ELECTRIC PANEL

[goldenmike4393]

I have learned a lot and done many projecting taking your tips from this group.

I have a new problem but it's really rather OLD. I have a 2040 Sylvania Panel. The lower right hand metal clip including finger 200 amp has burned out. I need a $10 part, but cannot get it because Sylvania has gone out of the business of electric panels.

I had a fancy electrician come out and quote me $1,500 for the panel plus installation, so around $2,000. Of course, you guys have taught me better than that. He also launched a serious of thinly disguised threats like "you only have 110 now" and "I won't be able to come back for several weeks and it must be done now." I managed not to break out in laughter. He sure was pushing for a big payday.

So, I called my local electric supply that told me they could modify a $10 clip and get us back up. So, following in your teachings, I lined up a guy with the $10 clip plus a full panel with breakers ($250) so we can meet either contingency.

Do you have any suggestions outside of what I have done? I researched your posts before taking this action.

GM

[Tom The Great]

imho:

My suggestion, being biased towards qualified electricians, are you sure you want to do any of the work yourself? I would have a couple electricians, qualified ofcourse, come by and check it out. Ask for a quick 'education' in your options, and then make a proper decision after that.

Remember, get references (ones you can check up on), and check with the BBB for any bad ratings.

later,

tom @

[chuckster]

HUGE TIP!!!! Call a licensed electrical contractor! This job is WAY over your head and "modifying" breakers is a violation of the NEC and the breaker may not work properly after you do this. The "counter guy" may have good intensions BUT he is behind the counter to sell materials and he is there because he doesn't have the skills or education to make it in the trade. The best advice is to change the panel. The "fancy electrician" is qualified and insured. Wiring is no hobby, your loss may be more than just financial. Call another "fancy electrician" for a price.

[e-mail] wrote:

[HeyBub]

Replace the panel yourself. It ain't rocket surgery.

[chuckster]

Replace it yourself THEN update your fire insurance policy. I can't believe you guys offer this advice to a guy who is not qualified, cheap, and does not have a clue to what he is doing. The advice is dangerous and he can cause problems down the road to the poor guy who buys this house with a DIY panel mod.

HeyBub wrote:

[goldenmike4393]

I had trouble understanding why the electrical contractor quoted me $1,000 for the electrical service panel and $1,000 labor to install.

I recall an electrical service panel runs a couple of hundred. So, why is there an $800 markup?

chuckster wrote:

[crabshell]

[e-mail] wrote in news:1160079695.848636.284530 @k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

I had my panel redone recently for $150 plus materials by a semi-retired electrician. I understand around $1000 labor is the norm. He claimed it's normally a 3 hour job. It took us more like 8 hours due to the mess the retrofitted old system presented (Federal). I would have been clueless. Oh, and he got a jolt of elec. a couple of times. No thank you... Get several estimates. The $2000 seems sky high to me.

I bought Siemens by the way.

[scott21230]

Can you get the part you need off an old (used) panel? Like one off of eBay?

[Chris Lewis]

According to :

So I understand: you've lined up an electrician who will install the clip, and if that doesn't work out, the electrician will swap out the panel?

This seems reasonable. I'm leery of modifying a piece of _conductor_ that's to be used to carry 200A, but as long as the cross-sectional area is at least as big as the original, that it fits _properly_, and preferably intended for a similar purpose in a similar panel (especially by the same manufacturer), it should be okay. You're relying on the electricians judgement as to whether it'll be safe - so it'll better be a _good_ electrician with considerable experience, not a "handyman" hacker.

More important is to ensure that what happened to the original clip doesn't repeat - as in, making sure that all the connections are good and solid, no creeping corrosion etc. If the old panel shows signs of other damage, it may be wiser to simply replace it.

If, for example, the old panel had considerable corrosion, I'd replace it - renewing one part at best delays the inevitable, and at worst keeps a piece of equipment around that'll kill you.

[goldenmike4393]

Thanks.