<![CDATA[Mike Holt's Forum - Business Management / Estimating]]> http://forums.mikeholt.com/ en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:57:19 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.mikeholt.com/images/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[Mike Holt's Forum - Business Management / Estimating]]> http://forums.mikeholt.com/ permits and payments http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154294&goto=newpost Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:58:16 GMT how do you apply for and pay your permit fees? Do you have to make trips to city hall or can you file over the internet. Are payments check or debit?... how do you apply for and pay your permit fees? Do you have to make trips to city hall or can you file over the internet. Are payments check or debit? Here we apply for the permit in person at inspection office then wait for approval then return to pick up and pay for permit we can only pay with certain bank debit cards or check/cash. ]]> Business Management / Estimating Rewire http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154294 anyone ever hear of these folks? http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154242&goto=newpost Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:31:27 GMT http://www.outsource.net/structured-...g-staffing.php

need a crew? don't have a hall to call?

journeymen, formen, apprentices, sound installers, etc.
anyone ever used them? or worked for them?

i just got a spam from them... letting me know they are there for me.....:p ]]> Business Management / Estimating Fulthrotl http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154242 resi service calc http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154234&goto=newpost Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:26:06 GMT Doing a residential laoad calc for new service. come up with 149 amps full load. Inspector says you can only load 60% of service provided. so on... Doing a residential laoad calc for new service. come up with 149 amps full load.

Inspector says you can only load 60% of service provided. so on a 200 amp service we could only have a load of 120 amps. I cannot find in the code where that is the case. am I missing something? ]]> Business Management / Estimating Daja7 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154234 finish someone elses work http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154228&goto=newpost Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:41:18 GMT We got a call today from a general contractor wanting to know if we would finish the trim out on an additiuon his EC started but walked off the job.... We got a call today from a general contractor wanting to know if we would finish the trim out on an additiuon his EC started but walked off the job. I assume he was going through the phone book calling every EC to see who would bite . He used the classic line I got more work lined up. I declined the job as we have all the clients we need and this just had an uncomfortable feel. I wouldnt even know how to approach such a job . Would it have been to much to ask what happened with the other EC? ]]> Business Management / Estimating Rewire http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154228 Mediul Voltage Cable Spicing http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154161&goto=newpost Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:19:15 GMT We are pursuing a project in Florida which requires certification from the National Cable Splicing Certification Board (NCSCB) and are interested in... We are pursuing a project in Florida which requires certification from the National Cable Splicing Certification Board (NCSCB) and are interested in subcontracting this portion of the project. Does anyone know of a small shop that undertakes this type of work? ]]> Business Management / Estimating powercore http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154161 comfort advisor http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154160&goto=newpost Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:03:28 GMT A local HVAC company has an outside sales guy that follows up on heating unit replacements identified by the service techs. They call him a "comfort advisor". I have never heard of this being tried on the electrical side but thought it might be worth a look. Has anyone tried this or know an EC that does? ]]> Business Management / Estimating Rewire http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154160 salary or hourly http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154149&goto=newpost Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:18:33 GMT I was discussing owners comensation today and I was given something to think about. Most owners will take a salary and this is based on 40 hours so... I was discussing owners comensation today and I was given something to think about. Most owners will take a salary and this is based on 40 hours so if an owner wants $25/hr x 40 they would take a salary of 1000.00 per week. But what usually happens is the owner logs 60 hours a week so that 1000.00 /60 comes out to 16.66/hr. So what happens is owners are grossly undervaluing their time. this skewes your numbers and effects your rate.
A salary was not meant to be a license to log as many hours as you can but as a tool to allow flexability in work hours. It was put forth to me that if I wanted to have true numbers and have my costs reflect what was actully being spent that it would be better to take an hourly wage. My goal is not to work 60 hours a week but to get back to 40 and eventually be an absentee owner. by actually paying myself for actual hours worked it will reflect a true cost so I can adjust what I charge based on true numbers. What I have been doing is donating reduced cost time .
So if you draw a set salary from your business this maty give you something to consider ]]> Business Management / Estimating Rewire http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154149 Who is responsible? http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154147&goto=newpost Mon, 10 Jun 2013 21:52:59 GMT I am on a job re-doing a service. The customer had to redo the service based on the inspector failing the occupancy inspection. The inspector made a... I am on a job re-doing a service. The customer had to redo the service based on the inspector failing the occupancy inspection. The inspector made a list for each trade and what he expects to be fixed. His list didn't include for me, as the electrician, anything regarding the AC system. The AC is guy saying that I have to provide the whip for the new condenser unit he's installing and that I have to wire it up. I told him that I will Wire up the disconnect line and load side but that he has to wire of the unit itself. He claims that he doesn't have to do it. Who would you say is responsible for wiring up the condenser unit and providing the whip? ]]> Business Management / Estimating Benton http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154147 Plans/specs: detailed or vague http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154117&goto=newpost Sun, 09 Jun 2013 06:44:45 GMT At my place of work, I've noticed that we use a couple of different approaches to drawings and specifications depending on who the Electrical Contractor is (or if we even know who it will be). With one EC we don't give a lot of specifics, because we've worked with him for years and we trust him to do good work, and to make the best decisions for the Customer based on actual field conditions at the job site. With some other ECs, on the other hand, we try to spell out every little thing because if we don't, we'll get hit with hundreds of RFIs and Change Orders.

