Sparky labor rate

[Norcal]

No but they have a C3 approval rating (Chinese Commodity ****) which means export to those gullible.

Why use fuses when a piece of copper pipe will do?

 

[CJ7VFR]

Why use fuses when a piece of copper pipe will do?

No, no, no.

A short piece of 10 AWG wire is so much better than copper pipe because the wire is solid and the pipe has a hole in it. Geez, everyone knows that if you use the pipe half of the electricity will run out of the hole. Come on man....

Jim

 

[Innovate1]

Why use fuses when a piece of copper pipe will do?

 

[Bert_]

Really nothing wrong with a fuse. Most of the old fuse panels don't have enough circuits. When we had insurance companies doing inspections a few years ago I changed a bunch.

I felt bad about a couple of them. One was 200A probably 30+ circuits. It was built far better than the panel I replaced it with. Owner had only replaced a couple fuses since the 70's when it was built. Was really a waste of money.

 

[kngelv]

I mentioned the job to my friend and he told me about $2300.00. I figured that was too much for the OP plus my buddy read this thread and was not interested. He figured it would be too much of a hassle.

James

 

[lund]

If you guys want to feel better, here is my situation. I do all my own work from A-Z of all types. I am very picky but probably work slower and do things right. This saves my family a lot of money. I have a CA home in the San Fran bay area far from where I live now that I rent out. I go 1x a year there to fix, update things, and carry out preventative maintenance. But stuff happens around the edges that I have to hire out. OMG due to me doing work on my own, I end with severe sticker shock for how much it costs for small pro jobs that are often poorly done by the standards relative to what I would do .... The rates for work in the SF bay area are extremely high. A general purpose handyman (including light electrical) with minimal to OK skill runs around $120/hr with maybe a break for bigger multi-day jobs. They charge store run and transit time often at these rates too. Often, even at those rates, work can be poor. Pro plumbers, HVAC repair etc, is similar/worse. I suspect pro electricians would be similar/more $ also. Even relatively low skill stuff like drywall or painting can run $60-$100 per hour.

The OP's expectation for significant panel work for a few hundred $ do not seem fair or realistic on the other side. I doubt a pro needing to support his family would want such work with extremely low time expectations using owner materials etc. That is a lot of trouble for small $ with possible liability. Even asking for such would border on an insult. I would also be worried on the end result of that unless it was a pro doing side work for a friend as a favor. Otherwise, it will probably not end well. I don't think you want hack electrician work by a local crack head in the electrical panel.

I find it is cheaper and better (save sanity with things not being done right) in my case to spend $1,500 travel expenses (flight, rental car, and hotel or airbnb rental) to go there for 4ish days a year and work around the clock to get things done and then leave. At $120/hr I recover the cost in only 10 hours and it is much easier to do this myself vs setting up complicated to even explain small jobs on a hillside home with special issues. Permits are a real issue and I will plead the 5th on that one ... But they are not realistic to deal with on short trips. So I live in fear of work needing to pull the meter etc.

 

[logical]

When I built my current house, I knew a guy that was head of sales for one of the larger makers of electrical products. He insisted on giving me samples...two load centers and about 50 breakers and they were the "good" stuff. I just told the guys who bid the job what the deal was. Granted, it was a whole house but there was no drama and it wasn't my business what they thought an hour of their time was worth. Just quote the job...or don't.

I've had smaller jobs done by many trades, just need to find a guy who will do it on his way home.

I swear electricians get into 'get off my lawn' mode somewhere in their late 20's.

 

[finn]

$145/hr last fall in the UP for an electrician and a helper to convert 9 eight foot fluorescent fixtures to led, in a 16’ ceiling shop.

He provided the bucket truck, but had to use ladders for two fixtures.

Four hours on the dot.

He provided the bulbs, but gave me the option to source them my self.

I disposed of the fluorescent bulbs for free at the county transfer station. He would have charged extra. I think $5/bulb.

 

[Tracs]

What about family member rates?

I have a cousin who is an electrician and has done a few small to large projects for me.
- Ran a wire and installed 100 amp breaker for new electric furnace. Moved some breakers around.
- Installed new power meter socket and mast.
- Going to have him help wire the 40x60 shop

I pay him $50/hour cash. After this thread I know why he doesn't rush over. lol.

 

[rmanrman]

My auto mechanic charged a 100% upcharge for parts
Hourly repair rate was reasonable at $120/Hr
To get parts he would call the local supply shop and a driver would be there for free delivery in 1 hour
No cost to go and pickup but customer would pay in the final bill.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

$145/hr last fall in the UP for an electrician and a helper to convert 9 eight foot fluorescent fixtures to led, in a 16’ ceiling shop.

He provided the bucket truck, but had to use ladders for two fixtures.

Four hours on the dot.

He provided the bulbs, but gave me the option to source them my self.

I disposed of the fluorescent bulbs for free at the county transfer station. He would have charged extra. I think $5/bulb.

thats cheap for a bucket truck

 

[finn]

thats cheap for a bucket truck

It’s a well used F450 that he bought from the local REA.

Not a beauty queen, but it runs like a top and works for him.

 

[Bert_]

It’s a well used F450 that he bought from the local REA.

Not a beauty queen, but it runs like a top and works for him.

That's what most electricians have. Mine is 23 years old with 220,000 miles. Generally just fix whatever is wrong because they are prohibitively expensive to replace unless you use it every day.

 

[rharman]

$145/hr last fall in the UP for an electrician and a helper to convert 9 eight foot fluorescent fixtures to led, in a 16’ ceiling shop.

He provided the bucket truck, but had to use ladders for two fixtures.

Four hours on the dot.

He provided the bulbs, but gave me the option to source them my self.

I disposed of the fluorescent bulbs for free at the county transfer station. He would have charged extra. I think $5/bulb.

thats cheap for a bucket truck

I was going to say I thought it was cheap for an electrician AND a helper....

 

[davejo]

What are some example rates for a helper, or for bucket truck work? I do some bucket truck handyman stuff for a friend and never know what value i'm saving him.

What about backhoe/trenching rates?