What do you think about this electrical work?

[Arc]

Looks a bit sloppy--no worse than what I'd do, so I should be careful here... but it looks a bit slap-dash and done quickly.

I thought there was something against wire hanging like that--too easy for people to hang coat hangers on? something like that.

Im a retired contractor. It's hard to make any money doing residential work. You have to pay the guys to drive back and forth all day and the homeowners only want to pay for the couple minutes on the job. Commercial bid work and industrial was 99% of our work.

 

[Hall]

They should have put it all neatly in conduit then.

While they claim to be 'commercial' electricians, in most areas, conduit isn't used for residential work, so these guys were probably more than happy to skip the conduit (more $, more labor, more parts).

 

[zzyzzx]

Your electrician was lazy. I could do better. But it probably works. I really hate the way they routed some of their stuff.

 

[JHZR2]

While they claim to be 'commercial' electricians, in most areas, conduit isn't used for residential work, so these guys were probably more than happy to skip the conduit (more $, more labor, more parts).

With that sloppy of work, they shouldn’t have.

Reality is that compared to labor, the materials for this small job are miniscule.

Nothing wrong with using conduit on a residential install.

 

[Hall]

Nothing wrong with using conduit on a residential install.

Except no one does it unless it's required by local code (or it's outdoor or buried). Look at the OP's images - even the 2/0 or 4/0 main cable is completely exposed.

My house doesn't have a single piece of electrical conduit and it's not a shoddy, non-permitted job (inspection tag is still hanging on the breaker box).

 

[fdcg27]

Really sloppy work.
I could do better myself and I'm an accountant by trade.
I'd call the generator contractor who sent these clowns and ask for remedial work.
I'd also call the local code official and ask for an inspection.
Since I'll assume that you've already paid for the whole install, withholding funds owed pending remediation is probably not an option.

 

[JHZR2]

Except no one does it unless it's required by local code (or it's outdoor or buried). Look at the OP's images - even the 2/0 or 4/0 main cable is completely exposed.

My house doesn't have a single piece of electrical conduit and it's not a shoddy, non-permitted job (inspection tag is still hanging on the breaker box).

No kidding. You’re missing the point.

It’s all excuses. Typical of overpaid tradespeople.

What is “typically” done is irrelevant. You know what isn’t typically done by a “professional”??? Shoddy work like is shown.

Point is, if they know commercial, and run in conduit, it’s sure easy to make it look clean and nice doing it that way, and if they know best how to do it that way, then do it that way. How it’s usually done in residential is irrelevant. If these folks actually have a commercial skill set, then install it that way and do a good job. That’s one way to skin the cat. Another would be to just do a clean job with NM. Which they clearly weren’t capable of.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I'll have the inspector by in a few weeks, he has a lot of other projects to sign off here as well.

Originally, I had a quote for the same 26kW Kohler from a local HVAC co for $16,500. Even though they were highly rated on Google with around a hundred reviews, I went with this newer outfit (with a handful of positive reviews) for $14k as the owner did a much better job explaining the installation than the HVAC guy did. Had I known the electricians he subbed out were like this, I would have gotten more quotes.

All in all though, if the work meets code and the inspector signs off, I am fine with the wiring not looking perfect. I think I'll run the system for a few hours tomorrow just to see how everything works for more than a few minutes of testing during the install. I was able to get the 10 year warranty so that's a plus!

 

[football]

What’s the white wire for? I’m guessing that they ran a new outlet out to the generator? Perhaps to charge the battery with a trickle charger or something? Just guessing…

 

[Owen Lucas]

What’s the white wire for? I’m guessing that they ran a new outlet out to the generator? Perhaps to charge the battery with a trickle charger or something? Just guessing…

I will have to investigate that further.

 

[Hall]

I will have to investigate that further.

Do you do any electrical work ? If you do, you could fix it yourself easily before it gets inspected. I realize you shouldn't have to, but sometimes it's the simpler/less hassle thing to do.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Do you do any electrical work ? If you do, you could fix it yourself easily before it gets inspected. I realize you shouldn't have to, but sometimes it's the simpler/less hassle thing to do.

I've done it before but i'd rather not cut into the line.

What’s the white wire for? I’m guessing that they ran a new outlet out to the generator? Perhaps to charge the battery with a trickle charger or something? Just guessing…

I think the white line runs to a whole home surge protector which they installed on the external pool / detached garage circuit breaker:

(both lights are on its just the frame rate of the camera that is not catching both of them illuminated)

Now this is the part that bothers me, it appears they installed a used 60 amp breaker. I can tell by the wear / aging of what was a white sticker surrounding the tiny button, is that a reset feature? I guess it could be NOS but it looks aged to me.

I am not sure what it controls, possibly the external fuse box? There wasn't a 60 amp breaker anywher ein the box before so I am not sure what they did here. The labels on the circuit breaker door were not updated either.

I'm sending the gen co an email for clarification on all of these points and likely hiring an electrician to double check everything.

 

[Owen Lucas]

This was the box before the gen install:

Note: There is a connector on the outside of the house for a portable generator, which can manually be turned on and connected via cable. Ins co required an interlock to be installed for safety as the previous owners did not have one.

 

[Hall]

I've done it before but i'd rather not cut into the line.

No need to cut it. Go to one end or the other, disconnect it, re-route it, then re-connect it.

 

[dishdude]

Now this is the part that bothers me, it appears they installed a used 60 amp breaker. I can tell by the wear / aging of what was a white sticker surrounding the tiny button, is that a reset feature? I guess it could be NOS but it looks aged to me.

That looks like "road rash". Parts like that bouncing around in a box in the back of a service van get wear like that. Probably an arc-fault breaker with that test button.

I've been following this thread but haven't commented, agree with the other it is sloppy work but probably functionally fine. I wouldn't want them back to redo it.

 

[mk378]

That is a GFCI breaker, required for pool and spa stuff. Pressing the test button should make it trip off.

 

[nomas]

I believe the City of Chicago requires residential wiring to be in conduit . Not that it applies here , but never say it doesn't happen .

 

[Hall]

I believe the City of Chicago requires residential wiring to be in conduit . Not that it applies here , but never say it doesn't happen .

I believe most residential wiring there will be "BX" cabling. Definitely easier/quicker to install than actual conduit and definitely much more $$$ than simple Romex.

 

[nomas]

I believe most residential wiring there will be "BX" cabling. Definitely easier/quicker to install than actual conduit and definitely much more $$$ than simple Romex.

Armored cable is permitted in certain instances but not everywhere .

 

[zzyzzx]

Post an online review (Yelp, Google) complete with pictures and mention how sloppy it is.