Adding a 20amp circuit. How much $$$$

crabsy · #1 03/07/2007, 08:24 PM

What should it cost to add a dedicated 20Amp outlet?
I just had an electrician quote me $$$ 2,300.00 $$$.

This can't be right, can it?

Help!

slant77 · #2 03/07/2007, 08:30 PM

That seems real high. In your curent panel isthere room for another braker are will you need a new sub panel and then how far the line will run also adds in.

BONDQ · #3 03/07/2007, 08:41 PM

Get 3 bids and pick the guy that you're most comfortable with.

Remember, there are several variables involved in someone working on your home. Most of them have nothing to do with price.

1. The quality of their work.
2. Are they using the correct parts for the job.
3. The quality of the parts they use.
4. Will you be able to reach them, if there is a problem?
5. Are they insured? Licensed? Bonded?
6. Is there a warranty on their work?

Just something to consider.

crabsy · #4 03/07/2007, 08:41 PM

There's room. It's a new 200amp box. It's about 20-30 feet from box to room.

crabsy · #5 03/07/2007, 08:43 PM

Thanks BONDQ,
They're a first class outfit.

slant77 · #6 03/07/2007, 09:40 PM

yes those are good ? to ask and get other qualified qutes. I still think that price is high for what you want. Its not that hard of thing to do. Good luck with finding a good price for quality work.

Icefire · #7 03/07/2007, 09:54 PM

You get stealed at 2300$.

Here if you call an electrician, it's 60$cdn/hours
20Amp outlet = #12 awg wire, which is really easy to get.
1 outlet and a box 3$
20Amp single breaker 15$ maybe.

it's a 300-400$ job max.

Better yet, get yourself the stuff and do it yourself it's easy (I'm electrican).

You could have 2x 15Amp circuit for less.

Get some 14/3 AWG cable which is 2x hot 1x neutral 1x ground.
Get a dual 15Amp breaker, a box to fit an outlet to which you cut the little tab on the hot side.

In part, done yourself, 100$ maybe?

MGB · #8 03/07/2007, 09:59 PM

Don't pay that!, I paid $275 for almost the exact same thing

mcegelsk · #9 03/07/2007, 09:59 PM

I agree, I just looked into this and got 3 quotes around the Virginia area. It was ranging from $300-400 USD. In the thousands it better include a nice new tank!

~Matt

hatfielj · #10 03/07/2007, 10:04 PM

Seriously? $2,300 to add a single circuit to a brand new 200amp box only 20-30 feet away? Thats INSANE! Go to home depot and price what 50 feet of electrical wiring costs. Add in the price of an outlet box and a GFCI outlet, the necessary accessories for the panel hook ups and add a couple hundred for labor costs and you'll see what a ridiculous mark up that is. Yeah, you're paying for an insured job with a warranty most likely, but is it really worth that much money? Like slant77 said, its not that hard to do. Call around, ask people you know if they are friends with any electricians or general contractors and find someone (a friend or family member preferably) that you can trust to do it for a fair price.
I wouldn't pay more than a few hundred dollars for someone to come and do this for me. In fact, I would just have someone come in and make the necessary hook ups on the panel (since that may involve working with live wires) and then do the rest myself (running wire from the panel to the spot on your wall and hooking up the outlet box and GFCI outlet. Thats the easy part and would probably safe you a lot of money to do a little maual labor yourself. Anyway, good luck with this and PLEASE don't pay that much money for this job.

swedish steel · #11 03/07/2007, 10:35 PM

I agree with the high price of this quote. I am having my aquarium room powered up by an electrician who I know, is licensed & bonded. He is putting a subpanel in off an existing 50 AMP service and running the outlets in surface mounted pipe at $50.00/hr for labor plus cost of supplies. He is also electrifying the air exchange system installed by the HVAC person. Total expected cost for labor and parts, including the HVAC equip is less than $1500.00. My panel is only about 20-30 feet away at max as it is also in the garage.

