How One Electrician Made My Day

Aggie67

My power went out earlier today. I flipped the main breaker off to replace a light fixture, plus I wanted to remove my cracked spa pump. So I figured I'd hit all the electrical stuff at once (sconce fixture, then pump), and hit the main breaker instead of trying to hunt. Well, when I was done I couldn't get it to reset no matter what I tried. And I have one of those Federal Pacific panels, so I kind of figured it was toast.

So I called the number of the guy that last serviced the panel. He's been long out of biz. Then I called the electrician I knew (industrial work), and his wife tells me he's down at the race. Then I called a GC I know and asked him for a good reference. No one he'd recommend, his guy just screwed him.

So I dusted it off, and opened the phone book. I called 3 guys with ads that said "24/7 Owner Answers the Phone." One guy actually answered, and he was in front of my panel within the hour.

I knew I needed a panel, but he got it working. I asked him for a price for a replacement 200 amp panel. I have a written estimate for a 200 amp Square D panel, 40 poles, $1300 installed, and he needs 2 days lead time to order and schedule it, he'll handle the permit. 4-6 hour job.

What impressed me the most was when I tried to pay him for coming to my house on a Saturday. "Nope, nope, just call me when you're ready for the panel."




I'm not asking for any feedback on price, because first I think it's actually kind of low, and second, no matter what, I'm happy. He could have told me $1800 and I still would have been happy. His ad said he'd answer, he did, he got there when he said he would, I have power, and I have a replacement panel on its way. That was as painless an experience as I could have asked for.

Magnettica

Wow, thirteen hundred is like super dirt-cheap.

Oh, by the way, no matter what you do, don't ever shut off the main breaker to a Federal Pacific panel.

Just kidding, I'm glad things worked out for you.

480sparky

Um, don't you think it would be safer to never turn a FP breaker on?

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J CORRIN

I would do anything to get a 200 amp service change for $1300 around here. I bid them at $100, I don't get them, I bid them at $900 and get them....

mdshunk

I'm not so sure I'd find that impressive. I would have liked that too, but I would not have been especially impressed. That's a guy who does not know his worth in the marketplace. He's giving away a hundred bucks or more of his time to possibly get a later sale that is also too cheap.

Leo G

Shhhhh... Wait until Aggie gets his panel in before you tell him....

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woodchuck2

The last one i did "no need for permit in this area" was just last week and i did it for $1100 with an inspection. But they were also friends of the family too and our economy "market place" here is different than where most are. For me it was an easy good "green" money job.

Bkessler

I just did one for a GC, (they get it cheaper than HO) for 1400, it was underground fed so know riser, square d homeline with 26 poles, only 10' to the h20 bond, 110 for permits, and 220 for material. It took about 8 hrs. I was happy. Only bummer the inspector failed it for "not phasing correctly", which it was phased perfectly and "ground rod was down to low". I handled it with a very colorful phone call.


CA has what's referred to as a an "all in one inspector", they same idiot inspects everything from footings to electrical and they usually have very little field experience in the trades.

scourt11

mdshunk talks like he reads from a text book

mahlere

that's because it is in a book...it's called contracting 101...and he, like me, probably knows it chapter and verse...if more guys did, it wouldn't seem so foreign...

Bkessler

That's why I read his posts, I am basically a"business as a second language" student right now.

Magnettica

Point taken.

JumboJack

mdshunk IS a text book.A walking talking text book.Don't you forget it!

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in texas with framing and cornish people will do it for 3.00 a foot. What do yall think about that? Just laber

Winchester

If our electrical contractor had to quote a 200A upgrade it's usually around $5000.

(However, he prefers to do everything T&M anyway, so it's better to let him )

However, $1300 is a steal, if you ask me.

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Ryan

mrmike

[quote=Aggie67;629995]

I knew I needed a panel, but he got it working. I asked him for a price for a replacement 200 amp panel. I have a written estimate for a 200 amp Square D panel, 40 poles, $1300 installed, and he needs 2 days lead time to order and schedule it, he'll handle the permit. 4-6 hour job.

Sounds great for a new service, but what are the specifics? Do you already have a 200 amp service? Is this just for switching the panel as you have "replacement panel" & 4 to 6 hours would be about right for just switching everything over to the new one?. In that case the price would be really high...........

Eddy Current

That's what I was thinking. There's a problem with the main breaker so he probably only needs a new panel, not a new service.

Around here when an electrician says that it's usually code for "no permit or inspection"

Aggie67

Here's what's on the quote:

200 Amp Sq D Repl Panel & Encl
40 poles
Refit feeds
Addt'l ground rod
Remove old panel to scrap
$1300 L&M
4-6 hr down

He talked about the main feeds having very little slack, although he didn't use the term slack. My service comes in under the lawn, right below the panel on the outside, and the original electrician muscled the feeds into the enclosure in a bit of whacky pattern (one leg is tucked a little behind the main board, kind of between the back of the panel enclosure and the panel board, and it looks like the "bend" in the cable is being held in place by the nut that attaches the panel board to the enclosure, and it's digging into the cable's insulation). He wants to correct that condition. He also said he'd need to keep the pool & spa sub panel feed in basically the same spot, because it exits the main panel enclosure out the back of the enclosure. I only have one ground rod, and he said in our area we now need two (he's got me there, I just don't have that knowledge). He and I also both know the same inspectors and we talked about it, so I doubt he'd pull a fast one on the permit.

But with all that said, I'm still happy, and with the response and service I got, I would have been happy paying $1800.

OCRS

If that's how you feel and the re & re goes well, shoot him $100 for the intial work.

Chris Johnson

I'm working on a flip remodel and need a new service, so far here I have read essential don't use Federal Pioneer panels, in the past I have read don't use Zinsco (sp?). I think Zinsco is discontinued, I've seen the breakers available for $ 50.00 each, so that tells me it's discontinued...And they are/were a fire hazard panel.

So what is available that's a viable option?

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Chris

Aggie67

I thought of a couple ideas also. If all goes well, I'm building 3 pump skids that are going to Philadelphia Children's Hospital in April, and I have to wire up starters, variable speed drives, two control panels, and a bunch of instrumentation. If he has the experience, I was going to throw the shop work his way.