Just for fun...

[celtic]

Listened to some messages tonight....

"We would like our 60A service changed to a 200A service and need 3 meters..can it be done for 2k?"

Site unseen...but assuming this is a 2-family up for resale w/o a common meter:
- No SE
- 20' from POA to trough & meter
- 40' from meters to panels in a dank basement w/low head room
- No AFCI protection required
- Probably 8 - 12 circuits in two panels
- 3rd panel's ckts will need to be ID'ed and separated from other 2...some circuits may feed BOTH common areas and unit/s
- house surrounded with cement/concrete/pavement [ adds to the fun of driving ground rods]

..and lastly ~ it's NJ!

I have a number in my head....but let's play the game anyway

 

[Minuteman]

I don't know about prices in NJ, but that sounds like a good price to me... for a draw, but I require the other half after final inspection. Why 3 meters, dividing the house into a triplex?

 

[celtic]

I don't know about prices in NJ, but that sounds like a good price to me...

NJ has a high price tag:smile:

...for a draw, but I require the other half after final inspection.

I'm not worried about collecting the money...NJ has a law which does NOT allow final payment until after final inspection. For something like this...90% at signing, 10% after final.

Why 3 meters, dividing the house into a triplex?

No...

210.25 Common Area Branch Circuits.
Branch circuits in dwelling units shall supply only loads within that dwelling unit or loads associated only with that dwelling unit. Branch circuits required for the purpose of lighting, central alarm, signal, communications, or other needs for public or common areas of a two-family or multifamily dwelling shall not be supplied from equipment that supplies an individual dwelling unit.

Not only does 210.25 prohibit branch circuits from feeding more than one dwelling unit, it also prohibits the sharing of systems, equipment, or common lighting if that equipment is fed from any of the dwelling units. The systems, equipment, or lighting for public or common areas is required to be supplied from a separate ?house load? panelboard. This requirement permits access to the branch-circuit disconnecting means without the need to enter the space of any tenants. The requirement also prevents a tenant from turning off important circuits that may affect other tenants.

Black is NEC, Blue is NECH commentary

 

[Minuteman]

First, let me apologize for not actually READING your post.

but assuming this is a 2-family

Missed the 2 family part. And so now I get the "house" meter for the common area.

...for a draw, but I require the other half after final inspection.

I was trying to say that the 2K was only about half enough.

 

[celtic]

First, let me apologize for not actually READING your post.

Missed the 2 family part. And so now I get the "house" meter for the common area.

LMAO

I knew there wasn't something right about your response!

I was trying to say that the 2K was only about half enough.

You're getting close :smile:

 

[Sparky555]

IMO round numbers are nice, so $10k. You'll eat up a lot of time splitting up circuits. If they're looking for $2k it's barely worth returning the phone call.

 

[celtic]

If they're looking for $2k it's barely worth returning the phone call.

Yeah...I keep forgetting to call them back

 

[goldstar]

"We would like our 60A service changed to a 200A service and need 3 meters..can it be done for 2k?"

I wouldn't even entertain the idea. But believe me they will continue to call every EC in the state until they find someone who will do the job for the $2K or something close to it.

Site unseen...but assuming this is a 2-family up for resale w/o a common meter:

Let's go with that assumption.

- No SE

I know you're going in blind on this but it can be - PVC w/ service head or 2" Gal w/ mast. Without knowing that you can't give a legitimate price.

- 20' from POA to trough & meter
- 40' from meters to panels in a dank basement w/low head room
- No AFCI protection required
- Probably 8 - 12 circuits in two panels
- 3rd panel's ckts will need to be ID'ed and separated from other 2...some circuits may feed BOTH common areas and unit/s

You probably have $700.00-$900.00 in material alone.

- house surrounded with cement/concrete/pavement [ adds to the fun of driving ground rods]

And, not to mention that people are probably currently living there so you'll have to dismantle the old and put up the new during daylight hours so it's probably more than just you and a helper.

..and lastly ~ it's NJ!

Yes, but believe it or not prices vary drastically by county. Bergen County contractors are getting some of the highest prices for service upgrades in the state. Move one county over to Passaic County and the prices drop by $200.00-$500.00. Material costs remain the same unless your supply house is in an "enterprise zone" where tha sales tax is 3.5% instead of 7%. Go figure. My guess would be somewhere between $4200.00 - $4800.00. I don't remember if it was this forum or another that I frequent but there are some that take great pride in doing 200 amp services for $1100.00 or so. They apparently don't work in high cost of living areas like we do. Perhaps you can find out who they are, fly them up here and sub-contrtact the work to them.

 

[celtic]

.Yes, but believe it or not prices vary drastically by county. Bergen County contractors are getting some of the highest prices for service upgrades in the state. Move one county over to Passaic County and the prices drop by $200.00-$500.00. Material costs remain the same unless your supply house is in an "enterprise zone" where tha sales tax is 3.5% instead of 7%. Go figure.

My guess would be somewhere between $4200.00 - $4800.00. I don't remember if it was this forum or another that I frequent but there are some that take great pride in doing 200 amp services for $1100.00 or so. They apparently don't work in high cost of living areas like we do. Perhaps you can find out who they are, fly them up here and sub-contrtact the work to them.

