Home Page link

The Electrician's Credo, part XXXIV

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 2 of 2       << first < 1 2 Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
The Electrician's Credo, part XXXIV David Nebenzahl 04-16-2008
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by Pete C. on April 17, 2008, 5:06 pm

RBM wrote:
>
> >
> > letterman@invalid.com wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> >
> >> >>I swear, there must be a vow that all licensed electricians take before
> >> >>setting out to work on their own. I believe it could be summed up thus:
> >> >>
> >> >> XXXIV. Thou shalt never affix identifying labels to any
> >> >> household breaker panels.
> >> >>
> >> >> What is it with these guys? Yesterday I saw a new client, looked at
> >> >> their
> >> >> panel in the garage to try to figure out which one the back-porch
> >> >> light
> >> >> was on, and, sure 'nuf, not a SINGLE MARKING anywhere to disturb the
> >> >> pristine beauty of the blank box.
> >> >>
> >> >> I guess it just isn't macho enough to actually let the poor bastard
> >> >> who
> >> >> owns the house know which breaker goes where.
> >> >>
> >> >> (On the other hand, another client is the ultimate counter-example:
> >> >> both
> >> >> of their breaker boxes have envelopes taped to their doors, inside of
> >> >> which is a complete list of breakers and devices on each. But I
> >> >> suspect
> >> >> that's because one of their sons did a lot of remodeling work for
> >> >> their
> >> >> parents.)
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> The best argument against democracy is a five-minute
> >> >> conversation with the average voter.
> >> >>
> >> >> - Attributed to Winston Churchill
> >> >
> >> >The NEC requires the panel to be labeled, but it's doubtful that any
> >> >electrician is going to make up charts showing each light and outlet in
> >> >a
> >> >dwelling. Typically you'll get general labels like first floor lighting
> >> >,
> >> >bedroom outlets, etc.
> >> >
> >>
> >> The electrician that wired my house made a computer printed label that
> >> lists everything. Of course I was that electrician. I used a paint
> >> program and made lines to look like the breakers, then filled in the
> >> data.
> >
> > Similar here, when I replaced my panel I mapped every circuit and made a
> > CAD print of the whole house with every fixture and receptacle marked
> > with circuit number. When you do the work yourself, you can take the
> > time to do every detail perfectly.
>
> Agreed, and it certainly isn't rocket science to label a panel, but it can
> get costly if you want a licensed electrician to do what you did. Just last
> week a customer of mine had me map and label his service panels, which I did
> using a table in MS Word. I only charged for my time on the job ringing out
> the circuits and it cost over $400

Yep, details cost money and most homeowners don't want to pay for
anything that isn't essential.

Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on April 17, 2008, 10:05 pm

>
> Agreed, and it certainly isn't rocket science to label a panel, but it can
> get costly if you want a licensed electrician to do what you did. Just
> last week a customer of mine had me map and label his service panels,
> which I did using a table in MS Word. I only charged for my time on the
> job ringing out the circuits and it cost over $400

Very time consuming, but code requires markings. We have been doing a LOT of
electrical in our shop over the past 6 months. We have about 15 panels to
finish the markings. Some new work (easy) and some old work.



Posted by John Grabowski on April 17, 2008, 8:45 am

>I swear, there must be a vow that all licensed electricians take before
>setting out to work on their own. I believe it could be summed up thus:
>
> XXXIV. Thou shalt never affix identifying labels to any
> household breaker panels.
>
> What is it with these guys? Yesterday I saw a new client, looked at their
> panel in the garage to try to figure out which one the back-porch light
> was on, and, sure 'nuf, not a SINGLE MARKING anywhere to disturb the
> pristine beauty of the blank box.
>
> I guess it just isn't macho enough to actually let the poor bastard who
> owns the house know which breaker goes where.
>
> (On the other hand, another client is the ultimate counter-example: both
> of their breaker boxes have envelopes taped to their doors, inside of
> which is a complete list of breakers and devices on each. But I suspect
> that's because one of their sons did a lot of remodeling work for their
> parents.)


"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low
price is forgotten"


Posted by Boden on April 17, 2008, 10:50 pm
David Nebenzahl wrote:
> I swear, there must be a vow that all licensed electricians take before
> setting out to work on their own. I believe it could be summed up thus:
>
> XXXIV. Thou shalt never affix identifying labels to any
> household breaker panels.
>
> What is it with these guys? Yesterday I saw a new client, looked at
> their panel in the garage to try to figure out which one the back-porch
> light was on, and, sure 'nuf, not a SINGLE MARKING anywhere to disturb
> the pristine beauty of the blank box.
>
> I guess it just isn't macho enough to actually let the poor bastard who
> owns the house know which breaker goes where.
>
> (On the other hand, another client is the ultimate counter-example: both
> of their breaker boxes have envelopes taped to their doors, inside of
> which is a complete list of breakers and devices on each. But I suspect
> that's because one of their sons did a lot of remodeling work for their
> parents.)
>
>
Perhaps I was fortunate in selecting an electrician, but a notebook
containing a complete listing, by subpanel and breaker showing each load
and its location was attached to the side of the switchboard (600 amp SB
type.) This has prove quite useful when making changes to balance the
load on my generator and place power factor correction capacitors.

I'm quite happy with the installation my electrician did.

Boden

Posted by Pete C. on April 18, 2008, 9:10 am

Boden wrote:
>
> David Nebenzahl wrote:
> > I swear, there must be a vow that all licensed electricians take before
> > setting out to work on their own. I believe it could be summed up thus:
> >
> > XXXIV. Thou shalt never affix identifying labels to any
> > household breaker panels.
> >
> > What is it with these guys? Yesterday I saw a new client, looked at
> > their panel in the garage to try to figure out which one the back-porch
> > light was on, and, sure 'nuf, not a SINGLE MARKING anywhere to disturb
> > the pristine beauty of the blank box.
> >
> > I guess it just isn't macho enough to actually let the poor bastard who
> > owns the house know which breaker goes where.
> >
> > (On the other hand, another client is the ultimate counter-example: both
> > of their breaker boxes have envelopes taped to their doors, inside of
> > which is a complete list of breakers and devices on each. But I suspect
> > that's because one of their sons did a lot of remodeling work for their
> > parents.)
> >
> >
> Perhaps I was fortunate in selecting an electrician, but a notebook
> containing a complete listing, by subpanel and breaker showing each load
> and its location was attached to the side of the switchboard (600 amp SB
> type.) This has prove quite useful when making changes to balance the
> load on my generator and place power factor correction capacitors.
>
> I'm quite happy with the installation my electrician did.
>
> Boden

The difference there is it's commercial work. Commercial is where there
can be more attention to detail since there is generally more budget to
do things properly. Residential is where the budget doesn't want to even
pay for the necessities, much less the extra details.

Page 2 of 2       << first < 1 2
Similar ThreadsPosted
2 Part Epoxy vs. One Part for Garage floor? January 24, 2006, 7:12 pm
part of faucet is grounded, part is not July 23, 2006, 4:13 pm
Can a lock part be $250.00? October 14, 2005, 9:18 pm
Toilet Help PART II October 16, 2005, 3:08 pm
Wirenuts Part II January 21, 2006, 7:15 pm
Identify this part? February 13, 2006, 6:58 am
How to get rid of termites part 2 May 10, 2006, 9:19 pm
Anyone know the proper name of this part?? June 18, 2006, 12:58 pm
what is this dryer part? August 5, 2006, 8:54 pm
Dishwasher Part March 15, 2007, 2:26 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap