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Eigenvector September 16th 06 01:47 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS AND THE
PANEL.



Jack September 16th 06 01:56 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

Eigenvector wrote:
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS AND THE
PANEL.


$2500.00 sounds to me like they should be holding a gun to your head.
Not knowing particulars I would ball park around 300 to 500 or less
being your furnishing the materials.


Eigenvector September 16th 06 02:01 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Jack" wrote in message
ups.com...

Eigenvector wrote:
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about
it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded
circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS AND
THE
PANEL.


$2500.00 sounds to me like they should be holding a gun to your head.
Not knowing particulars I would ball park around 300 to 500 or less
being your furnishing the materials.


That's kind of what I was thinking, that the quote was totally high. My
presumption is that he didn't want my buisness or was just trying to make
sure I knew what I was getting into. Again I'm not bitter about it, but
this is one of those things I need to get done pretty quick, so I didn't
want to go in blind and get taken.



grappletech September 16th 06 02:01 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
"Eigenvector" wrote in
:


"Jack" wrote in message
ups.com...

Eigenvector wrote:
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing
circuit breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for
their work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians
want to release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not
bitter about it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded
circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS
AND THE
PANEL.


$2500.00 sounds to me like they should be holding a gun to your head.
Not knowing particulars I would ball park around 300 to 500 or less
being your furnishing the materials.


That's kind of what I was thinking, that the quote was totally high.
My presumption is that he didn't want my buisness or was just trying
to make sure I knew what I was getting into. Again I'm not bitter
about it, but this is one of those things I need to get done pretty
quick, so I didn't want to go in blind and get taken.




$2500 sounds ridiculous. Of course, he'd gladly accept that if you were
willing to pay it. I'd get 2 more estimates. Then negogiate.

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James September 16th 06 02:08 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
I doubt very very much that job would take 27 hours of work. I am far
from an expert, but based on electrical work that I have had done, I would
think that "ballpark" time required would be 10 hours, or a bill of $910
at the quoted rate. Even going to 15 hours would be only $1,365, but
that seems very high to me.

Now that I think of it, if they couldn't do the job in 10 hours or less, I
would question their experience.

Of course, you know the best course of action now is to quickly get several
more estimates.


--James--



Eigenvector September 16th 06 02:11 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"James" wrote in message
. ..
I doubt very very much that job would take 27 hours of work. I am far
from an expert, but based on electrical work that I have had done, I would
think that "ballpark" time required would be 10 hours, or a bill of
$910
at the quoted rate. Even going to 15 hours would be only $1,365, but
that seems very high to me.

Now that I think of it, if they couldn't do the job in 10 hours or less, I
would question their experience.

Of course, you know the best course of action now is to quickly get
several
more estimates.


--James--

That's the problem, all I've been hearing all day is "Sorry we don't give
estimates over the phone. click" Hmm.



[email protected] September 16th 06 02:12 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

Eigenvector wrote:
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS AND THE
PANEL.


Problem is it's a pain in rump and thats why you are getting the high
estimate. Keep looking.


Steve B September 16th 06 02:24 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
...
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded
circuit breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS
AND THE PANEL.


Old electrician joke: How long does it take and how much will it cost for
an electrician to change a breaker box?

Who cares? You got a problem with that?

Electricians are specialists, and you want to get the job done right. Your
life depends on it.

That being said, what you want done is a royal PITA for an electrician who
can just as easily be out installing the same panel in one quarter the time
on a new install. You just need to get more estimates and take the best, or
find a friend or family member who's qualified for the task and will give
you a break.

Steve



Pat September 16th 06 02:41 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
I doubt if you could find anyone to do the job if you were providing
materials. People like to use what they are used to using. Anything
else is perceived as a PITA. Plus, there's liability problems, etc.
etc.

Before you go ballistic, see what the price of the inspection is.


Eigenvector wrote:
"Jack" wrote in message
ups.com...

Eigenvector wrote:
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about
it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded
circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS AND
THE
PANEL.


$2500.00 sounds to me like they should be holding a gun to your head.
Not knowing particulars I would ball park around 300 to 500 or less
being your furnishing the materials.


That's kind of what I was thinking, that the quote was totally high. My
presumption is that he didn't want my buisness or was just trying to make
sure I knew what I was getting into. Again I'm not bitter about it, but
this is one of those things I need to get done pretty quick, so I didn't
want to go in blind and get taken.



Rueben Konic September 16th 06 03:37 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Eigenvector" wrote
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about
it, just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded
circuit breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE
BREAKERS AND THE PANEL.


In my area, there's not an electrician that would touch a project with the
H/O supplying the material.

A permit cost is $150, heck to pull a meter and remount (for siding), the
permit is $75. In this area, I've heard to replace the service, the cost
runs 900-1,200.

