Leviton panel I unfortunately saw

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Coppersmith

Coppersmith

Senior Member
Location
Tampa, FL, USA
Occupation
Electrical Contractor
I went to do a simple EV receptacle install in a garage yesterday. I didn't ask for pictures of the panel because I carry breakers for all the standard brands on the truck and it's a new house. When I look at the panel I note that the panel is painted a stark white which is unusual. I open the panel door and it's stark white inside there too. My immediate thought is "some idiot painted the breakers"! After a few moments I realize I'm looking at a Leviton panel. (First one I've encountered in the wild.) I don't carry Leviton breakers on the truck.

Several calls to suppliers finds the closest breaker available about an hour round trip away. I hate this. Either I piss off the client by charging an additional hour of labor plus vehicle expenses to go get the breaker or I eat the extra cost for the goodwill. I apprise the client of the situation and a third option emerges. The client points out that there is already a breaker in the panel labeled as "Future Tesla". I open the panel and that breaker is wired, but no loose wiring, covered j-box, or 50 amp receptacle is present any place I look. The breaker is also turned off. I verify the AC system and the stove are working.

I decide (with the client's blessing) to de-term the breaker and abandon the wiring. I install the EV receptacle using that existing breaker. Mission accomplished with the service work gremlins causing 30 minutes extra labor time which I charged half to client and ate half since I feel somewhat responsible. Note to self: get pictures of every panel, even the simple jobs.
 
Glad it worked out but why should you eat the time it’s a new panel and it’s a special item. If he does not like the charge he should of got a normal panel.
 
norcal said:
Could not figure out where they came from???
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:p
I use that sort of joke whenever I come across someone with a gaggle of kids. My wife does work for a family of a certain religion that has 10 kids all under 12 years old! (2 of them with disabilities, which is what my wife does). When I met them once to sell them a mini van that we no longer needed, I said "Haven't you two figured out yet what causes that so you can stop doing it?"
They were not amused, neither was my wife. She has not invited me to meet any of her other clients...
 
I've run into a couple of these panels. One benefit I was told is that you can terminate all wiring before having breakers which was an advantage when the supply chain was at it's worst and hard to get breakers.
 
AC\DC said:
Glad it worked out but why should you eat the time it’s a new panel and it’s a special item. If he does not like the charge he should of got a normal panel.
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I normally try to eliminate as much uncertainty as possible before going to do a job. Having to leave the job to go get material is a profit killer on a fixed price job. I ask enough questions to know what materials to bring. I didn't in this case ask for a picture of the panel which would have made it quite clear which kind of breaker was needed. It would have also saved me some time before I left to go do the job since I had to double-check that I had a two-pole 50 of every brand and model on the truck (or so I thought). Because I violated my procedure, I caused confusion when I got to the job which caused extra labor time. I ate some of the cost because this is not the clients fault and lower prices generate goodwill and repeat business. (Note that I already charge toward the high end in my area.) This was already a repeat client (and the fourth EV receptacle or charger I have installed for him).
 
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AC\DC said:
Glad it worked out but why should you eat the time it’s a new panel and it’s a special item. If he does not like the charge he should of got a normal panel.
Click to expand...
Do you really think most home owners understand the difference between a SQD, Eaton, Siemens, etc? Or that it really makes any difference to them what the electricians puts on the quote?

These Leviton breakers are at Home Depot, Lowes, and every supply house I've been to.

What's your definition of a "normal" panel?
 
Coppersmith said:
I normally try to eliminate as much uncertainty as possible before going to do a job. Having to leave the job to go get material is a profit killer on a fixed price job. I ask enough questions to know what materials to bring. I didn't in this case ask for a picture of the panel which would have made it quite clear which kind of breaker was needed. It would have also saved me some time before I left to go do the job since I had to double-check that I had a two-pole 50 of every brand and model on the truck (or so I thought). Because I violated my procedure, I caused confusion when I got to the job which caused extra labor time. I ate some of the cost because this is not the clients fault and lower prices generate goodwill and repeat business. (Note that I already charge toward the high end in my area.) This was already a repeat client (and the fourth EV receptacle or charger I have installed for
Click to expand...
VirutalElectrician said:
Do you really think most home owners understand the difference between a SQD, Eaton, Siemens, etc? Or that it really makes any difference to them what the electricians puts on the quote?

These Leviton breakers are at Home Depot, Lowes, and every supply house I've been to.

What's your definition of a "normal" panel?
Click to expand...
I don’t care what homeowners think. Normal is in average use.
You buy a foreign car you pay for that car, that is not a normal car.
Same thing
 
AC\DC said:
I don’t care what homeowners think. Normal is in average use.
You buy a foreign car you pay for that car, that is not a normal car.
Same thing
Click to expand...
Bad attitude and bad anology. Many "foreign" cars are in common use now...Kia, Toyota, Hyundai, etc, etc. In many places, they are more normal that "normal".
 
Not a bad analogy you picked Normal cars, go find parts for your ferrari you will pay for it!
Not bad attitude I am in it to make money not free stuff. A current customer I get it an new one he paying.
 
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