sfav8r
Senior Member
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area
I normally do residential work. Recently through a string of referrals, I was asked to bid on a small commercial job.
There was no design other than a rough sketch from the GC. One of the rooms in this bldg. will house 6 pieces of equipment that are never used at the same time.
The client, via the GC, requested that I bid on running "a few" circuits to service 6 220v, 30a twist-lock receptacles. Each receptacle would have an additional 120v duplex receptacle next to it fed off the same circuit.
My first concern (of many) is that nobody seems to have a clue what the actual equipment specs are. They do know that the existing installation has 30a circuits and everything is AOK. They do not know for sure if the current installation has dedicated circuits for each equipment, but they don't think it does.
I proposed that instead of doing it their way, I install a suppanel in the room, run 6 individual circuits to each piece of equipment with a disconnect, and run two 20a circuits to service the 120v outlets.
I just don't like the idea of picking up 120v off of one leg of a circuit that is running machinery that has a motor. Will they plug a computer into that 120v outlet?
They didn't seem too happy (I assume they think it will be considerably more expensive) with my suggestion.
I eventually told them that it would be inappropriate for me to do what they were asking without having a better understanding of the equipment requirements.
I left with the suggestion that I would estimate it both ways so they could see it wouldn't be that dramatic of a difference. But honestly, without more info. on the equipment, I don't think I would do i their way.
I know I could "just do what they want", but I think the potential for them ending up with an installation that wont get the job done is too high.
Any thoughts from you guys that have done more commercial work?
Thanks.
[ July 20, 2005, 09:50 PM: Message edited by: sfav8r ]
There was no design other than a rough sketch from the GC. One of the rooms in this bldg. will house 6 pieces of equipment that are never used at the same time.
The client, via the GC, requested that I bid on running "a few" circuits to service 6 220v, 30a twist-lock receptacles. Each receptacle would have an additional 120v duplex receptacle next to it fed off the same circuit.
My first concern (of many) is that nobody seems to have a clue what the actual equipment specs are. They do know that the existing installation has 30a circuits and everything is AOK. They do not know for sure if the current installation has dedicated circuits for each equipment, but they don't think it does.
I proposed that instead of doing it their way, I install a suppanel in the room, run 6 individual circuits to each piece of equipment with a disconnect, and run two 20a circuits to service the 120v outlets.
I just don't like the idea of picking up 120v off of one leg of a circuit that is running machinery that has a motor. Will they plug a computer into that 120v outlet?
They didn't seem too happy (I assume they think it will be considerably more expensive) with my suggestion.
I eventually told them that it would be inappropriate for me to do what they were asking without having a better understanding of the equipment requirements.
I left with the suggestion that I would estimate it both ways so they could see it wouldn't be that dramatic of a difference. But honestly, without more info. on the equipment, I don't think I would do i their way.
I know I could "just do what they want", but I think the potential for them ending up with an installation that wont get the job done is too high.
Any thoughts from you guys that have done more commercial work?
Thanks.
[ July 20, 2005, 09:50 PM: Message edited by: sfav8r ]