You would be doing yourself a favor and not mention you want to supply
materials. As a former contractor, I wouldn't waste valuable time trying to
chase down a penny pinching lead.



Chris Lewis September 16th 06 04:01 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
According to Eigenvector :

That's the problem, all I've been hearing all day is "Sorry we don't give
estimates over the phone. click" Hmm.


Well, I wouldn't expect them to either. If you got that $2500 over
the phone, that's the electrician covering his ass for the "jackpot!"
he's half-expecting. They can't tell what needs to be done over
the phone, nor can we over the Internet. Eg: does the service
entrance have to be redone, how much does he have to do to provide
a code-approved mounting, etc.

Get them out to give you an estimate.

_If_ the existing installation is good enough that the job is
nothing more than a basic panel swap, $2500 (not including
panel/breakers) is _way_ too high.

But, if there's no ground, he's probably going to have to install
a proper grounding electrode system, redo the service entrance,
likely do some carpentry to make an acceptable mounting
arrangement, and do some timeconsuming and awkward things to
re-establish the circuits. $2500 may be reasonable for that.

My SIL's new (old ;-) house needed: the service entrance and
cable replaced, a disconnect and splitter box removed, main
shifted to what had been a subpanel, the panel moved a few
inches out from the wall, a length of conduit secured to the
wall properly, and a couple of outlets got their hot-neutral
reversed (they were wired backwards). Took two guys two days. I
believe it was around $2000 (the previous owner paid for it).

She had them back for another job (about a day and a half)
while we were visiting. These guys were good, no wasted time,
_excellent_ workmanship, and they didn't do things that didn't
need to be done.

I'm pretty good with electrical work. But, I'd hire these guys
in a flash.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

Eigenvector September 16th 06 04:03 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Rueben Konic" wrote in message
...

"Eigenvector" wrote
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about
it, just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded
circuit breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE
BREAKERS AND THE PANEL.


In my area, there's not an electrician that would touch a project with the
H/O supplying the material.

A permit cost is $150, heck to pull a meter and remount (for siding), the
permit is $75. In this area, I've heard to replace the service, the cost
runs 900-1,200.

You would be doing yourself a favor and not mention you want to supply
materials. As a former contractor, I wouldn't waste valuable time trying
to chase down a penny pinching lead.

Well I never said anything about penny pinching, I am fully prepared to pay
2500 bucks for the work, and I was going to get (that is I haven't actually
bought) a Cutler-Hammer box based on the positive reviews it got from a
couple of my friends.

I do see what you mean about guarenteeing someone else's equipment, but they
have to buy the box anyway so I might as well get one that I prefer as
opposed to them bringing an el-cheapo model. Can I ask them/request them to
use a particular model or quality?



Rueben Konic September 16th 06 04:12 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
Well I never said anything about penny pinching, I am fully prepared to
pay 2500 bucks for the work, and I was going to get (that is I haven't
actually bought) a Cutler-Hammer box based on the positive reviews it got
from a couple of my friends.


I meant, in your original post, you stated you wanted to supply material.
If you're telling electricians this, you come off as a penny pincher. You
don't have to say "I'm a penny pincher". I fully understand you may want to
use certain brands, you should state that, without mentioning you want to
supply them.


I do see what you mean about guarenteeing someone else's equipment, but
they have to buy the box anyway so I might as well get one that I prefer
as opposed to them bringing an el-cheapo model. Can I ask them/request
them to use a particular model or quality?


Contractors love to be asked questions. If they don't agree with you, they
will let it be known, and why. Most every contractor with an ounce of
dignity, wants to use quality materials on R&R work.



Eigenvector September 16th 06 04:13 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Chris Lewis" wrote in message
...
According to Eigenvector :

That's the problem, all I've been hearing all day is "Sorry we don't give
estimates over the phone. click" Hmm.


Well, I wouldn't expect them to either. If you got that $2500 over
the phone, that's the electrician covering his ass for the "jackpot!"
he's half-expecting. They can't tell what needs to be done over
the phone, nor can we over the Internet. Eg: does the service
entrance have to be redone, how much does he have to do to provide
a code-approved mounting, etc.

Get them out to give you an estimate.

_If_ the existing installation is good enough that the job is
nothing more than a basic panel swap, $2500 (not including
panel/breakers) is _way_ too high.

But, if there's no ground, he's probably going to have to install
a proper grounding electrode system, redo the service entrance,
likely do some carpentry to make an acceptable mounting
arrangement, and do some timeconsuming and awkward things to
re-establish the circuits. $2500 may be reasonable for that.

