Did I blow up the stereo?

[PCN]

Ok, six months ago I start a kitchen remodel and small addition. When I show up kitchen is pretty well gutted, everything that was in the kitchen is now temporarily in the living room. Owners living in the house during remodel. Living room has one 15 amp circuit on #14 awg. Plugged into this 15 amp circuit is a BIG fridge, micro, toaster oven, occasional carpenters circular saw, coffee maker, tv, lamps and a very high end stereo system with multiple components. So I rough the kitchen and addition in and then I'm out of there until it's time to come back to finish up.
Three weeks later GC calls me back to finish. (Same stuff still plugged into living room circuit). While I'm there home owner asked for a dedicated circuit for the stereo. No prob,tie into 20 amp spare fuse, test recept ,115v., Done. Next day homeowner calls and says I blew up the stereo! I say huh? Head back to job, plug in the meter....115v. Fuse hadn't blown. No short, nothing wrong. I told her the stereo was probably damaged by the overloaded 15 amp ckt. She said that they blew fuses two or three times a day during construction with all the kitchen appliances in the living room! I tried to explain how electronics are sensitive to low voltage, surges, local brown outs, multiple fuses blowing etc...
She says no way. You blew up my $3000.00 stereo, I want it replaced, she says isn't that what your insurance is for? (by the way, she's a lawyer and her husbands an architect, so they both know more than everyone) She also reminded me the she owed me alot money at that point
I refused to pay for it, and I refused to finish the work until I was paid for the rough in. First time I've ever walked off a project, and kept on walking. I did get paid after sending a collection agency after them.

What do you guys think? Did I do the right thing or am I the shmuck here? Sorry such a long post:-?

 

[ctmike]

sounds like you were almost the shmuck the fact that you got paid i think shows that you were right who finished your job and by thw way i think you blew up my new flat screen tv too

 

[sparkyjim]

"...She said that they blew fuses two or three times a day during construction with all the kitchen appliances in the living room!..."

She blew her own case when she admitted that. That's one reason you got paid. The other is that she probably cooled off and realized what she was doing.

 

[PCN]

sounds like you were almost the shmuck the fact that you got paid i think shows that you were right who finished your job and by thw way i think you blew up my new flat screen tv too

The GC said they had a family member that finished it.

 

[480sparky]

If she's a lawyer, then he knows good and well the burden of proof in on them.

 

[Mule]

Ok, six months ago I start a kitchen remodel and small addition. When I show up kitchen is pretty well gutted, everything that was in the kitchen is now temporarily in the living room. Owners living in the house during remodel. Living room has one 15 amp circuit on #14 awg. Plugged into this 15 amp circuit is a BIG fridge, micro, toaster oven, occasional carpenters circular saw, coffee maker, tv, lamps and a very high end stereo system with multiple components. So I rough the kitchen and addition in and then I'm out of there until it's time to come back to finish up.
Three weeks later GC calls me back to finish. (Same stuff still plugged into living room circuit). While I'm there home owner asked for a dedicated circuit for the stereo. No prob,tie into 20 amp spare fuse, test recept ,115v., Done. Next day homeowner calls and says I blew up the stereo! I say huh? Head back to job, plug in the meter....115v. Fuse hadn't blown. No short, nothing wrong. I told her the stereo was probably damaged by the overloaded 15 amp ckt. She said that they blew fuses two or three times a day during construction with all the kitchen appliances in the living room! I tried to explain how electronics are sensitive to low voltage, surges, local brown outs, multiple fuses blowing etc...
She says no way. You blew up my $3000.00 stereo, I want it replaced, she says isn't that what your insurance is for? (by the way, she's a lawyer and her husbands an architect, so they both know more than everyone) She also reminded me the she owed me alot money at that point
I refused to pay for it, and I refused to finish the work until I was paid for the rough in. First time I've ever walked off a project, and kept on walking. I did get paid after sending a collection agency after them.

What do you guys think? Did I do the right thing or am I the shmuck here? Sorry such a long post:-?

You ARE the man !! Stand up to those selfish folks, how would they prove that YOU blew the stereo..... Besides it sound like ENTRAPMENT to me. They were FRAMING you...!!
Just a idea, have both parties (you and them) pick another electrician, split the service call and have your temp outlet checked. Might be good insurance and shut them up !!

 

[ctmike]

I hope you notified the building dept so he takes you off the permit and adds the family member

 

[Besoeker]

If the stereo system is rated at 115V and it got 115V and failed, it isn't your problem. Getting paid is. Them, being a lawyer and an architect, doesn't qualify them to know anything about electricity.
But it might qualify them to hang you out to dry - to the point that it would cost you more to argue the case than you would get paid for the job. Litigation is not cheap.
Maybe ask them politely to explain exactly how the failure of their stero relates to the work you have done?
Edit - read more.
You did get paid.
Shouldn't have needed you to go to a collection agency though.

 

[ohm]

I'm not sure the electrical problems were the cause. I suspect the equipment got dusty or was not stacked up properly and overheated.

