JJ s sandwich

[Rewire]

Just got the prints for a Jimmy Johns looks fairly simple but the have alot of telephone and data I am not sure if I want to sub this or tackle it myself anyone who has done one input would be helpful

 

[LarryFine]

That you're less than sure suggests you should at least look into subbing it out.

You could always run the lines and have someone else do the terminations.

 

[Rewire]

That you're less than sure suggests you should at least look into subbing it out.

You could always run the lines and have someone else do the terminations.

The problem with something you know how to do but just don't do often is it takes more time.I have a low voltage company I have worked with in the past they would be ok with doing the terminations I just dont like giving money away.

 

[480sparky]

Sub it out. Bid accordingly.

 

[Rewire]

Sub it out. Bid accordingly.

Low volt guys need to eat too. I think Ill sub it out.

 

[480sparky]

Low volt guys need to eat too. I think Ill sub it out.

Three advantages to subbing it out:

1. They'll do the work. This frees you up to do what you do best.
2. They are more proficient at it since it's what they do every day.
3. Warranty issues? Call 'em up and they have to fix it.

Any job I do that involves security, alarm, data, intercom, home theater, computer, servers, fire alarm, etc. (other than resi phone & CATV), I sub it out.

 

[tonyou812]

How will you ever learn, grow, expand your skill sets? I had a teacher for industrial wiring once tell us " One day you guys are gonna learn that you can make a lot more money running little tiny wires than big hulking fat ones" and he was right. I hear that many data companies charge upwards to 300 bucks an hour doing data work,cat 5 punch downs.
But if you like playing it safe then dont do it. And Im sure there is going to be at least 50 guys in here that will try to scare you into not doing it and making it sound like rocket science. I did data work for a while when I was working for someone else a few years ago and its really not that hard. Just do your homework before hand.

Personally, I hunger to learn and do new things all the time. Do you really think I want to cut in high hats and outlets my whole carrer? I mean if its something that you honestly dont even have a clue as to how to do, than dont do it, but if your just talking about patch panels and puch downs its really not that big a deal. I dont know how big your company is but maybe you can ask your guys if anyone wants to specialize in data work and you could make him your go to guy. Send him to school to learn more about it.
All I know is here in North New Jersey resi and commercial EC's are a dime a dozen. You need to set your self apart from the rest IMO, and make your company more marketable in the long run.
Anyhoo thats my two cents.

 

[Rewire]

How will you ever learn, grow, expand your skill sets? I had a teacher for industrial wiring once tell us " One day you guys are gonna learn that you can make a lot more money running little tiny wires than big hulking fat ones" and he was right. I hear that many data companies charge upwards to 300 bucks an hour doing data work,cat 5 punch downs.
But if you like playing it safe then dont do it. And Im sure there is going to be at least 50 guys in here that will try to scare you into not doing it and making it sound like rocket science. I did data work for a while when I was working for someone else a few years ago and its really not that hard. Just do your homework before hand.

Personally, I hunger to learn and do new things all the time. Do you really think I want to cut in high hats and outlets my whole carrer? I mean if its something that you honestly dont even have a clue as to how to do, than dont do it, but if your just talking about patch panels and puch downs its really not that big a deal. I dont know how big your company is but maybe you can ask your guys if anyone wants to specialize in data work and you could make him your go to guy. Send him to school to learn more about it.
All I know is here in North New Jersey resi and commercial EC's are a dime a dozen. You need to set your self apart from the rest IMO, and make your company more marketable in the long run.
Anyhoo thats my two cents.

I do know how its just I don't do it often and I am not sure if I would be as profitable as someone who does it daily as for costs data guys around here are actually cheaper.

 

[satcom]

All I know is here in North New Jersey resi and commercial EC's are a dime a dozen. You need to set your self apart from the rest IMO, and make your company more marketable in the long run.
Anyhoo thats my two cents.

Tony you made me laugh, 300 bucks, they are the cheap guys I find most of the guys doing commercial data work are a lot more then 300 an hour, and the work is easy, I think electrical guys do a nicer job with data work, and they usually know what to do when they hit a fire wall, or work in a plenum ceiling.

 

[tonyou812]

I do know how its just I don't do it often and I am not sure if I would be as profitable as someone who does it daily as for costs data guys around here are actually cheaper.

