Gayle Bair on sat 30 oct 99
I had an electrician hook-up a receptacle
for my kiln last week.
He said he didn't need to know what
the particulars were because he had
hooked up kilns before.
When he arrived he didn't have the correct
receptacle so I ran around to 3 hardware
stores before finding it ($15).
Then I found out he didn't have the correct
breaker and would have to return the next day.
I asked him how much the bill would be and he led
me to believe it would be a little over $100.
After waiting all day for him I finally called
and he said the breaker was ordered and
he would be out the next day to install it.
He also said he would patch some of the drywall
as the hole he made was a bit too large.
I wasn't there when he came and he left me
this note "Everythink looks AOK". The breaker
was in place but the enlarged hole was not patched.
This week I received a bill for $166.84.
Stupid me...I should have timed how long he
was here as I was charged for 2 1/2 hours
@ $48 per hour.
I am pretty sure he wasn't here for 2 hours
the first day and how long does it take to
install a breaker? I believe I must have been
charged an additional service charge for his
not being prepared the first visit.
When I had the same thing done in Colorado
it cost $125 and would have been less if the
inspector hadn't insisted on a additional
ground wire which made for a second trip.
Am I just being bitchy or was I taken???
I do not want to seem ungrateful because he
came on short notice but.......
So enlighten this vertically and electrically
challenged person. Please let me know what is
a reasonable charge.
Gayle Bair... still learning after all these years!
gaylebair@earthlink.net
Ray Aldridge on sun 31 oct 99
At 12:53 PM 10/30/99 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I had an electrician hook-up a receptacle
>for my kiln last week.
>He said he didn't need to know what
>the particulars were because he had
>hooked up kilns before.
(snip)
.
>Am I just being bitchy or was I taken???
>I do not want to seem ungrateful because he
>came on short notice but.......
In my opinion you were taken, but more to the point, how can you really
trust the expertise of someone who didn't know that different kilns require
different outlets and breakers? I'd be worried about the quality of the job.
Ray
Aldridge Porcelain and Stoneware
http://www.goodpots.com
Candise Flippin on sun 31 oct 99
This is one of those location things. In California, it is alot more
expensive than either of your numbers to have an electrician do this.
Your First clue that this person may not have been the electrician of
your dreams was his statement that he did not need to know any
particulars. There are standard outlets, but if he had hooked up
several he would have known that they can be different. I have moved my
kiln 4 times and had to buy a new circuit breaker each time because of
different style boxes. I finally decided to learn how to do it myself,
but one has to be careful where you get your information. One well
meaning person at Home Depot told me to be sure to install the breaker
with it in the off position to reduce the chance of shock. My reply to
him was why wouldn't you turn off the main power to the box. So be
properly educated about electrical installation and local codes and BE
CAREFUL. 220 is nothing to laugh about.
Candise, waiting with great anticipation for the unloading of the pit
fire at Nottingham in San Marcos!
elizabeth l gowen on sun 31 oct 99
Reminds me of the first test kiln I had installed 17 years ago in the
basement of my first house. Three guys arrived one did the work while the
other two goons waited outside. They also didn't have the correct receptacle
so he pulled out his pliers and twisted one of the prongs and said "here
lady this should do it". That cost me 150.00 plus 75.00 to have another
electrician out to take out the wrong one and install the correct one.
these guys were licensed)
I have since learned to ask if and where they have installed kilns and I
remove and take with me my receptacles, or if shot I get a new one, when I
move. I also try to check if there are spare unused breakers or space in the
panel and make sure to ask them to bring the correct breakers with them. The
more info you can give them the better. I also find in many things I have
done, find a small business, and get the owner. He / She has a reason to
want to make you happy. They want your business.
Liz Gowen
-----Original Message-----
From: Gayle Bair
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Saturday, October 30, 1999 11:56 AM
Subject: kiln hook-up
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I had an electrician hook-up a receptacle
>for my kiln last week.
>He said he didn't need to know what
>the particulars were because he had
>hooked up kilns before.
>When he arrived he didn't have the correct
>receptacle so I ran around to 3 hardware
>stores before finding it ($15).
