DIY or professional electrician

[BFBOB]

Check with the authorities where you live - regulations vary.
Where I live, I'm allowed to do my own wiring in my property - after passing a test and getting the permits - EXCEPT for replacing the panel. That has to be done by a licensed electrician, and if not done right can bite you big time when it comes time to sell the place.

As an example of what unlicensed/unpermitted work can be, in my house we discovered when replacing the compressor/condenser unit that the wire going the full length and width of the house out to the unit had NO overcurrent protection. That's right - it was connected straight to the incoming lugs. No way even to disconnect it.

That discovery accelerated my plans to replace the breaker box - and hire a pro to do it right. $750 WELL SPENT.

I should add that I had already bought the panel and breakers before I knew I wasn't allowed to do the work. Sparky kindly agreed to use my parts. Total cost was closer to a grand.

 

[Bert_]

When I bought my house two years ago my home inspecter pointed out that the breaker box that was installed was know to have breakers that failed to trip. So when I moved in I had the 100 amp panel upgraded to 200 amp. Panel, inspection, nee grounds and new line from meter to panel cost me $1200 and took two guys about 6 hours to do.

$1200-1600 is a good number for a new 200a panel and service riser in my neck of the woods. That would be with no changes to branch circuit.

 

[nh_yota]

Even though I've done a lot of electrical work I draw the line at service entrances/main panels because:

1. Unless you pull the meter or you have a separate disconnect upstream you are dealing with live wires that can supply thousands of amps of fault current.
2. If you run into problems or screw something up, you may be without power for an extended period of time. Electricians can get panels swapped within hours and they have lots of tools and parts to get things done right.

 

[toolman9w]

Second quote in. $1000 dollars for just the breaker box and new in coming wires. Well known and recommended electrician. I said put me on the schedule.

 

[sberry]

I ran in to one of those air conditioning installs the other day. Had the wires jumped under the main lugs.

 

[kmacht]

I paid $1200 to have a fuse panel switched over to breakers a few years back. It included a new drop from the roof to the meter and a new line from the meter to the box. Took the electrician and apprentice around 6 hours to do it all. Yes, I could have done it myself but it wouldn't have been done as quickly and probably wouldn't have come out as neat and clean.

 

[Innovate1]

I think replacing the main panel and wires in for $1000 is a good way to go. Fixing all the circuits is very labor intensive and it sounds like something you could do yourself.

I agree, the existing is a mess and looks like a DIY job by someone that didn't know what they were doing.

I have put in main panels at a couple of my houses over the years but if you aren't comfortable doing it you should get a pro.

Ability for homeowner to do it varies greatly. At one spot (Gibson county in southern Indiana somewhere near you possibly) they just sent out a utility crew to disconnect and reconnect. Things may have changed as that was about 20 years ago but they didn't even want to look at the install - said they had lots of work to do and were just there to hook up the meter base and panel. I did everything for panel and meter base and they just ran new wires to the meter base. Where I am now I have to pass a test to do any electrical work and am not allowed to do the main panel under any circumstances. It's a hassle but I understand because some people will cut corners and do things they have no understanding of.

 

[nsula_country]

Hopefully these pictures tell the story.

Good ol' 30A fuses! Probably on 14ga wire. Reminds me of the old house I rented in college...

CT

 

[toolman9w]

Final bill. $900 even. $100 under his estimate. He was professional and highly recommended. Looks great, will try to post pics soon.

 

[Bert_]

Final bill. $900 even. $100 under his estimate. He was professional and highly recommended. Looks great, will try to post pics soon.

$900 is a good deal. Any pics of the install?

 

[toolman9w]

Hopefully tomorrow.

 

[toolman9w]

New panel.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Did you get a new seevice riser?

 

[toolman9w]

No it has a modern one.

 

[Bert_]

New panel.

Definitely a low bidder install. It's not necessarily bad but it's obvious the guy did no more than he absolutely had to. Could have at least put the panel on the plywood or put a new piece of plywood up so the wires could be stapled an look halfway decent.

If he didn't even have to replace the outside stuff he could have done a neater job for $900

 

[mm08822]

It wouldn’t pass inspection in my area.
No staples on RX or SER.
Panel should have been located on plywood to act as a moisture break to protect enclosure aside from necessary nailing surface.

It would be interesting to see how the panel was attached to the wall
Wall surface is very irregular – could actually twist the enclosure.

Looks like SER was used.
Is this a main panel or is there a meter/main outside?


Was the grounding electrode system even checked?
Were any grounding electrodes added?
Any of these connections cleaned up?
Jumpers added across w/h?
Bonding to water pipe?
If these points don't get addressed at the time of a service change, will they ever?

Based on the age of the original panel, how much life remains in the exterior hardware?

Any pics of exterior and the panel with the cover off?

 

[PCustoms]

OP, did he pull a permit?

Looks sloppy, and I'm sure there's a few code violations with how it is mounted and the SER run.

 

[6768rogues]

In my area, anyone can do electrical work and there is no licensing for electricians. It does require a permit but as long as it passes a third party inspection, anyone can do the physical work. It is not that way everywhere. If your jurisdiction allows you to do your own work, it is up to you whether you are comfortable with your electrical skill level. We get a permit, do the work, hire an inspector, he sends the inspection certificate to the town and utility, then the utility energizes it.

 

[toolman9w]

It is attached to plywood. And the wiring could have been cleaned up more. But I am happy with it. No permits here to pull.