Its really not that difficult. The most important thing to remember is lable both ends, and make sure to pair test everything.

I would bet the reason that they do it cheaper is that most data guys ( and I mean the grunts) usually dont make much more than 15 bucks and hour.

I dont know if your company is terribly busy right now but what better time to test the waters.

 

[tonyou812]

Tony you made me laugh, 300 bucks, they are the cheap guys I find most of the guys doing commercial data work are a lot more then 300 an hour, and the work is easy, I think electrical guys do a nicer job with data work, and they usually know what to do when they hit a fire wall, or work in a plenum ceiling.

That was a few years ago mind you. And I totally agree, data guys are slobs when it comes to neatness. I wish I took pictures of one job that i did a few years ago in a lab. The guys that came in to do all the programing and set up the racks looked up and said "WOW" that is really nice work. I was so proud of myself and my helper. we kicked ass on that one. And it was all done off of extension ladders. My boss even kicked us a few bucks for doing such a nice job.
When your used to working with pipe and MC its a pleasure to "hump" cat 5 for a while.

 

[tonyou812]

Rewire even if you dont make a ton of money on the job the experience is invaluable and you can only go up from there.

 

[480sparky]

Rewire even if you dont make a ton of money on the job the experience is invaluable and you can only go up from there.

I'll sub it out and make half a ton.

 

[tonyou812]

I'll sub it out and make half a ton.

Hey dude to each his own. My motto is "full attack", " Maximum power to phaser banks and full power to front deflector screens" "Sensors on Maximum range" "Mr Sulu sound red alert were going in"

 

[Rewire]

"Mr Sulu sound red alert were going in"

Mr Sulu " oooh Captain"

 

[Cow]

And I totally agree, data guys are slobs when it comes to neatness.

Nice.:roll: I guess the few bad electricians I've come across means were all bad too, right? Let's just lump everyone together.

The data guys around here take pride in their work. Looks as clean as anyone could do it.

 

[ohm]

How will you ever learn, grow, expand your skill sets? I had a teacher for industrial wiring once tell us " One day you guys are gonna learn that you can make a lot more money running little tiny wires than big hulking fat ones" and he was right. I hear that many data companies charge upwards to 300 bucks an hour doing data work,cat 5 punch downs.
But if you like playing it safe then dont do it. And Im sure there is going to be at least 50 guys in here that will try to scare you into not doing it and making it sound like rocket science. I did data work for a while when I was working for someone else a few years ago and its really not that hard. Just do your homework before hand.

Personally, I hunger to learn and do new things all the time. Do you really think I want to cut in high hats and outlets my whole carrer? I mean if its something that you honestly dont even have a clue as to how to do, than dont do it, but if your just talking about patch panels and puch downs its really not that big a deal. I dont know how big your company is but maybe you can ask your guys if anyone wants to specialize in data work and you could make him your go to guy. Send him to school to learn more about it.
All I know is here in North New Jersey resi and commercial EC's are a dime a dozen. You need to set your self apart from the rest IMO, and make your company more marketable in the long run.
Anyhoo thats my two cents.

Good advice Tony. Talk about it to your group, whoever shows the most interest is a good candidate. You might even get then to sign a "no-compete contract" (for what it's worth) if you train him. You might stay away from fire alarm & security because of the high insurance costs.

Tiny wire guys always make the most money and don't break their backs.

 

[tonyou812]

Nice.:roll: I guess the few bad electricians I've come across means were all bad too, right? Let's just lump everyone together.

The data guys around here take pride in their work. Looks as clean as anyone could do it.

Your right I shouldn't generalize them. But from what Ive seen in commercial buildings around here i cant say the same. Unless it was a union job/building. Those guys seem to do a nice job.

 

[jmargolis79]

I have done 6 jimmy johns myself and my shop has done around 15. The first 10 we just put in the pipes for the LV. Number 11 we did and 12-15 we sub ed out. Some of the jj's have a very tight time frame and we didn't have the extra couple of days to learn the data end at the end of the project.

 

[480sparky]

Hey dude to each his own. My motto is "full attack", " Maximum power to phaser banks and full power to front deflector screens" "Sensors on Maximum range" "Mr Sulu sound red alert were going in"

So I make half a ton subbing out the low voltage, and still make a ton on the work I do. Better than doing both and still making just one ton.

Compare my method to "The Trouble with Tribbles". :grin: