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kinglee · Mar 1, 2011, 12:23 AM

My house has three service-entrance cables running into the main panel. And have two 100amp cartridge fuse side by side. I want to add a garage on the side of the house. I called several electrician to come look at the situation. They all said I have only 100amp in the house, and need to increase to 200amp in order to put one more subpanel in the house to supply electric to the garage. Since I have two hot cables coming into the house, can I split them into two 120v?

tkrussell · Mar 1, 2011, 03:29 AM

No, this will not solve your problem:

Originally Posted by kinglee

Since I have two hot cables coming into the house, can i split them into two 120v?

Listen to any one of the electricians that looked at the job.

All you have is 100 amp capacity, which includes the conductors your referring to. The electricians must have concluded based on the load you have in the home and the load your looking to add, that the existing is not sufficient.

joypulv · Mar 1, 2011, 04:33 AM

No offense, but several electricians, all on their own dime and time?

tkrussell · Mar 1, 2011, 05:36 AM

Sure,

Originally Posted by joypulv

No offense, but several electricians, all on their own dime and time?

Why not?

We, as electrical contractors, get the opportunity to look at jobs, design jobs, and provide estimates, for free, every day.

If I charged for estimates, someone, like everyone else, would do it for free.

donf · Mar 1, 2011, 05:41 AM

Wow! Charge for an estimate. Any guess as to whose bid would get tossed from consideration!

hkstroud · Mar 1, 2011, 06:02 AM

I don't think I follow this conversation.(about estimates)

I also don't think kinglee understands the difference in voltage and amperage. He does not state how much service he wants in the garage.

Is there any requirement to have anything more that a single light in the garage?

tkrussell · Mar 1, 2011, 07:01 AM

HK, clearly this is true,

Originally Posted by hkstroud

I also don't think kinglee understands the difference in voltage and amperage. Is there any requirement to have anything more that a single light in the garage?

I was not about to get into it trying to explain the differences, when I am not sure what the confusion may be, he/she apparently has answers from electrical contractors, best advice I can give is take the advice of the electricians that have looked at the job.

Originally Posted by hkstroud

I don't think I follow this conversation.(about estimates)

Seems Joy is wondering if the several contractors came, looked, and provided advice and I would assume estimates, for free, which is standard in the industry, at least where I come from.

I do know that some remodel contractors, light construction, etc, will charge for designs and estimates, and deduct that amount for the estimate/design if they get the job.

As much as I would like to charge for design/estimates, I do not see that happening, as long as I want to continue getting work. And I don't mean looking and pricing residential services, basements, etc. I do design/estimates for free, for much larger commercial and industrial jobs.

One I picked up recently was $200K to wire a crushing plant for a brick manufacturer.

Everyday I am looking at jobs, designing the system proposed to be installed, and providing estimates to potential customers, for free. If I even think of charging I would shown the door.

joypulv · Mar 1, 2011, 08:17 AM

I meant that 'several' was unfair overkill when each was saying the same thing as the last.
If everyone got more than 3 estimates for any job, then contractors would all be spending too much time estimating, and would have to factor them into their rates.
It's no different than health care or any other overworked sector of the economy. We all pay for everybody, even those people who never hire an electrician.
Maybe you think I'm waxing too philosophical.

tkrussell · Mar 1, 2011, 08:59 AM

Joy I see your point, very valid, as each contractor does need to work in costs into their rates.

However, it is not as scientific as one would think. We just assume we need to spend time to look at work.

Ever been to a prebid meeting for any type of construction job?

Sometimes it is like a contractors convention, we are all there, for no money, to look at a job, and provide a price.

If I am called in privately to look at a job, and I find out they already have several bids, I move on. This is just someone that does not believe what they have been told already, and anything I tell them is not going to make any more difference.

Where the challenge is being called in to do a design and estimate, being careful about providing too much detail when presenting the estimate.

Too many times I provided a detailed estimate that allows another contractor to bid on the job using my design.

hkstroud · Mar 1, 2011, 01:15 PM

Thanks, just wondering.

Also wondering what kinglee told contractors about how much service he wanted in garage to warrant a service up grade.

Agree that calling in too many contractors usually means someone is trying to get something for nothing.

Stratmando · Mar 2, 2011, 07:49 AM

I agree with TK's Quote: "Too many times I provided a detailed estimate that allows another contractor to bid on the job using my design."
And then they use Crap for material.
Condo's can be bad, I bid on Security Systems(Cameras, whatever), And they want Radioshack equipment and Prices, I deal with the higher end stuff. Someone's brother of someone on the Board will mysteriously get the Job. My bids are sometime used as a guide to wheather their Guy/Girl is ripping them off.
If I don't provide a bid, They may say I am waisting their time. In fact they are waisting Others and my time, everyone can't get the job.
Someone's time will be wasted.
There are some Very good Honorable Contractors.
It is even possible for all the contractors that showed up requesting an Upgrade to generate unneeded work. These are tough times.
Wonder if poster can provide what will go in the Garage?