But when an electrician installs devices, a carpenter trims and a painter paints, it's about time for the lawer HO to sue.

 

[PCN]

I'm not sure the electrical problems were the cause. I suspect the equipment got dusty or was not stacked up properly and overheated.

But when an electrician installs devices, a carpenter trims and a painter paints, it's about time for the lawer HO to sue.

I never even thought about dust. That drywall dust goes everywhere.
When I walked off the the job I asked her " what happens if your marble counter top gets scratched or your Viking stove gets a ding, do have to pay for that as well" !!

 

[celtic]

Next day homeowner calls and says I blew up the stereo!

Did it ever work?

 

[PCN]

Did it ever work?

That's the $3000.00 question right there.

 

[celtic]

That's the $3000.00 question right there.

Oh yes I know :smile:

The next queston is:
Ok, you say it worked it - prove it!

Deny Everything
Admit Nothing
Demand Proof​

...that's what I always say

 

[jjhoward]

I had a customer tell me that my crew broke a console part for his 1964 Mustang.

Say what??? Yes, he says it was in the cellar where we were pulling 6/3 romex for sub panel.

There was crap everywhere...but I really don't think there was a mustang console in the basement. Anyway he kept telling me that my insurance would cover it.

I did file the claim, he got his $400 bucks, I really think he set us up. His father is some sort of "contractor " so he "knows about the insurance I have".. and he knows that they will cover it.....

Bad customer.

You did the right thing.

 

[jjhoward]

However, we DID blow up some stuff in another house!!!

We did not know that we had broken the brittle stranded neutral of a very old SEU service cable. While reloacting a service drop to the opposite side of a house, we attempted to use this old service cable (temporarly) until the new service drop was brought from the street.

As we turned on breakers, bad things started to happen ie, GFI breakers melted & smoked.

The base of the CF light bulb over our heads sizzled and smoked.

Without the neutral, we were seeing 600V on the "240V" legs. Just about everthing plugged in in that house died. The fridge survived, but not much else. TV, stereo, dish washer, clock radio..... It was bad.

But my insurance covered it!!

 

[wireguru]

i say the homeowners are negligent for leaving their stereo and mustang console in harms way during construction. If you own something fragile and you dont want it ruined, dont leave it in the middle of a construction site. Let their homeowners insurance pay for their broken crap.

If for example, you installed a new receptacle for their stereo, miswired it and fed it with 240 then youre responsible. Stuff like this drives me nuts.

 

[TOOL_5150]

Ok, six months ago I start a kitchen remodel and small addition. When I show up kitchen is pretty well gutted, everything that was in the kitchen is now temporarily in the living room. Owners living in the house during remodel. Living room has one 15 amp circuit on #14 awg. Plugged into this 15 amp circuit is a BIG fridge, micro, toaster oven, occasional carpenters circular saw, coffee maker, tv, lamps and a very high end stereo system with multiple components. So I rough the kitchen and addition in and then I'm out of there until it's time to come back to finish up.
Three weeks later GC calls me back to finish. (Same stuff still plugged into living room circuit). While I'm there home owner asked for a dedicated circuit for the stereo. No prob,tie into 20 amp spare fuse, test recept ,115v., Done. Next day homeowner calls and says I blew up the stereo! I say huh? Head back to job, plug in the meter....115v. Fuse hadn't blown. No short, nothing wrong. I told her the stereo was probably damaged by the overloaded 15 amp ckt. She said that they blew fuses two or three times a day during construction with all the kitchen appliances in the living room! I tried to explain how electronics are sensitive to low voltage, surges, local brown outs, multiple fuses blowing etc...
She says no way. You blew up my $3000.00 stereo, I want it replaced, she says isn't that what your insurance is for? (by the way, she's a lawyer and her husbands an architect, so they both know more than everyone) She also reminded me the she owed me alot money at that point
I refused to pay for it, and I refused to finish the work until I was paid for the rough in. First time I've ever walked off a project, and kept on walking. I did get paid after sending a collection agency after them.

What do you guys think? Did I do the right thing or am I the shmuck here? Sorry such a long post:-?

You did the right thing. Stick to your guns if you know you are not at fault.

~Matt

 

[TOOL_5150]

Without the neutral, we were seeing 600V on the "240V" legs.

How can that be possible....????? :-?

I know of no way to get 600v from a 240v service, without the use of a transformer. Loosing a neutral is not the same as a transformer.

~Matt

 

[jjhoward]

Hi Matt;
I think since when we lost the neutral we lost any reference for that 240V feed.

The ground rods were in place and the GEC was there.

So between "earth" and the 240v feed we were at 600V.

I measured it and I seen the smoke!!

I was also at a site after a storm where the neutral was broken, but the voltage in the house was fine. I think it has everything to do with the ground (earth) and the POCO neutral in that area.

 

[PCN]

You did the right thing. Stick to your guns if you know you are not at fault.

~Matt

That's why I went back to the jobsite as soon as tha homeowner called. We all make mistakes and I wanted to verify that I didn't have brain fart and wired it 240v. I always test EVERYTHING after energizing, but sometimes you miss one.