My SIL's new (old ;-) house needed: the service entrance and
cable replaced, a disconnect and splitter box removed, main
shifted to what had been a subpanel, the panel moved a few
inches out from the wall, a length of conduit secured to the
wall properly, and a couple of outlets got their hot-neutral
reversed (they were wired backwards). Took two guys two days. I
believe it was around $2000 (the previous owner paid for it).

She had them back for another job (about a day and a half)
while we were visiting. These guys were good, no wasted time,
_excellent_ workmanship, and they didn't do things that didn't
need to be done.

I'm pretty good with electrical work. But, I'd hire these guys
in a flash.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.


Thank you that puts the costs into perspective and makes it seem more
reasonable.

I've seen the $2500 dollar guys work, at my office, their work is within
reason (I had to escort them in sensitive areas) and I know a few of them
that work for this outfit (although not well enough to hit up for side
work). I think I'll give them a call on Monday and set something up - the
independents who wouldn't even give me their hourly rates will just have to
miss out.



Edwin Pawlowski September 16th 06 05:04 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
...
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded
circuit breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS
AND THE PANEL.


I paid just over $200 (I think it was $220) for a new service, breaker box,
breakers, 3 way switch added to a basement light, and a new outside light
and switch, an additional receptacle right on the panel. .



Steve B September 16th 06 06:06 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote

I paid just over $200 (I think it was $220) for a new service, breaker
box, breakers, 3 way switch added to a basement light, and a new outside
light and switch, an additional receptacle right on the panel. .

I just had some work done by an electrician friend of mine at my cabin. He
put in eight exterior four plug receptacles, four switches with runs to
exterior lights, mounted the conduit and boxes for two motion halogen
lights, and put a light and switch in the under the stairs closet.

I had to buy the Romex. He brought all the conduit and boxes and
weatherproof covers and various stuff from his work for all the rest. I had
to buy the two $50 halogen motion lights. I had to buy him two cases of
beer, and let him stay in the cabin for three days.

Do you think I got taken?

Oh, I also bought him a Remington 870 synthetic stock 12 ga. shotgun.

Steve



Stormin Mormon September 16th 06 04:13 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
I've been doing repair and install work for several years. Both for my
own company, and working for someone else. It's OK to say you prefer
some brand or other of parts, but it's not OK to supply your own
parts.

People who supply their own parts tend to be:

1) overcontrolling. This is the guy who will watch every thing you do,
ask too many questions, and tell you how to do your work. This is a
total PIA that contractors hate.

2) Buying the wrong parts. Most of the time, customers by the cheapest
parts they can find, which end up not fitting, or need a lot of extra
time to make them work. It's hard to get them to understand that the
cheap part is far more labor than the good part that I woulda
installed.

3) Trying to keep the price down, by cutting out the contractor's
normal and expected markup on the parts. This is the guy who buys the
cheap part on Ebay, or at the local home center, and expects the
contractor to enjoy installing cheap junk for discounted labor rates.

My suggestion is to skip the "if I supply the parts" and just call em
out for estimates.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Eigenvector" wrote in message
...
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing
circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for
their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about
it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded
circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS AND
THE
PANEL.




HeyBub September 16th 06 04:26 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
Eigenvector wrote:
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing
circuit breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for
their work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians
want to release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not
bitter about it, just interested in how much money I'll have to
secure to do this.
So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded
circuit breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE
BREAKERS AND THE PANEL.


I had this done on 1/2 of a duplex about five years ago. 200A service, $800.

Recently, the other half of the duplex needed the same treatment. The same
company was now charging $1100.

I bought the panel/breakers/etc at HD and did the work myself, with my son
helping. We started at 10:00am and were finished around 5:00. Out-of-pocket
cost: ~$280.00. Then we had a beer.

In my jurisdiction (Houston) no permit is required nor is there a fee for
removing/resetting the meter. (Houston also has no zoning laws - eat your
heart out.)

So flush with the thrill of a job well done, we repeated the process a
couple of weeks later at his house.

I wrote up the project for this newsgroup. Check the archives.



Tom September 16th 06 09:22 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 16:47:09 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:

I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS AND THE
PANEL.



Are you hiring them as employees? Do you plan on covering their
workmen's comp, and employer side SSI contribution? These are
retorical questions, I'm trying to explain you are paying for a job,
not for new employees so do your job as a consumer and get specs and
estimates.

Now for the price, I have to say that is 'ball park' for a differcult
job. Depending on permit requirements, inspections, licensing
requirements, materials and the distance from weather head to the
panel, $2500 could be very fair.

So get three estimates, proof of insurance (GL and if there are
employees, workman's comp), follow up with insurance phone call to see
if policy is current, get detailed specs, and get some patience. You
are getting something installed that if done right, should outlast
your home. :)

Now back to your post, what is a 'failing circuit breaker box'?

