I went to meet a couple today at the house they've recently bought. The service is one much like we've all seen: a collection of about 6 small fuse panels all hooked together, so they'd like an upgrade. There are about 20 single pole circuits.
I'm curious how others are handling this situation. By the time you buy and mark up an arc fault, you're looking at about $50 each. So when I add in this $1000 in breakers, I'm gonna look like a thief.
I'm also faced with the dilemma of having to compete in a market where other contractors are using an inspector that will pass just about anything as long as he gets paid. So when they come in around 50% lower than I do because he's not making them use the arc faults, there's no way I'm gonna get the job, but I refuse to use this inspector just on principal.
Also, even though the odds of having a problem later are slim, I don't want to take the chance of not installing them and then have to explain why I didn't do the job according to NEC in the event they do have a problem.
Thoughts?
I'm curious how others are handling this situation. By the time you buy and mark up an arc fault, you're looking at about $50 each. So when I add in this $1000 in breakers, I'm gonna look like a thief.
I'm also faced with the dilemma of having to compete in a market where other contractors are using an inspector that will pass just about anything as long as he gets paid. So when they come in around 50% lower than I do because he's not making them use the arc faults, there's no way I'm gonna get the job, but I refuse to use this inspector just on principal.
Also, even though the odds of having a problem later are slim, I don't want to take the chance of not installing them and then have to explain why I didn't do the job according to NEC in the event they do have a problem.
Thoughts?