another wiring question

[Inspector507]

Gary,
He probably paid more than $75 for the 200 panel.....just a guess though.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I saw the exact same panel (Siemens) at Home Depot as part of a "Starter package" when I was picking up some supplies. While I didn't check it thoroughly, I do know that this package included a main breaker and some other breakers. The price was under $59. In my case, I didn't get the breakers from the electrician and had to acquire those separately.

 

[Inspector507]

Good price on a 200A panel with a main AND breakers.

 

[Ozarker]

Personally, I'd go after him in small claims court. What might be left over after costs isn't an issue. You can file for actual damages plus court costs up to the maximum amount allowed in small claims in your state.

In Missouri that was $1500 20 years ago when I went after a guy in small claims court who shafted me on some auto work. I won and he had to reimburse me the cost of the repair and what I spent to file the suit.

As a plus, and what many don't realize, is that judgments like that go on the credit report of the loser. Makes it harder for him to do business in the future and is there, as a public record, for others to see if they check references before they hire someone.

If he knows that, the threat of a suit, and a letter to the BBB and State Attorney General, will probably be enough to cause him to reimburse you.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

I'm too familiar with the small claims system here. I spend a lot of time there in the course of my business. In this case I think I might be throwing good moneyafter bad by spending the $39 filing fee.

I discovered this guy is on COD at his supplier and doubt his credit record will be hurt much by something like a small claims judgment as I'm sure it's terrible already. I doubt he's collectable without a tremendous amount of work. The only avenue I see is one you suggested with the State Attorney General's Office.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Jerry,

I'm hoping you can answer one more question for me here. The 2" galvanized riser pipe going up from the meter base to the weatherhead extends about 9' above the roofline on a gable end. It's strapped to the building below the roofline but I want to secure it against the weight of the service line from the transformer pole. I don't know whether they'll use #2 or #4 but it's about 125' so some weight will be involved. Add to that some snow, ice and high winds and I forsee the need for additional support.

What I wanted to do was run some type of cable from the riser to a big I-bolt in the top of the 6x6 at the peak of the roof. The run from the transformer pole to the weatherhead is probably 20 degrees off from the line of the gable end and is over the roof edge as opposed to away from the building.

If I haven't confused this totally by now, here's my question. Would the plan I outlined work and if so, what kind of cable should I use? I'd thought of galvanized aircraft cable with a turnbuckle but didn't know what size I'd need.

Thanks for all of your help on this.

 

[Egon]

Bird:
Interesting comment. Way back when I was a kid on the farm we didn't have power driven post hole diggers. For the smaller posts Dad started the hole with a crowbar, then filled it with water and then drove the post using a 15# maul. As the post was being driven more water would be added. That was my job. When finished the but end of the maul was used to tamp the ground firmly around the post.
Egon

 

[Inspector507]

Gary,
Yes you definately need some rear support there. Preferably about 3' down from the top. I would imagine a 1/4-5/16" cable would do the trick. Make sure it's anchored securley to the roof in as straight a line as possible with the service drop. May even want to do 2 of them at angles. Just my opinion without seeing it.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Jerry, I just wanted to thank you for all of your help on this and tell you I'm calling for the inspection first thing Monday morning. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I strung 1/4" galvanized aircraft cable from near the top of the riser to a 6x6 near the peak of the roof. I'd guess the angle is no more than 15 or 20 degrees downward from the riser. I'm probably 30 degrees off from the line of the service drop but that's where the transformer is and I couldn't move it or the building. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

To attach the cable I ran one end through the mandated support for the power company drop from the transformer pole. I mounted that near the top as it has to have the support cable from the transformer cable attach to it. I attached my support cable on the riser using a wire rope thimble and secured it with a cable clamp. I then drilled a hole and ran an I-bolt through the barn exterior and through a 6x6 and attached a turnbuckle to it and the cable to that. I had the turnbuckle extended to the maximum, looped the cable through the eye on one end, pulled it as tight as I could and secured it with a cable clamp. Then I tightened the turnbuckle to bring it really taut. It worked pretty well. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Inspector507]

Gary,
Let me know how the inspection goes.

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

Well, getting the inspection done was more of an adventure than I anticipated. I called Monday and he came out and looked at everything and actually apologized for not telling me when he was out for the 'pre-inspection' visit that he thought a 2" conduit should be better supported so I didn't pass then. No big deal, though, as I understood the logic in having the additional support. Tuesday morning at 6 AM I'm fabricating and installing not the one required additional support but two, each of which were heavier and stronger than the required one. It was a few dollars in material and a little of my time so no big deal.

I call the inspector at 8:10 (they're only in from 8:00 to 8:20 AM) and he says he'll come out "today" (Tuesday). I call back at 4 PM when he's back in the office to make sure my additional work had passed muster only to be told he wasn't out because, even though I'd cleared all this with him and his boss the week before, in the ten minutes in the morning while he was still in the office after I'd hung up from him his boss told him I needed a "self permit" as they now were not going to let me run on the permit of the electrician I'd paid. Again, not a big deal but a phone call right back telling me of that change would have been nice as I was downtown at 9 AM and could have pulled the permit then had I known. OK, another day wasted and another trip downtown now on my agenda.

I'm at the building dept. door when they unlocked it Wednesday, get my new permit for yet another $30 and hand carry everything back and forth between the front desk and the inspector so he has his official inspection order in hand, etc. He tells me he'll get out there "this (Wednesday) afternoon" and get it done. I call back at 4 PM again to make sure I passed only to find out he "kind of got behind today and didn't make it out there." He told me he'd get it "tomorrow" (Thursday). Another day shot.

Thursday afternoon I drove out there and found the inspection sticker so knew I was good to go but called downtown anyhow just to follow up on the paperwork process. I was told the approval would be faxed to the power company so they would have it at the opening of business Friday. Keep in mind that Sunday I actually thought I'd have power by Friday. Still undaunted, I press on.

Friday I call the power company and, while they may have the paperwork there, it's not in the computer so I'll have to call back Monday. Needless to say, it's been an adventure. I've now reset my goal to having power there NEXT weekend. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif


All in all, I think the good outweighed the bad. I was in a tough position and they helped me out where they could. I think they probably made the right decision on insisting on the self permit. I was surprised when they hadn't earlier. I only wish I hadn't lost the day to the lateness of that change and the other day to other oversights.

They could have insisted I have another electrician come in and finish the job and that would have cost me a lot more. I'd gladly trade those few days for the ~$500-900 I'd have spent there.

 

[Inspector507]

Gary,
Glad the inspection went well.
We have days that we get backed up too, that happens.
And yes a "self permit" was the way to go.