Disclaimer: Not your electrician, most likely not licensed in your
area, so this isn't a how-to, but a friendly suggestion on how as a
home owner I would proceed.

later,

tom

Edwin Pawlowski September 16th 06 09:26 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Steve B" wrote in message
news:WKKOg.7143$rT5.3305@fed1read01...

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote

I paid just over $200 (I think it was $220) for a new service, breaker


..

I had to buy the Romex. He brought all the conduit and boxes and
weatherproof covers and various stuff from his work for all the rest. I
had to buy the two $50 halogen motion lights. I had to buy him two cases
of beer, and let him stay in the cabin for three days.

Do you think I got taken?


You did good. The $220 job was 1966. Do you think prices have gone up
since then?



bowgus September 16th 06 09:33 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

Eigenvector wrote:
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.


200 Amp panel, $600 cdn ... with breakers.


Tom Horne, Electrician September 16th 06 09:35 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
Eigenvector wrote:
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS AND THE
PANEL.



It is obvious from the tone of your inquiry that you believe you are
entitled to have an electrical contractor do the job at his/her labor
cost alone. That means he/she is supposed to absorb all of the overhead
cost of supplying the labor to do your job. Any business that accedes
to such demands will fail. Are you aware that people invest in a
business in the expectation that they will make a profit?

No qualified person is going to want to work with parts he/she did not
obtain themselves.

If the difference between the price "to the trade" and the retail price
is part of the contractors margin and you get them to forgo it he/she
has to make it up somewhere else. If it is not part of that particular
firms margin you will be raising the cost of your job.

Far more importantly neither I or any other electrician I've ever heard
of will be willing to warranty parts for which I/we do not hold the
purchase receipt. I would not be willing to warranty parts that may
have come from a salvage dealer or a retailer that is going out of
business even if the parts are in sealed boxes. I know the supply
houses I deal with will take back defective parts no questions asked. I
know they will not sell me used parts the installation of which is a
code violation in some jurisdictions.

That having been said the cost of a service equipment upgrade for a
single family residence varies from $1000 in rural West Virginia up to
$3000 for an underground service in Washington, DC. Quit trying to pick
apart the contractors price and get three estimates. Check the
histories and references of the contractors and select the bid in which
you then have the most confidence.
--
Tom Horne

"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison

Tom Horne, Electrician September 16th 06 09:55 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
Eigenvector wrote:
"James" wrote in message
. ..
I doubt very very much that job would take 27 hours of work. I am far
from an expert, but based on electrical work that I have had done, I would
think that "ballpark" time required would be 10 hours, or a bill of
$910
at the quoted rate. Even going to 15 hours would be only $1,365, but
that seems very high to me.

Now that I think of it, if they couldn't do the job in 10 hours or less, I
would question their experience.

Of course, you know the best course of action now is to quickly get
several
more estimates.


--James--

That's the problem, all I've been hearing all day is "Sorry we don't give
estimates over the phone. click" Hmm.



So I give you an estimate over the phone of fifty dollars to install
your replacement kitchen fixture. I arrive and you present me with a
ceiling fan that you expect to have installed for the aforementioned
fifty dollars. The existing, sixty year old, three and one half inch,
round, ear less, box offers no way to support a new lighting fixture,
let alone a ceiling fan but you expect me to replace the box with one
listed for fan support, do all my own cut patch and clean up, assemble
and install a ceiling fan, all for fifty dollars. If I gave telephone
estimates; which I do not; I would tell you that it is a time and
materials job not to exceed five hundred dollars excluding the cost of
any new wiring needed in your home. You would call me a name and hang up.

I recently gave a family an estimate of $2000 for a heavy up from 150 to
400 amperes specifically at the existing service location. I excluded
compliance with any unpublished portion of the utilities tariffs. The
power company would not supply service to the existing meter location
after the county electrical inspector had signed off on the completed
work. Would you expect me to extend the service entry conductors,
provide and install main lug kits and main breaker enclosures, and
provide temporary service disconnect for the existing supply without any
additional compensation? Just what are my kids supposed to eat that week?
--
Tom Horne

"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison

Tom Horne, Electrician September 16th 06 10:00 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
Eigenvector wrote:
"Rueben Konic" wrote in message
...
"Eigenvector" wrote
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about
it, just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded
circuit breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE
BREAKERS AND THE PANEL.

In my area, there's not an electrician that would touch a project with the
H/O supplying the material.

A permit cost is $150, heck to pull a meter and remount (for siding), the
permit is $75. In this area, I've heard to replace the service, the cost
runs 900-1,200.

You would be doing yourself a favor and not mention you want to supply
materials. As a former contractor, I wouldn't waste valuable time trying
to chase down a penny pinching lead.

