinko so I could switch between them if I ever wanted to revert to mostly stock. I attached the CNlinko female end to the pac.

Then ran the wire though the loom, added the CNlinko male end to one end of the loom and wrapped it with electrical tape. At the other I drilled into the 3D printed sled (if I ruined it I didn’t care, I could reprint it in short order) and ran the wire through it then used a ton of solder to form the contact pad/plate. Taking caution of course not to touch the filament and melt it.

From there, assembly and testing. Took me like 5-6 hours all said and done to have the new version up and running.

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You’ve done some thorough research and are sharing valuable information for others looking to build their own prop without getting overcharged. Your breakdown of the parts and costs really highlights the price discrepancy with Tools & Talent. It’s great that you’re encouraging DIY solutions and providing links to resources for fellow enthusiasts.