>Then I found out he didn't have the correct
>breaker and would have to return the next day.
>I asked him how much the bill would be and he led
>me to believe it would be a little over $100.
>After waiting all day for him I finally called
>and he said the breaker was ordered and
>he would be out the next day to install it.
>He also said he would patch some of the drywall
>as the hole he made was a bit too large.
>I wasn't there when he came and he left me
>this note "Everythink looks AOK". The breaker
>was in place but the enlarged hole was not patched.
>This week I received a bill for $166.84.
>Stupid me...I should have timed how long he
>was here as I was charged for 2 1/2 hours
>@ $48 per hour.
>I am pretty sure he wasn't here for 2 hours
>the first day and how long does it take to
>install a breaker? I believe I must have been
>charged an additional service charge for his
>not being prepared the first visit.
>When I had the same thing done in Colorado
>it cost $125 and would have been less if the
>inspector hadn't insisted on a additional
>ground wire which made for a second trip.
>Am I just being bitchy or was I taken???
>I do not want to seem ungrateful because he
>came on short notice but.......
>So enlighten this vertically and electrically
>challenged person. Please let me know what is
>a reasonable charge.
>Gayle Bair... still learning after all these years!
>gaylebair@earthlink.net
>
Tom Wirt on mon 1 nov 99
From: Gayle Bair
Subject: kiln hook-up
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> He said he didn't need to know what
> the particulars were because he had
> hooked up kilns before.
> When he arrived he didn't have the correct
> receptacle so I ran around to 3 hardware
> stores before finding it ($15).
> Then I found out he didn't have the correct
> breaker and would have to return the next day.
Gayle....not sure about the correctness of the billing and hours, but this
thing stinks. If he didn't have the right plug, and didn't have the right
breaker, then I'll darn near bet he didn't have the right sized wire.....and
it's in the wire that you have your fire hazard. If you put a heavy load,
and a high amp breaker and then use small wire, the wire will heat up as the
load is drawn. If the wall is still open, can you get a flashlight and
maybe see the gauge size printed on the wire covering? Then look at the
kiln placard and get the rated amps. Now increase those amps by 25% and
that's what your breaker and wire should be. Doesn't hurt to go a size
larger on the wire. Even a Home Depot can tell you what the proper wire
size is for the kiln rating.
When this guy says he's wired kilns before, remember, he doesn't perceive
there's a difference between amperage ratings and kiln sizes. To him, a
kiln's a kiln If he didn't go to the amperage placard, he couldn't wire it
right except by luck. Get someone who knows to check this out. It may be
OK, but you've got to be sure.
Tom Wirt
RoseHawke on mon 1 nov 99
Gayle Bair wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> I had an electrician hook-up a receptacle
> for my kiln last week.
> This week I received a bill for $166.84.
> So enlighten this vertically and electrically
> challenged person. Please let me know what is
> a reasonable charge.
Whoof! It will vary from region to region, but IMHO this charge was a
bit out of line. I paid $65.00 to have the wiring done for my older
Skutt. The electrician came by one evening to check and make sure what
kind of connection I needed, then came out the next morning and wired
everything up. Took maybe an hour? I had the benefit of actually having
the original manual with the wiring recommendations (bless the lady I
bought the kiln from!) and had highlighted the particular kiln model and
wiring specs involved. Very neat job, very professional, in and out, no
probs. This particular Master Electrician lives about a mile and a half
down the road.
And we just had a minor (to some people! Came home from a Hallowe'en
party Saturday night and *no electricity.*) emergency and had *two*
electricians out at 8:00 am on *Sunday* morning to replace the main 200
amp breaker on our power pole (we live in a mobile home.) It took them
about 20 minutes; the charge was $147.00, parts, labor, emergency call.
This was a different company as we didn't want to bother our usual
electrician on a Sunday morning.
--
Sl`inte,
Cindy in Alabama where it's a bit damp today for a change.
***********************************************************
Cindy T. Riley (RoseHawke)
hawke@rosehawke.com
http://www.rosehawke.com
***********************************************************
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