Well I never said anything about penny pinching, I am fully prepared to pay
2500 bucks for the work, and I was going to get (that is I haven't actually
bought) a Cutler-Hammer box based on the positive reviews it got from a
couple of my friends.

I do see what you mean about guarenteeing someone else's equipment, but they
have to buy the box anyway so I might as well get one that I prefer as
opposed to them bringing an el-cheapo model. Can I ask them/request them to
use a particular model or quality?



Yes it is perfectly acceptable to specify particular equipment. That is
a normal practice in the building trades.
--
Tom Horne

"This alternating current stuff is just a fad. It is much too dangerous
for general use." Thomas Alva Edison

grappletech September 16th 06 11:32 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
It is obvious from the tone of your inquiry that you believe you are
entitled to have an electrical contractor do the job at his/her labor
cost alone.



Yeah, there's a lot of overhead -- taxes, FICA, Social Security, Workman's
Comp, medical/retirement benefits for employees, truck or van cost (plus
gas), tools, materials (including the fuse box itself), training,
advertising, permits, might be a small office staff to pay
(receptionist/bookkeeper), etc..



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Mark Lloyd September 16th 06 11:33 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
On Sat, 16 Sep 2006 19:55:27 GMT, "Tom Horne, Electrician"
wrote:

Eigenvector wrote:
"James" wrote in message
. ..
I doubt very very much that job would take 27 hours of work. I am far
from an expert, but based on electrical work that I have had done, I would
think that "ballpark" time required would be 10 hours, or a bill of
$910
at the quoted rate. Even going to 15 hours would be only $1,365, but
that seems very high to me.

Now that I think of it, if they couldn't do the job in 10 hours or less, I
would question their experience.

Of course, you know the best course of action now is to quickly get
several
more estimates.


--James--

That's the problem, all I've been hearing all day is "Sorry we don't give
estimates over the phone. click" Hmm.



So I give you an estimate over the phone of fifty dollars to install
your replacement kitchen fixture. I arrive and you present me with a
ceiling fan that you expect to have installed for the aforementioned
fifty dollars. The existing, sixty year old, three and one half inch,
round, ear less, box offers no way to support a new lighting fixture,
let alone a ceiling fan but you expect me to replace the box with one
listed for fan support, do all my own cut patch and clean up, assemble
and install a ceiling fan, all for fifty dollars. If I gave telephone
estimates; which I do not; I would tell you that it is a time and
materials job not to exceed five hundred dollars excluding the cost of
any new wiring needed in your home. You would call me a name and hang up.


As a customer, I would consider it unreasonable to get a phone
estimate for one thing, then expect additional work for the same
amount.

I had a plumber out recently to fix a leak. He was already here when I
asked him to install an additional shutoff valve (not related to the
leak). I would expect to be charged extra for that.

I recently gave a family an estimate of $2000 for a heavy up from 150 to
400 amperes specifically at the existing service location. I excluded
compliance with any unpublished portion of the utilities tariffs. The
power company would not supply service to the existing meter location
after the county electrical inspector had signed off on the completed
work. Would you expect me to extend the service entry conductors,
provide and install main lug kits and main breaker enclosures, and
provide temporary service disconnect for the existing supply without any
additional compensation? Just what are my kids supposed to eat that week?

--
100 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"How could you ask be to believe in God when there's
absolutely no evidence that I can see?" -- Jodie Foster

MLD September 16th 06 11:42 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
$600 or so is in the ballpark. $2500 must come with a new TV or the like.
MLD
"Eigenvector" wrote in message
...
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection. No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates. I'm not bitter about it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.

So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded

circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS AND THE
PANEL.





Steve B September 17th 06 12:07 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

"Steve B" wrote in message
news:WKKOg.7143$rT5.3305@fed1read01...

"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote

I paid just over $200 (I think it was $220) for a new service, breaker


.

I had to buy the Romex. He brought all the conduit and boxes and
weatherproof covers and various stuff from his work for all the rest. I
had to buy the two $50 halogen motion lights. I had to buy him two cases
of beer, and let him stay in the cabin for three days.

Do you think I got taken?


You did good. The $220 job was 1966. Do you think prices have gone up
since then?


I think I did good. We're friends, and although he gives me a break, I try
to take care of him.

Steve



Steve B September 17th 06 12:09 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"MLD" wrote in message news:sd_Og.2123$Se.536@trndny03...
$600 or so is in the ballpark. $2500 must come with a new TV or the like.
MLD


I had a new metal roof put on my cabin this summer. It was $5500. The only
other guy that showed up wanted $10,500. I figured he didn't need or want
the work, and bid it so that if he had to do it, he would make out like a
bandit.

