• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Do you do any of your own electrical work?

Locut0s

Locut0s

Lifer
Just curious. We are redoing our kitchen and there are a number of small things that we could of course do ourselves but have chosen not too. I'm assuming the guy we have who is doing most of the work is licensed, lol I don't actually know myself (more of a jack of all trades family operation). They will be doing most of the major electrical work like moving sockets and wiring in the appliances. Nothing really major or difficult. However they will also be installing the light fixtures and stuff. This kind of thing is easy for me to do but I'm guessing that should anything happen and the insurance company found out that you installed the light fixture that they would not cover anything. I've wired up light fixtures in the past.

So do you do this kind of simple electrical yourself?
 
Yes. All the time...just ask my cat what he thinks...

Bad&
 
BoomerD said:
Yes. All the time...just ask my cat what he thinks...

Bad%20Hair%20Day.jpg
Click to expand...

Are you licenced though? I know you did a lot of construction job work before but I think you mentioned being a foreman or doing similar work? If not then I'm guessing that technically you would be screwed if something happened because of the work you did right? Not saying this is likely, simple electrical is very easy to do after all.
 
Locut0s said:
Are you licenced though? I know you did a lot of construction job work before but I think you mentioned being a foreman or doing similar work? If not then I'm guessing that technically you would be screwed if something happened because of the work you did right? Not saying this is likely, simple electrical is very easy to do after all.
Click to expand...

WHOOSH2.gif





ChimpShakingHead.gif
 
Locut0s said:
Just curious. We are redoing our kitchen and there are a number of small things that we could of course do ourselves but have chosen not too. I'm assuming the guy we have who is doing most of the work is licensed, lol I don't actually know myself (more of a jack of all trades family operation). They will be doing most of the major electrical work like moving sockets and wiring in the appliances. Nothing really major or difficult. However they will also be installing the light fixtures and stuff. This kind of thing is easy for me to do but I'm guessing that should anything happen and the insurance company found out that you installed the light fixture that they would not cover anything. I've wired up light fixtures in the past.

So do you do this kind of simple electrical yourself?
Click to expand...

why would they not cover anything?
 
I do, im not licensed but have more than enough know how to get it done. Im better in DC though, i could make you a complete wiring harness for your car given the time and materials but would not feel compfortable wiring a whole breaker box. But small stuff like running wire in walls and adding outlets/switches is childs play.
 
Rifterut said:
I do, im not licensed but have more than enough know how to get it done. Im better in DC though, i could make you a complete wiring harness for your car given the time and materials but would not feel compfortable wiring a whole breaker box. But small stuff like running wire in walls and adding outlets/switches is childs play.
Click to expand...

Yea that stuff is easy. I've done that stuff before but if it's anything other than basic stuff I'll hire someone else to do it.
 
I'm assuming the guy we have who is doing most of the work is licensed
Click to expand...
One must be a licensed electrician to pull the electrical permit before commencing work, other wise it could fail by an electrical inspector and may void house insurance.

There are such thing as homeowner permit that a homeowner can apply for at the local office and it cost roughly 1/2 of the trade person permit.

I have my electrical cross over license. That allow me to wire from appliances/machines that I install to the panel (it allow me to work on 600V or less).

PS. Electrical stuff for residential is pretty basic.
 
Last edited:
Yes, I do it fairly regularly.

As iGas said, "electrical stuff for residential is pretty basic". I rather enjoy electrical work, plumbing kinda sucks though.
 
I have added outlets and fixtures. I made another 220v outlet by tying off of my dryer. I did hire an electrician to install a new 50A 220v in the garage. I showed him my modified dryer plug and he said he would have done the same thing.
 
iGas said:
One must be a licensed electrician to pull the electrical permit before commencing work, other wise it could fail by an electrical inspector and may void house insurance.
Click to expand...
Do you have anything to back that up, or are you just spreading the wives tale?
 
Last edited:
grohl said:
I have added outlets and fixtures. I made another 220v outlet by tying off of my dryer. I did hire an electrician to install a new 50A 220v in the garage. I showed him my modified dryer plug and he said he would have done the same thing.
Click to expand...
I pretty much know for a fact that is against code.
 
edro said:
Do you have anything to back that up, or are you just spreading the wives tale?
Click to expand...