Paulairduck · #12 03/08/2007, 12:29 AM

I just did this myself, Two 20 amp circuits, 2 breakers 19.99 each, 50 feet of 12 gauge romex 29.99 and 4 boxes and some outlets 2.99 each. The job is not that comlicated, if you did a little research on electrical, I think you can do it. The only thing I caution you on is when you are in the main breaker box be very careful, and don't let the wires bite you!!!

I would say a fair quote for an electrician would be about 300 in labor plus parts, 400 at the most, two to three hour job, depending on where you want the new outlets.

CSS Reef · #13 03/08/2007, 01:02 AM

Just had this done in my house on Monday. No attic space, and my house is built on slab. Tank is on opposite side of the house from the breaker, so they had to run external conduit from my box through my garage wall, around a cabinet, installed extra outlet in my garage on the same circuit for my frag tank, went through the garage wall outside the house behind some bushes to the opposite side of my house. Only cost $600.00 including materials. Done in 4 hours flat!

$2300.00 is outrageous!

saltydude · #14 03/08/2007, 09:55 AM

I dont know much on pricing but that seems awefully high. Search around and let the sheister know he is a rip-off.

TheGrog · #15 03/08/2007, 10:13 AM

I agree with above in that unless they are using solid gold wire instead of copper, you are getting ripped.

I have run a number of circuits myself and it is really easy to do.

Either consider doing it yourself or get another quote.

My $0.02

jag1979 · #16 03/08/2007, 11:25 AM

I paid my electrician to add an extra circuit and it cost me $110 out the door

Paulairduck · #17 03/08/2007, 11:59 AM

If he's a union electrician it's worth it!!!

My dad was in the IBEW

just kidding

MHannon · #18 03/08/2007, 12:09 PM

I paid about $400.00 and that was with other electrical work done.

d_hartke · #19 03/08/2007, 12:56 PM

Fishing through walls can be tricky, but at that price you could almost finish wiring an entire basement. What do you have to go through to get to your outlet location? You can find a union electrician that can do it a lot cheaper. Union is the way to go.

mg426 · #20 03/08/2007, 01:10 PM

Sounds like Grand theft to me. DIY for mabe 100 bucks tops !!!

Ridgeline · #21 03/08/2007, 01:36 PM

I payed 300.00 for 2 20 amp installed and they are atleast 30 feet from the box

tkeracer619 · #22 03/08/2007, 02:02 PM

I paid 600 for two 20amp circuits and a 40amp circuit for my table saw. The box is in the back corner of the house. Atleast a 20ft run to the tank and 50 ft to the saw.

I would go with your current quote. That included a new hot tub, concrete pad, and the extra wiring right??????

After you get another resonable quote I would call the first one and ask them why it costs $2000 more.

BillyJoeJimBob · #23 03/08/2007, 02:37 PM

Do it yourself. I have added 2 circuits to my box over the past year or so. 50 feet of heavy duty romex wire is like $20 and the breakers are around $15 depending on the what your box requires (there are different types).

If you are not comfortable making the connections in the breaker box, do yourself a favor and run all the wiring yourself and have the electrician do the final connection for you. Leave any outlet boxes open and have the wire pulled into them.

Most of the labor is in fishing and running the romex. Breaker box and outlet connection should take less than an hour.

Tip: Call a local electrician or ask some friends to recommend somebody.

SHAWNLX86 · #24 03/08/2007, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by crabsy
What should it cost to add a dedicated 20Amp outlet?
I just had an electrician quote me $$$ 2,300.00 $$$.

This can't be right, can it?

Help!

I just had one run about 25ft away from the panel, and the cost was $75. I supplied my own matching custom gfci outlets.

d_hartke · #25 03/08/2007, 03:52 PM

Depending on where you live you might have to use BX or conduit instead of romex. Here in the chicago land we use Conduit. You can pull more than one circuit through 1/2" conduit. It takes about the same labor and that's what your paying for. Conduit would take more work, but no where near $2300. Trust me.