Steve



Eigenvector September 17th 06 12:15 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Tom Horne, Electrician" wrote in message
link.net...
Eigenvector wrote:
"James" wrote in message
. ..
I doubt very very much that job would take 27 hours of work. I am far
from an expert, but based on electrical work that I have had done, I
would
think that "ballpark" time required would be 10 hours, or a bill of
$910
at the quoted rate. Even going to 15 hours would be only $1,365, but
that seems very high to me.

Now that I think of it, if they couldn't do the job in 10 hours or less,
I
would question their experience.

Of course, you know the best course of action now is to quickly get
several
more estimates.


--James--

That's the problem, all I've been hearing all day is "Sorry we don't give
estimates over the phone. click" Hmm.


So I give you an estimate over the phone of fifty dollars to install your
replacement kitchen fixture. I arrive and you present me with a ceiling
fan that you expect to have installed for the aforementioned fifty
dollars. The existing, sixty year old, three and one half inch, round,
ear less, box offers no way to support a new lighting fixture, let alone a
ceiling fan but you expect me to replace the box with one listed for fan
support, do all my own cut patch and clean up, assemble and install a
ceiling fan, all for fifty dollars. If I gave telephone estimates; which
I do not; I would tell you that it is a time and materials job not to
exceed five hundred dollars excluding the cost of any new wiring needed in
your home. You would call me a name and hang up.

I recently gave a family an estimate of $2000 for a heavy up from 150 to
400 amperes specifically at the existing service location. I excluded
compliance with any unpublished portion of the utilities tariffs. The
power company would not supply service to the existing meter location
after the county electrical inspector had signed off on the completed
work. Would you expect me to extend the service entry conductors, provide
and install main lug kits and main breaker enclosures, and provide
temporary service disconnect for the existing supply without any
additional compensation? Just what are my kids supposed to eat that week?
--
Tom Horne



It doesn't seem unreasonable to get a base estimate ahead of time to me. We
aren't talking about a $100 job, we're talking a potentially multi-thousand
dollar task. People don't have that kind of money floating around. As the
person paying, I fully feel entitled to know that ahead of time - otherwise
how do you know I'll be able to pay you? There's nothing wrong with asking
over the phone for an estimate of the costs.

You don't go to a car dealership, take a test drive, have the salesman show
you the works, get to sign the paperwork, then look at the price and walk
away - "sorry I can't afford this." You need to have a reasonable idea of
what it costs first. How do is that accomplished you ask????? TV ads,
sticker in the window, website, etc.

As to your question, I would expect to pay you for the work you did,
irregardless of what you quoted me. I think you get the impression I'm
penny pinching or trying to cheat someone here - not at all. But even if I
was, what do you care - you're gonna charge what you're gonna charge
regardless of whether or not I'm wheelin' and dealin'. Isn't it in your
best interest to be forthright with your rates and estimates ahead of time,
if only because it wards off the skinflints?

Doesn't matter to me now, I already have a contractor picked out and am
going to set something up with him on Thursday. Why did I pick him, I know
his company from previous work they did for my employer AND BECAUSE HE GAVE
ME A ROUGH ESTIMATE OVER THE PHONE. He politely understood why I was
asking.



HeyBub September 17th 06 04:51 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
Tom Horne, Electrician wrote:

It is obvious from the tone of your inquiry that you believe you are
entitled to have an electrical contractor do the job at his/her labor
cost alone. That means he/she is supposed to absorb all of the
overhead cost of supplying the labor to do your job. Any business
that accedes to such demands will fail. Are you aware that people invest
in a
business in the expectation that they will make a profit?


Two years ago I had a Chevrolet dealership repair the AC in my pickup. *I*
provided the parts, THEY provided the labor. I saved about $400 on the price
of the compressor alone.

Of course at an auto dealership, the service department profit bucket is not
connected to the parts department profit bucket. Evidently, there is only
one bucket at an electrical contractor - but that is not true of all
businesses.

And, oh, yeah. Two hot seasons on, everything continues to work swell.



No qualified person is going to want to work with parts he/she did not
obtain themselves.


Not always. See above.




Bawana September 17th 06 05:46 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

Eigenvector wrote:
I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.

The price they quoted was about $2500 bucks roughly or $91/hour for their
work - including permit and inspection.


Keep checking around and save yourself over a $1,000.

No other electricians want to
release their hourly rate nor provide estimates.


I guess they don't want/need the business.
What's the big secret?

I'm not bitter about it,
just interested in how much money I'll have to secure to do this.


So if you had to guess, what would it cost to replace a non-grounded circuit
breaker with a grounded circuit breaker IF I SUPPLIED THE BREAKERS AND THE
PANEL.


Anything more than a thousand and you've been ****ed.

It ain't brain surgery.


