O/T Help Elect. Wiring Question?

This is not really a "how to" book, but illustrates code requirements, such as clearances from masts and overhead cables, required clear space in front of a panelboard, types of grounding permitted, describes and illustrates the derating of wires due to the number of them in a conduit, box capacity and how to count wires to arrive at box fill, conduit fill, etc.

Charles

ask your contractor if he'll knock $500 off the price if you do a lot of the work yourself (you'll be his worker, doing what he tells you to do)

He'll be the brains you'll be the braun

You didn't give a lot of details as to what the contractor agreed to do. Did it include service to the building? That could be a lot of materials just for cable and boxes. Are you going to run conduit? You should.

You might ask the contractor if he's willing to just do the service to the building and well, and let you run the outlets and lighting. There's a lot of labor to wire the inside of the building, but it is simple to do that work correctly. But if the service isn't done right, you will have big problems.

I moved my house before pouring footing 100' closer to the utility pole on the main road because of the cost of the copper wire alone. Its nuts per foot. I swear I went to the wholesale with "x" amount of money. After I had it all cut and ready to go I had to call the wife for a credit card # it jumped that much in a month didn't bring enough cash. Its been up since then, enough that it pays your time and fuel to call everyone that sells wire in your county to find the cheapest- that day...

Putting in the service, getting the grounding right, getting wire sizes right, and the whole deal from the ground up.....

It is possible, but I think you will come up short.

Rewiring my farm, just the backbone _to_ the buildings, cost $11,000 a couple years ago when things were cheaper. If that is $2000 including all the supplies - wire, fixtures, outlets, panel, ground rod, breakers - I think you are getting a pretty good deal at $2000, not sure you will get the supplies for much less on your own?

--->Paul

One of the hardest things for a novice to understand is the proper bonding and grounding requirements BE SURE AND GET THAT RIGHT. The rest as far as branch circuits isnt all that difficult. However the NEC can be difficult reading for the lay person so the practical how to hands on books are the place to start.

If you dont feel qualified (and understand bonding and grounding), better get a licensed electrician because your life or the risk of burning a building down just arent worth it.

John T Retired Electrical Engineer

Of course, if he's like a lot of contractors, he'll find a way to charge you almost as much for the "stripped down" job as for the complete job!

Good quality receptacles, such as Leviton Pro Grade backwire ones (Eagle/Cooper and Hubble have similar) are upwards of $3 each. The 79 cent to a $1 ones are not worth your time to install them. Wire is the pricey thing now, and a large shop will use a fair amount of wire. None of the individual parts seem expensive, but add up panelboards, breakers, receptacles, wire, boxes, switches, light fixtures and such and I'll bet you will spend a grand or very close to it if you buy quality stuff. I've always said that labor equals parts on a job like this, so the two grand quote might not be out of line, but probably not a "neighbor" price either. A good neighbor would tell you exactly what to buy, then have you do most of it and watch over you like a hawk, making sure you don't do anything that is blatantly in violation of the code.... and ask for nothing more than a beer and a steak off the grille.

Charles