Electrical question...(how much should this cost) >?

[bagend12]

Tearing down my grow room today after I had a brief electrical scare that has motivated me to finally have my lights and fan run off a dedicated 20 amp circuit.

It had been running off a shared 15 amp circuit.

Problem is, I am trying to get quote for this work over the phone, even if it's +/- $100 or so, and I am not getting anywhere. I can't even get someone to tell me if its a sub $500.00, sub $1000.00, etc job. I basically need to know this before hand otherwise I am just wasting my time and theirs by even getting an estimate.

It's a ranch house. Circuit panel is in the garage, and there is space for a few more breakers. Wire would more than likely be run from the panel, through the garage, than through basement, and than up into the room. Total run length is 50'-60', tops. There is no drilling into masonry required, and to me seems like a fairly simple job. There is exposed wood in the ceiling of the basement that the wire run can be attached to.

Any ideas on what this should cost?

No suggestions on me doing it myself please...I don't mess with electricity.

 

[the gnome]

most electricians or plumbers or roofers don't give est. sight unseen for obvious reasons.
why can't he drop by look and give you a quote if you plan on using one to do the work?
anyways..
you can figure up what your materials run,
then find out what electricians rates in your area.
its kinda hard to tell from your description how long this will take,
I'd say a 1 day or less,
go 1 day and your covered.
if you don't know the rates, call the electrician and ask what he'd would charge for a full days work running a new circuit.
off the top of my head I'd say $700 mat-lab
depending

 

[bagend12]

most electricians or plumbers or roofers don't give est. sight unseen for obvious reasons.
why can't he drop by look and give you a quote if you plan on using one to do the work?
anyways..
you can figure up what your materials run,
then find out what electricians rates in your area.
its kinda hard to tell from your description how long this will take,
I'd say a 1 day or less,
go 1 day and your covered.
if you don't know the rates, call the electrician and ask what he'd would charge for a full days work running a new circuit.
off the top of my head I'd say $700 mat-lab
depending

yeah, thats sort of what i figured...

I have some friends that are discrete that could do it, but they are more hobbyist electricians..the jobs simple enough Im sure they could do it, but that $700.00 would bring more peace of mind..

 

[chefbudz]

sorry i hope you don't mind me asking but what was your "brief electrical scare" Gl with your electrical work i highly suggest trying to find a friend or family member with some electrical experience. contractor rates are often ridiculous for a 1-2 hour job

 

[bagend12]

sorry i hope you don't mind me asking but what was your "brief electrical scare" Gl with your electrical work i highly suggest trying to find a friend or family member with some electrical experience. contractor rates are often ridiculous for a 1-2 hour job

I had turned on the whole house humidifier that is wired into my hot air furnace today for the first time..about a half hour later I heard all this clicking noise coming from it, as if it was repeatedly turning off and on. I went down to shut it off until I can have someone come out to take a look at it.

When I went back upstairs I realized that power was out to an entire section of the house, including the room I grow in. Checked the breakers, nothing was tripped.

About 20 minutes later power came back on to that section of the house on its own. Have no idea if it was related to the humidifier malfunctioning or was due to some other occurence, but it was not a breaker, or a GFCI issue for that matter.

In the midst of checking everything, I was examining the surge protector I use for my grow, and noticed some scorch marks on it I hadn't seen before. I check it at least once a month, so these were recent, within the past two weeks I'd say.

In any case, these two occurrences are enough to make me either shut down for good or shut down until I can get a dedicated 20 amp outlet in there.

Again paying an electrician isn't an issue for me..I can recoup that cost in one grow cycle, I've also had one friend offer to help do it who has some electrical experience, but at the same time I like the peace of mind that a real electrician would bring me..decisions decisions.

 

[Mikell]

Explain to your friends the job has to pass an inspection. Should seperate the cream from the chaff. Although like you, I would prefer the work of a qualified, licensed professional, so a few extra bucks for peace of mind is nothing in the long run.

 

[chefbudz]

wow starting to scare me lol how many watts were you pulling from one 15 amp shared circuit cause iam wondering if i will run into these kinds of problems running a 1500w space heater + my computer and veg box hmmm...

 

[bagend12]

wow starting to scare me lol how many watts were you pulling from one 15 amp shared circuit cause iam wondering if i will run into these kinds of problems running a 1500w space heater + my computer and veg box hmmm...

I was probably drawing 12-13 amp at least...1000 watt ballast, exhaust fan, ceiling mounted light in another room, and one other oscillating fan on that same circuit but in another room.

I've known for awhile I should be running all this on a 20 amp circuit, but was simply putting off having that done.

Everything is now all tore apart and cleaned up in anticipation of someone coming out to do something.

Been at it awhile, time to take a break and do it right or not do it at all..

 

[hicksticky]

hey B, reading though your posts, being a Journeyman electrician I would advise you to seek a pro out... or someone comfortable with wiring.
split the load of that section of the house is a good idea. the job is fairly simple new breaker, run 12/2 to that room, up the floor in to a new outlet or two. simple but A pro would charge 500+(materials probably not included), but in most cases (my boss/master I train under would kill me for saying but agree) your paying for that Licence number/reassurance.
replace those faulty electrical components any and all that you doubt. And most wont get out of bed for under that amount... shitty fact I know,( unless you know them).

for a band-aid until resolved, I would get a "heavy" extension cord and run it from a section of the house that is not drawing much load, and supply one of your rooms components, light maybe? but I'm talking heavy extension cord here.