I'm glad your brought the county issue up.

I know an EC in Fort Lee[FL] area and another in Woodbridge[WB] area.
I ask these guys every 6 mths or so:
How much for a typical 200A service?
FL: ...about $1800
CEC: You do realize that is just $200 more than you charged in 1996?
FL: Yea, but if I raise my number I won't get any work
CEC: ..but are you making any money at that price?
FL: ::Blank Stare::
CEC: :roceeds to go on about the cost of materials, fuel, OH, etc etc etc until blue in the face::
FL: Can't do it up here!
CEC: Can you at least try it once?
FL: No.
CEC: :-?

Mr. WB is a bit different...
How much for a typical 200A service?
WB: ..about $1600
CEC: WHy so cheap?
WB: Well, I get alotta them from a builder friend
CEC: :-?
WB: I can do one in under 4 hours
CEC: How's that?
WB: If I have everything one the truck i can do it in about 2 hours

....at this point I start looking for his crack pipe.

At some time, I'll have to start subbing my work to these guys.....crazy idea, no?

 

[goldstar]

I know we've discussed this topic several times here in the forum but for the life of me I can't understand why us EC's keep cuttting each others throats. The plumbers all stick together and are charging $125/hr and up.

Anyone doing 200 amp service upgrades in 2 hrs for $1600 - $1800 is blowing smoke

I'll send you a PM regarding rates in our area.

 

[jaylectricity]

I know we've discussed this topic several times here in the forum but for the life of me I can't understand why us EC's keep cuttting each others throats. The plumbers all stick together and are charging $125/hr and up.

Anyone doing 200 amp service upgrades in 2 hrs for $1600 - $1800 is blowing smoke

I'll send you a PM regarding rates in our area.

At my last code refresher course the instructor was talking about that. I'm doing a house right now where the HO demolished the second floor and added a new 2nd and 3rd floor. The first floor is supposed to stay "as is" but a quick walkthrough reveals that many of the lighting circuits were cut and will probably warrant a complete rewire of the first floor.

I thought that would be a pain, but it looks like the plumber is going to require the HO to rip down a lot of the ceiling. I gave a lofty price and still got the job with the understanding that we'll deal with issues as they come up. I never would have asked him to rip down 200 square feet of ceiling, but since the plumber is doing it my job just got easier.

 

[celtic]

I thought that would be a pain....
I never would have asked him to rip down 200 square feet of ceiling, but since the plumber is doing it my job just got easier.

Why not ask?
If it makes your job easier...ask!
The answer is always NO until you ask.

 

[tonyou812]

About three weeks ago I wired a boiler for a plumber cause he said the EC didnt want to do it. So when I went there as I pulled up so did the EC . And we got to talking about stuff and the question came up. He asked me what do you charge for a 200 amp service change i said If its a straight forward (nothing crazy) job, overhead, seimens panel something I can handel alone: starting price is 2500 and only goes up with each pita factor. His eyes went wide and said "Jesus I dont try to rip people off I just give them a fair price 1400-1600. When he started busting my chops I spit some of my coffee out and laughed a little. I said are you serious? you really think Im ripping people off?
How much can you possibly make on 1400 with two guys working on it? He just shrugged his shoulders and said " I dont try to hit a homerun on every job" and my reply was "Apparently" This guy was from the bridgewater area.
I guess I havent relized it that we are in the charity buissness. Oh and the kicker was that I found out from the plumber that his "Guys" arent excactly all "Legal". So maybe thats why he does work for that cheap

 

[celtic]

"Jesus I dont try to rip people off I just give them a fair price 1400-1600. When he started busting my chops I spit some of my coffee out and laughed a little. I said are you serious? you really thing Im ripping people off?

I'm with you "T" ....I just don't get it.



I know we have had this discussion before [price of a 200A service]....the question is:
Do you get your price?

...and obviously you do - other wise I would have gotten an earful from you, right?

 

[tonyou812]

Im swapping two fuse panels in Jersey City for 1400 each. Not upgradding just swapping. they have about 16 circuts in each. Maybe I should call them back and change the price, I dont want to "rip" anyone off.:-?

 

[tonyou812]

I'm with you "T" ....I just don't get it.



I know we have had this discussion before [price of a 200A service]....the question is:
Do you get your price?

...and obviously you do - other wise I would have gotten an earful from you, right?

I didnt take me very long to learn that lesson. Thanks to a lot of you guys. Im doing so much better now I cant even begin to tell you guys how much I learned here.

 

[celtic]

Im swapping two fuse panels in Jersey City ....

Like the parking ticket factor for Hoboken, the " 'hood factor" for JC is allowed

 

[tonyou812]

Anyhoo its poker night so Im off to my other EC buddys house. Time to loose some money LOL even though Ive been watching world series poker all week.:grin:

 

[celtic]

I didnt take me very long to learn that lesson. Thanks to a lot of you guys. Im doing so much better now I cant even begin to tell you guys how much I learned here.

...the occasional pie would be good starting point.



Speaking of JC....what area?
Greenville, Heights, Downtown?

 

[tonyou812]

Like the parking ticket factor for Hoboken, the " 'hood factor" for JC is allowed

Ahhhh but thats the best part the lawyer who owns the building lets me park in his drive way:grin: