NEMA 3R pull box trick

[electrofelon]

Just a little tidbit I thought I would share. I was needing a 36x36x8 NEMA 3R box. I got several quotes and all were around $750 (did seem high, maybe everyone just happened to gouge me on this one). The guy at one supply house says "why not use a 36x36x11 CT cab, much cheaper I got one here for $300." Just thought that might be valuable idea to someone someday. Of course wont work if you need a gasketed/horizontal box, but for typical vertical use, that is some very significant cost savings and more likely in stock.

 

[kwired]

Just a little tidbit I thought I would share. I was needing a 36x36x8 NEMA 3R box. I got several quotes and all were around $750 (did seem high, maybe everyone just happened to gouge me on this one). The guy at one supply house says "why not use a 36x36x11 CT cab, much cheaper I got one here for $300." Just thought that might be valuable idea to someone someday. Of course wont work if you need a gasketed/horizontal box, but for typical vertical use, that is some very significant cost savings and more likely in stock.

More commonly sold and stocked is probably the main reasoning.

Ever compare the price of a 3 foot fluorescent lamp to a 4 foot lamp with otherwise same specs? Millions more 4 footers sold and stocked.

 

[macmikeman]

A really snappy attention getter would have been to preface the post with '' It's Time For Your electrofelon Tip Of The Day!"

 

[petersonra]

There are a lot of anomalies like this. there might be an obvious reason for the cost difference (like different door hardware or use of different gauge metal), or it may be that the supplier has to be more competitive with certain items.

 

[ggunn]

It's like trying to match plane fares with distance traveled. You cannae do it.

 

[EV607797]

I had a recent situation where I was installing a sub panel in a garage for a customer. I needed six pole spaces, and a QO612 panel is cheap. Still, I hate putting in a panel that is already full, so I looked into getting something larger. A QO panel with 8 spaces cost nearly three times the cost of the 6 space one (over $48.00). Of course, that doesn't even include the breakers.

I looked into one of those pre-packaged deals, where I got a 20 space, 100 amp main breaker panel with three single-pole 20s and two two-pole 30s for a little over $50.00. I kept the extra breaker and the customer is happy. Not only that, but their sub panel now has a main disconnect and plenty of extra space.

Now I can sell the extra 2P30 elsewhere and make a few more bucks. Yes, it really does pay to think outside the box.

 

[kwired]

I had a recent situation where I was installing a sub panel in a garage for a customer. I needed six pole spaces, and a QO612 panel is cheap. Still, I hate putting in a panel that is already full, so I looked into getting something larger. A QO panel with 8 spaces cost nearly three times the cost of the 6 space one (over $48.00). Of course, that doesn't even include the breakers.

I looked into one of those pre-packaged deals, where I got a 20 space, 100 amp main breaker panel with three single-pole 20s and two two-pole 30s for a little over $50.00. I kept the extra breaker and the customer is happy. Not only that, but their sub panel now has a main disconnect and plenty of extra space.

Now I can sell the extra 2P30 elsewhere and make a few more bucks. Yes, it really does pay to think outside the box.

They like to get you with that 8 space panel. It is the same enclosure and even same bus support insulators all that is different is the bus bars themselves each have one more finger on them.:roll: