This is a follow up to my earlier thread on outrageous bids. No matter how much or little you pay, you still have to DIY after the contractor is done. Based on the boards comments I got the electrician from $570 down to $400 to do the following:

Install 240v 100 amp breaker, conduit and plugs for my big arc welder, w/6ga wire.

Install new 30 amp line for our MIGs which are always blowing the 20a breaker if we go over 1/2 power.

Replace outdoor elect eye for flood lights.

Install timer switch on other outside lights.

Troubleshoot bad circuit, replaced gfi with loose connector.

Took him 3 hrs, about $100 in matetials. So he made about $100 an hour. Nice work if you can find a sucker. Raises hand. Well at least it's done, sort of.

The timer doesn't work, something is wired wrong. He wasn't sure as we didn't have the instructions. So can't totally fault that. But now I have to figure it out myself.

And he didn't put a junction box where the conduit exits the wall. My fault for not babysitting. But I'm only 10 weeks since major cancer surgery and still not in the best shape. The new fixtures were so nice I forgot to follow up and double check every inch of the install.

I hope when he returns he installs awg 3 on that 100 amp circuit, awg 6 is rated for 65 amps, give those West coast fireman a rest after the mess in northern California.

Doesn't sound like a bad price.

I think it is always good to supervise.

Nobody ever double checks there work.

What Vee said...

Holy Mackeral! That's cheap! I was looking at what my electrician's last charges were as I did my taxes. Way above that.

Of course, all that sexy talk of amps, watts, goes over my head, so I have to pay for the guys who know where what and how. I use the city electrical inspector to make sure its up to snuff, cause I know diddly-squat about electricity.

Disclaimer: guys is a Wisconsin term, meaning person of any gender. One of the electricians I use is a young woman. And she knows her stuff.

Oh, we had a really good inspector in my area. He really knew his stuff, but, my electrician also says he was Fair, not a jerk. Sadly, he’s had to retire due to health complications from a fall at a shoddy property he was inspecting. (Whole staircase collapsed.)

My electricians know what they are doing too. Me, not so much, when it comes to electricity or HVAC.

Ironically I have a good friend from my high school years who was close to earning her mining certification and it is amazing to see her go toe 2 toe with an inspector, being a single mom slowed her down slightly while attaining her journey man status, you just never know someone's skill level.

My mistake - it is a 50 amp circuit not 100, my error so the wire was one size larger than required. Or so he said.