Quality Engineer

[Justin P. Le Blanc]

I've recently obtained my contractors license so I'm a rookie.

I have a job that looks like it needs an electrical engineer to draw up a set of prints for me. The job isn't all that big... a small church requiring new 480V switch gear, one new 150 KVA transformer, two new 225A 208V panels.

The job is in Los Angeles County (Sunland), do you have any recommendations for an electrical engineer in this area. As of this stage I don't know of any... well none I trust.

Thank you for any help you might give.

 

[brian john]

Talk to other contractors at the counter...

 

[831]

Questions:

* Is that the only thing happening on the project?
* Is there other work? Lighting? Life safety? HVAC?
* Do you need to show the AHJ where the work is taking place i.e. a floor plan or do they just need a one-line?


Grab the phone book and find some local electrical engineering consultants.

Ask:

* Do you do commercial electrical design?
* What kind of commercial electrical design do you do?
* Do you do small jobs like church service upgrades?
* Do you have time for a small service upgrade job?


Then:

* Sketch exactly what you want done i.e. xfmr, panelboards, etc.
* Have them draw, review and subsequently stamp the one-line and you're good.
* If electronic floor plans are required, have them at the ready on a thumb drive or similar storage device.


Key:

Bring them everything you intend on doing. Tell them exactly what you want them to do. Be as clear in your description of the job as possible if possible. The better you are at being the client, the better and more they will help you out. If you let them run wild, they will. Ensure they meet your desired (code compliant) end w/o a lot of (or any) subjective filler. They'll teach you some stuf and you'll teach them some too.

You want to do as much leg work as possible; this saves you $ and simplifies things for the PE firm. You're new to them and they're new to you. Like dogs, you sniff each others butts for the first job or two, then you'll find a rhythm that works well for both sides.

If you want an immediate, but free second opinion on their design, have them print drawings to PDF and PM me for contact info.