He is correct!! If a house fire burns your house down and whoever inspects the house comes to the conclusion the fire was caused by faulty electrical work the fire insurance on your house could be null and void. Especially if they ask you for permits and such and you don`t have the permits. Permits are recorded by he county or city you live.
 
grohl said:
I have added outlets and fixtures. I made another 220v outlet by tying off of my dryer. I did hire an electrician to install a new 50A 220v in the garage. I showed him my modified dryer plug and he said he would have done the same thing.
Click to expand...

still doesn`t mean it would have passed inspection....
 
JEDIYoda said:
He is correct!! If a house fire burns your house down and whoever inspects the house comes to the conclusion the fire was caused by faulty electrical work the fire insurance on your house could be null and void. Especially if they ask you for permits and such and you don`t have the permits. Permits are recorded by he county or city you live.
Click to expand...
And I say the sky is green.
 
grohl said:
I have added outlets and fixtures. I made another 220v outlet by tying off of my dryer. I did hire an electrician to install a new 50A 220v in the garage. I showed him my modified dryer plug and he said he would have done the same thing.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that's not to code.
To the OP: I'm just finishing up my last cup of coffee. Today's plans: put a subpanel in the garage & run about half the wiring to turn a 600 sq ft garage into an efficiency apartment for my son. Plus, frame & install 2 windows in what will become his bedroom, insulate the walls, and make 500 trips from the garage to the basement to relocate all my tools. 🙁 It's going to be a fun project. 🙂

I agree with the others that you may be screwed if your electrical work starts a fire. However, if you really know what you're doing, it's like saying "if you set this book on a table and the table collapses under the weight..." i.e. electrical work is very simple to learn to do right.
 
Yeah, but I am an electrical engineer and have taken classes on power distribution and utilization and know how to read the NEC.

Plumbing on the other hand... The most I'll do plumbing-wise is replace a sink on existing plumbing.
 
iGas said:
One must be a licensed electrician to pull the electrical permit before commencing work, other wise it could fail by an electrical inspector and may void house insurance.

There are such thing as homeowner permit that a homeowner can apply for at the local office and it cost roughly 1/2 of the trade person permit.

I have my electrical cross over license. That allow me to wire from appliances/machines that I install to the panel (it allow me to work on 600V or less).

PS. Electrical stuff for residential is pretty basic.
Click to expand...

The bolded is not true in the US. A homeowner can do every aspect of his home construction here. It will be inspected. If it meets code it is passed, and is no different than if a contractor did the work.
 
I would not suggest you to. I tried to change some wires to my switch, and got a nasty shock. It's not something to do if you do not know anything about it.
 
JEDIYoda said:
He is correct!! If a house fire burns your house down and whoever inspects the house comes to the conclusion the fire was caused by faulty electrical work the fire insurance on your house could be null and void. Especially if they ask you for permits and such and you don`t have the permits. Permits are recorded by he county or city you live.
Click to expand...

Not all counties require permits.
 
Anneka said:
I would not suggest you to. I tried to change some wires to my switch, and got a nasty shock. It's not something to do if you do not know anything about it.
Click to expand...

Silly! You're supposed to turn the switch off first!
Actually, "change some wires to my switch" makes very little sense for what typically would be done with household wiring. Thus, OP, if you know what you're doing, you're fine. If there is any guessing whatsoever, you're not fine - but there are plenty of guides online to learn from.
 
I wired up our new 900 square foot addition. I made sure that I followed code and that I had it inspected at each required point. I much prefer doing electrical over plumbing.

My last task was switching a light from a single switch to 3 switches (one 4way and two 3ways). That was not fun but I got it in the first shot.
 
I install my own light fixtures and have installed outlets before. If something needs a run completely back to the breaker box though, I will hire it done. We need some additional outlets in a room which is effectively a closed-in patio and since 3 of the walls are brick, I'll hire someone else to do that too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top