So, as an Electrical Contractor, do you prefer for the Engineer to spell everything out in the plans and specs, or would you rather have most items left up to you? Do you get irritated when the drawings call for a Hubbell #GFR5362WTR with a Hubbell #SS26 coverplate, rather than just saying "white 20 Amp GFCI duplex receptacle with stainless steel coverplate"? If the conduits and boxes aren't sized on the plans are you pleased, or do you feel like the Engineer didn't do his job? ]]> Business Management / Estimating JDBrown http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154117 Demising Wall/MC Cable http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154109&goto=newpost Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:55:20 GMT Spec says no MC cable in demising wall. From the definition a demising wall is "A separation between two tenants, or between a tenant and a hallway or corridor. The demising wall creates a boundary between two apartments, for example.

So, to confirm, it is those two instances? Thanks.

]]> Business Management / Estimating mstrlucky74 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154109 Supporting MC Cable http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154104&goto=newpost Sat, 08 Jun 2013 13:57:50 GMT So according to this(love NEC Plus) if you are fishing mc cable down and existing wall(concealed) it does not have to be supported? Thanks. ... So according to this(love NEC Plus) if you are fishing mc cable down and existing wall(concealed) it does not have to be supported? Thanks.




330.30 Securing and Supporting. See related ROP (A) General. Type MC cable shall be supported and secured by staples, cable ties, straps, hangers, or similar fittings or other approved means designed and installed so as not to damage the cable. See related UL

There is a difference between securing and supporting. Type MC cable that runs horizontally through or on framing members or racks (spaced less than 6 ft apart) without additional securing is considered supported. Staples or cable ties are not required as the cable passes through or on these members. However, the MC cable must be secured (fastened in place) within 12 in. of the outlet box. Staples, cable ties, or clamps would be necessary to secure a cable.


(B) Securing. Unless otherwise provided, cables shall be secured at intervals not exceeding 1.8 m (6 ft). Cables containing four or fewer conductors sized no larger than 10 AWG shall be secured within 300 mm (12 in.) of every box, cabinet, fitting, or other cable termination. See related ROP ROC


Section 330.30(B) contains the general requirements for supporting and securing Type MC cable. It must be secured at least every 6 ft. Additionally, MC cable containing four or fewer conductors of size 10 AWG or less is required to be secured within 12 in. from every box, cabinet, or fitting. Both requirements are illustrated in Exhibit 330.2.



Exhibit 330.2 An application of 330.30(B), showing Type MC cable supported and secured at intervals not exceeding 6 ft and within 12 in. of the box, and an application of 330.30(D)(1), which permits Type MC cable to be fished in walls, floors, or ceilings.


(C) Supporting. Unless otherwise provided, cables shall be supported at intervals not exceeding 1.8 m (6 ft).

Horizontal runs of Type MC cable installed in wooden or metal framing members or similar supporting means shall be considered supported and secured where such support does not exceed 1.8-m (6-ft) intervals.

(D) Unsupported Cables. Type MC cable shall be permitted to be unsupported where the cable:

(1) Is fished between access points through concealed spaces in finished buildings or structures and supporting is impractical; or

(2) Is not more than 1.8 m (6 ft) in length from the last point of cable support to the point of connection to luminaires or other electrical equipment and the cable and point of connection are within an accessible ceiling. For the purpose of this section, Type MC cable fittings shall be permitted as a means of cable support. See related UL

Section 330.30(D)(1) permits Type MC cable to be fished. Section 330.30(D)(2) permits listed MC cable fittings to support the last 6 ft of MC cable supplying a luminaire in an accessible ceiling. This use is in accord with 320.30(D)(3) for Type AC cable. ]]> Business Management / Estimating mstrlucky74 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154104 Low bid. http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154103&goto=newpost Sat, 08 Jun 2013 13:56:52 GMT A year or so ago we gave a price on putting in some tank top vibrating rod level sensors to replace rotating ones that were mounted on the side of... A year or so ago we gave a price on putting in some tank top vibrating rod level sensors to replace rotating ones that were mounted on the side of the tanks. Our price was to high. We got the call yesterday to come check the wiring connections for the low bid winner. He replaced the side mounted ones with a different style in the same location. Access requires a crane with a basket. We are going to make more money. with follow up, then had we gotten the bid. :D ]]> Business Management / Estimating ptonsparky http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154103 Submittals http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154102&goto=newpost Sat, 08 Jun 2013 13:48:07 GMT If a spec reads "must use Caddy H*** box support for all receptacles" does that mean that, more than likely, is the only box support the engineer would approve? Do you still try to submit something else for approval? ]]> Business Management / Estimating mstrlucky74 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154102 Profit http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154094&goto=newpost Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:18:30 GMT I read that the average electrical contractor profit is about 3%?.can't be true ]]> Business Management / Estimating mstrlucky74 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154094 Strip Light feed http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154092&goto=newpost Fri, 07 Jun 2013 19:48:47 GMT Would the normal ckt(#22) have to be feed at each separate light, making for (6) feeds or could you just bring one feed in at the end and run fixture... Would the normal ckt(#22) have to be feed at each separate light, making for (6) feeds or could you just bring one feed in at the end and run fixture wire inside? Thanks.
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]]> Business Management / Estimating mstrlucky74 http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=154092