[[email protected]]

I have learned a lot and done many projecting taking your tips from
this group.

I have a new problem but it's really rather OLD. I have a 2040
Sylvania Panel. The lower right hand metal clip including finger 200
amp has burned out. I need a $10 part, but cannot get it because
Sylvania has gone out of the business of electric panels.

I had a fancy electrician come out and quote me $1,500 for the panel
plus installation, so around $2,000. Of course, you guys have taught me
better than that. He also launched a serious of thinly disguised
threats like "you only have 110 now" and "I won't be able to come back
for several weeks and it must be done now." I managed not to break out
in laughter. He sure was pushing for a big payday.

So, I called my local electric supply that told me they could modify a
$10 clip and get us back up. So, following in your teachings, I lined
up a guy with the $10 clip plus a full panel with breakers ($250) so we
can meet either contingency.

Do you have any suggestions outside of what I have done? I researched
your posts before taking this action.

GM

[Tom The Great]

On 5 Oct 2006 13:21:35 -0700, wrote:

I have learned a lot and done many projecting taking your tips from
this group.

I have a new problem but it's really rather OLD. I have a 2040
Sylvania Panel. The lower right hand metal clip including finger 200
amp has burned out. I need a $10 part, but cannot get it because
Sylvania has gone out of the business of electric panels.

I had a fancy electrician come out and quote me $1,500 for the panel
plus installation, so around $2,000. Of course, you guys have taught me
better than that. He also launched a serious of thinly disguised
threats like "you only have 110 now" and "I won't be able to come back
for several weeks and it must be done now." I managed not to break out
in laughter. He sure was pushing for a big payday.

So, I called my local electric supply that told me they could modify a
$10 clip and get us back up. So, following in your teachings, I lined
up a guy with the $10 clip plus a full panel with breakers ($250) so we
can meet either contingency.

Do you have any suggestions outside of what I have done? I researched
your posts before taking this action.

GM

imho:

My suggestion, being biased towards qualified electricians, are you
sure you want to do any of the work yourself? I would have a couple
electricians, qualified ofcourse, come by and check it out. Ask for a
quick 'education' in your options, and then make a proper decision
after that.

Remember, get references (ones you can check up on), and check with
the BBB for any bad ratings.

later,

tom @ www.NoCostAds.com

[chuckster]

HUGE TIP!!!! Call a licensed electrical contractor! This job is WAY
over your head and "modifying" breakers is a violation of the NEC and
the breaker may not work properly after you do this. The "counter guy"
may have good intensions BUT he is behind the counter to sell materials
and he is there because he doesn't have the skills or education to make
it in the trade. The best advice is to change the panel. The "fancy
electrician" is qualified and insured. Wiring is no hobby, your loss
may be more than just financial. Call another "fancy electrician" for a
price.


wrote:
I have learned a lot and done many projecting taking your tips from
this group.

I have a new problem but it's really rather OLD. I have a 2040
Sylvania Panel. The lower right hand metal clip including finger 200
amp has burned out. I need a $10 part, but cannot get it because
Sylvania has gone out of the business of electric panels.

I had a fancy electrician come out and quote me $1,500 for the panel
plus installation, so around $2,000. Of course, you guys have taught me
better than that. He also launched a serious of thinly disguised
threats like "you only have 110 now" and "I won't be able to come back
for several weeks and it must be done now." I managed not to break out
in laughter. He sure was pushing for a big payday.

So, I called my local electric supply that told me they could modify a
$10 clip and get us back up. So, following in your teachings, I lined
up a guy with the $10 clip plus a full panel with breakers ($250) so we
can meet either contingency.

Do you have any suggestions outside of what I have done? I researched
your posts before taking this action.

GM

[HeyBub]

wrote:

So, I called my local electric supply that told me they could modify a
$10 clip and get us back up. So, following in your teachings, I lined
up a guy with the $10 clip plus a full panel with breakers ($250) so
we can meet either contingency.

Do you have any suggestions outside of what I have done? I researched
your posts before taking this action.

Replace the panel yourself. It ain't rocket surgery.

[chuckster]

Replace it yourself THEN update your fire insurance policy. I can't
believe you guys offer this advice to a guy who is not qualified,
cheap, and does not have a clue to what he is doing. The advice is
dangerous and he can cause problems down the road to the poor guy who
buys this house with a DIY panel mod.


HeyBub wrote:
wrote:

So, I called my local electric supply that told me they could modify a
$10 clip and get us back up. So, following in your teachings, I lined
up a guy with the $10 clip plus a full panel with breakers ($250) so
we can meet either contingency.

Do you have any suggestions outside of what I have done? I researched
your posts before taking this action.

Replace the panel yourself. It ain't rocket surgery.

[[email protected]]

I had trouble understanding why the electrical contractor quoted me
$1,000 for the electrical service panel and $1,000 labor to install.