Thomas D. Horne, FF EMT September 17th 06 06:18 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
Eigenvector wrote:
"Tom Horne, Electrician" wrote in message
link.net...
Eigenvector wrote:
"James" wrote in message
. ..
I doubt very very much that job would take 27 hours of work. I am far
from an expert, but based on electrical work that I have had done, I
would
think that "ballpark" time required would be 10 hours, or a bill of
$910
at the quoted rate. Even going to 15 hours would be only $1,365, but
that seems very high to me.

Now that I think of it, if they couldn't do the job in 10 hours or less,
I
would question their experience.

Of course, you know the best course of action now is to quickly get
several
more estimates.


--James--

That's the problem, all I've been hearing all day is "Sorry we don't give
estimates over the phone. click" Hmm.

So I give you an estimate over the phone of fifty dollars to install your
replacement kitchen fixture. I arrive and you present me with a ceiling
fan that you expect to have installed for the aforementioned fifty
dollars. The existing, sixty year old, three and one half inch, round,
ear less, box offers no way to support a new lighting fixture, let alone a
ceiling fan but you expect me to replace the box with one listed for fan
support, do all my own cut patch and clean up, assemble and install a
ceiling fan, all for fifty dollars. If I gave telephone estimates; which
I do not; I would tell you that it is a time and materials job not to
exceed five hundred dollars excluding the cost of any new wiring needed in
your home. You would call me a name and hang up.

I recently gave a family an estimate of $2000 for a heavy up from 150 to
400 amperes specifically at the existing service location. I excluded
compliance with any unpublished portion of the utilities tariffs. The
power company would not supply service to the existing meter location
after the county electrical inspector had signed off on the completed
work. Would you expect me to extend the service entry conductors, provide
and install main lug kits and main breaker enclosures, and provide
temporary service disconnect for the existing supply without any
additional compensation? Just what are my kids supposed to eat that week?
--
Tom Horne



It doesn't seem unreasonable to get a base estimate ahead of time to me. We
aren't talking about a $100 job, we're talking a potentially multi-thousand
dollar task. People don't have that kind of money floating around. As the
person paying, I fully feel entitled to know that ahead of time - otherwise
how do you know I'll be able to pay you? There's nothing wrong with asking
over the phone for an estimate of the costs.

You don't go to a car dealership, take a test drive, have the salesman show
you the works, get to sign the paperwork, then look at the price and walk
away - "sorry I can't afford this." You need to have a reasonable idea of
what it costs first. How do is that accomplished you ask????? TV ads,
sticker in the window, website, etc.

As to your question, I would expect to pay you for the work you did,
irregardless of what you quoted me. I think you get the impression I'm
penny pinching or trying to cheat someone here - not at all. But even if I
was, what do you care - you're gonna charge what you're gonna charge
regardless of whether or not I'm wheelin' and dealin'. Isn't it in your
best interest to be forthright with your rates and estimates ahead of time,
if only because it wards off the skinflints?

Doesn't matter to me now, I already have a contractor picked out and am
going to set something up with him on Thursday. Why did I pick him, I know
his company from previous work they did for my employer AND BECAUSE HE GAVE
ME A ROUGH ESTIMATE OVER THE PHONE. He politely understood why I was
asking.



I know that this may seem quarrelsome but I do not see how any estimate
for electrical work given over the phone will not either under price the
job or raise false expectations for what is included. I simply cannot
imagine giving a price on a job sight unseen.
--
Tom Horne

Well we aren't no thin blue heroes and yet we aren't no blackguards to.
We're just working men and woman most remarkable like you.

Thomas D. Horne, FF EMT September 17th 06 06:22 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
HeyBub wrote:
Tom Horne, Electrician wrote:
It is obvious from the tone of your inquiry that you believe you are
entitled to have an electrical contractor do the job at his/her labor
cost alone. That means he/she is supposed to absorb all of the
overhead cost of supplying the labor to do your job. Any business
that accedes to such demands will fail. Are you aware that people invest
in a
business in the expectation that they will make a profit?


Two years ago I had a Chevrolet dealership repair the AC in my pickup. *I*
provided the parts, THEY provided the labor. I saved about $400 on the price
of the compressor alone.

Of course at an auto dealership, the service department profit bucket is not
connected to the parts department profit bucket. Evidently, there is only
one bucket at an electrical contractor - but that is not true of all
businesses.

And, oh, yeah. Two hot seasons on, everything continues to work swell.


No qualified person is going to want to work with parts he/she did not
obtain themselves.


Not always. See above.




Qualified person is a "term of art" in the regulated building trades.
It means a person that is actually qualified to perform the work in
accordance with the applicable codes and standards. An automotive
mechanics work is not state or local government regulated for quality of
work in most places.
--
Tom Horne

Well we aren't no thin blue heroes and yet we aren't no blackguards to.
We're just working men and woman most remarkable like you.

