"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

"John Grabowski" wrote in message
...
Instead of asking the contractor, you might be better off coming up with
your own specifications. That way when you get competitive bids each
contractor will be bidding on the same job rather than their own
interpretation. You will also be more likely to get what you want.
Forget
about 150 amp. 200 amp is almost the same price.

For instance:

Do you want service entrance cable (Aluminum or copper) or conduit (PVC,
EMT, or Rigid). Aluminum is not a bad way to go for the service
entrance
conductors whether in cable or conduit.

You want him to write specifications, but you present him with an array of
choices that make no sense to the average homeowner. Perhaps each
electrician will have his own interretation and reasons for it. Talk to
them and ask why their method is better than others. Then make a
decision.

He is more likeley to get what he wants with a spec, but the problem is,
he
does not know what he wants. That is what you rely on the professionals
do
know and help you with.

Aside from all of this, only a person seeing the job can determine if
circuits should be broken down, new one run, etc.



Touche Ed. I guess I got carried away. :-) At least he has some food for
thought. It is always difficult to determine if someone wants a good job or
the cheapest price possible with minimum standards.

Since he had posted a problem previously with a furnace circuit board and
surmised that a surge protector would prevent it from happening again, I
suggested the grounding upgrade which would also provide protection.