I recall an electrical service panel runs a couple of hundred. So, why
is there an $800 markup?


chuckster wrote:
HUGE TIP!!!! Call a licensed electrical contractor! This job is WAY
over your head and "modifying" breakers is a violation of the NEC and
the breaker may not work properly after you do this. The "counter guy"
may have good intensions BUT he is behind the counter to sell materials
and he is there because he doesn't have the skills or education to make
it in the trade. The best advice is to change the panel. The "fancy
electrician" is qualified and insured. Wiring is no hobby, your loss
may be more than just financial. Call another "fancy electrician" for a
price.


wrote:
I have learned a lot and done many projecting taking your tips from
this group.

I have a new problem but it's really rather OLD. I have a 2040
Sylvania Panel. The lower right hand metal clip including finger 200
amp has burned out. I need a $10 part, but cannot get it because
Sylvania has gone out of the business of electric panels.

I had a fancy electrician come out and quote me $1,500 for the panel
plus installation, so around $2,000. Of course, you guys have taught me
better than that. He also launched a serious of thinly disguised
threats like "you only have 110 now" and "I won't be able to come back
for several weeks and it must be done now." I managed not to break out
in laughter. He sure was pushing for a big payday.

So, I called my local electric supply that told me they could modify a
$10 clip and get us back up. So, following in your teachings, I lined
up a guy with the $10 clip plus a full panel with breakers ($250) so we
can meet either contingency.

Do you have any suggestions outside of what I have done? I researched
your posts before taking this action.

GM

[crabshell]

wrote in news:1160079695.848636.284530
@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

I have learned a lot and done many projecting taking your tips from
this group.

I have a new problem but it's really rather OLD. I have a 2040
Sylvania Panel. The lower right hand metal clip including finger 200
amp has burned out. I need a $10 part, but cannot get it because
Sylvania has gone out of the business of electric panels.

I had a fancy electrician come out and quote me $1,500 for the panel
plus installation, so around $2,000. Of course, you guys have taught me
better than that. He also launched a serious of thinly disguised
threats like "you only have 110 now" and "I won't be able to come back
for several weeks and it must be done now." I managed not to break out
in laughter. He sure was pushing for a big payday.

So, I called my local electric supply that told me they could modify a
$10 clip and get us back up. So, following in your teachings, I lined
up a guy with the $10 clip plus a full panel with breakers ($250) so we
can meet either contingency.

Do you have any suggestions outside of what I have done? I researched
your posts before taking this action.

GM


I had my panel redone recently for $150 plus materials by a semi-retired
electrician. I understand around $1000 labor is the norm. He claimed it's
normally a 3 hour job. It took us more like 8 hours due to the mess the
retrofitted old system presented (Federal). I would have been clueless.
Oh, and he got a jolt of elec. a couple of times. No thank you... Get
several estimates. The $2000 seems sky high to me.

I bought Siemens by the way.

[[email protected]]

Can you get the part you need off an old (used) panel? Like one off of
eBay?

[Chris Lewis]

According to :

So, I called my local electric supply that told me they could modify a
$10 clip and get us back up. So, following in your teachings, I lined
up a guy with the $10 clip plus a full panel with breakers ($250) so we
can meet either contingency.

Do you have any suggestions outside of what I have done? I researched
your posts before taking this action.

So I understand: you've lined up an electrician who will install the
clip, and if that doesn't work out, the electrician will swap out the
panel?

This seems reasonable. I'm leery of modifying a piece of _conductor_
that's to be used to carry 200A, but as long as the cross-sectional
area is at least as big as the original, that it fits _properly_, and
preferably intended for a similar purpose in a similar panel (especially
by the same manufacturer), it should be okay. You're relying on the
electricians judgement as to whether it'll be safe - so it'll better
be a _good_ electrician with considerable experience, not a "handyman"
hacker.

More important is to ensure that what happened to the original clip
doesn't repeat - as in, making sure that all the connections are
good and solid, no creeping corrosion etc. If the old panel shows
signs of other damage, it may be wiser to simply replace it.

If, for example, the old panel had considerable corrosion, I'd
replace it - renewing one part at best delays the inevitable,
and at worst keeps a piece of equipment around that'll kill you.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.

[[email protected]]

Chris Lewis wrote:
According to :

So, I called my local electric supply that told me they could modify a
$10 clip and get us back up. So, following in your teachings, I lined
up a guy with the $10 clip plus a full panel with breakers ($250) so we
can meet either contingency.

Do you have any suggestions outside of what I have done? I researched
your posts before taking this action.

So I understand: you've lined up an electrician who will install the
clip, and if that doesn't work out, the electrician will swap out the
panel?

This seems reasonable. I'm leery of modifying a piece of _conductor_
that's to be used to carry 200A, but as long as the cross-sectional
area is at least as big as the original, that it fits _properly_, and
preferably intended for a similar purpose in a similar panel (especially
by the same manufacturer), it should be okay. You're relying on the
electricians judgement as to whether it'll be safe - so it'll better
be a _good_ electrician with considerable experience, not a "handyman"
hacker.

More important is to ensure that what happened to the original clip
doesn't repeat - as in, making sure that all the connections are
good and solid, no creeping corrosion etc. If the old panel shows
signs of other damage, it may be wiser to simply replace it.

If, for example, the old panel had considerable corrosion, I'd
replace it - renewing one part at best delays the inevitable,
and at worst keeps a piece of equipment around that'll kill you.
--
Chris Lewis, Una confibula non set est

Thanks.