Steve B September 17th 06 06:26 AM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

"Thomas D. Horne, FF EMT" wrote


Qualified person is a "term of art" in the regulated building trades. It
means a person that is actually qualified to perform the work in
accordance with the applicable codes and standards. An automotive
mechanics work is not state or local government regulated for quality of
work in most places.
--
Tom Horne


And, if you work at Jiffy Lube, the term "mechanic" means absolutely
nothing.

Steve



[email protected] September 17th 06 12:11 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
If you want to put a breaker box in a ball park, you need lots of
money. You will probably need a 10,000 amp service panel.
Thats assuming you mean a baseball stadium. You might mean a place
where gay guys park their cars to play with other guys balls. Nowadays
one never knows........

Steve W.

On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 16:47:09 -0700, "Eigenvector"
wrote:

I'm calling around for some sort of quotes to replace my failing circuit
breaker box and so far I've only received one estimate.



Bawana September 17th 06 03:37 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 

Thomas D. Horne, FF EMT wrote:

I know that this may seem quarrelsome but I do not see how any estimate
for electrical work given over the phone will not either under price the
job or raise false expectations for what is included.


When I was in the electrical business I gave estimates over the phone
everyday.
It qualified my buyers.
It saved me time.
I never had a problem.

I simply cannot
imagine giving a price on a job sight unseen.


That's because you simply have NO imagination.


Chris Lewis September 18th 06 06:26 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
According to Mark Lloyd :
As a customer, I would consider it unreasonable to get a phone
estimate for one thing, then expect additional work for the same
amount.


Me neither.

However, the question is what is that "one thing"?

You get an over the phone estimate for $50 to hang a new fixture.
The electrician arrives, and discovers that the support point
has rotted out, the wire's insulation is falling off and is half
melted, and it'll require routing a new circuit, with wall
teardown and fishing thru a muddy crawlspace.

"You said you'd do it for $50". Well, he can't, because that "one
thing" was a lot more work than anticipated.

Watch Mike Holmes sometime, and see how a "bit of water leaking
through a windowsill" can turn into a full roof tearoff, and
gutting several rooms.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

Mark Lloyd September 18th 06 07:24 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
On Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:26:49 -0000, (Chris
Lewis) wrote:

According to Mark Lloyd :
As a customer, I would consider it unreasonable to get a phone
estimate for one thing, then expect additional work for the same
amount.


Me neither.

However, the question is what is that "one thing"?

You get an over the phone estimate for $50 to hang a new fixture.
The electrician arrives, and discovers that the support point
has rotted out, the wire's insulation is falling off and is half
melted, and it'll require routing a new circuit, with wall
teardown and fishing thru a muddy crawlspace.

"You said you'd do it for $50".


I would know that that $50 is an ESTIMATE (certainly not a guaranteed
amount) that couldn't possibly include unknowns.

Well, he can't, because that "one
thing" was a lot more work than anticipated.

Watch Mike Holmes sometime, and see how a "bit of water leaking
through a windowsill" can turn into a full roof tearoff, and
gutting several rooms.

--
98 days until the winter solstice celebration

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"God was invented by man for a reason, that
reason is no longer applicable."

Chris Lewis September 18th 06 07:35 PM

Ball park cost for breaker box replacement
 
According to Mark Lloyd :
On Mon, 18 Sep 2006 16:26:49 -0000, (Chris
Lewis) wrote:


According to Mark Lloyd :
As a customer, I would consider it unreasonable to get a phone
estimate for one thing, then expect additional work for the same
amount.


Me neither.


However, the question is what is that "one thing"?


You get an over the phone estimate for $50 to hang a new fixture.
The electrician arrives, and discovers that the support point
has rotted out, the wire's insulation is falling off and is half
melted, and it'll require routing a new circuit, with wall
teardown and fishing thru a muddy crawlspace.

"You said you'd do it for $50".


I would know that that $50 is an ESTIMATE (certainly not a guaranteed
amount) that couldn't possibly include unknowns.


_You_ would, but not everyone is that reasonable.

Furthermore, that's not how the courts interpret "estimates", and
the trades are compelled to treat them the same way.

As guaranteed amounts. Think "car repair estimates" most jurisdictions
consider those to be _firm_ upper limits.

I'd also suggest that in renovations (rather than new construction),
"ballpark estimates" (where you tell the tradesperson UP FRONT that
you're only using the number for budgetary purposes, and would
get them to give you a more accurate estimate on inspection)
often vary so wildly as to be _useless_. Because of the infamous
"jackpot!" problem.

Case in point: watched what was supposed to be a dirt simple
fixture swap turn into the electrician fighting for three
hours with too-short K&T, a non-existant box, too small hole,
etc. The alternative (new wire) would have taken over a day.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.


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