Using Licensed Electrician for Design Only
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Using Licensed Electrician for Design Only
Has anyone had any luck getting an electrician to just do drawings and design, then doing the implementation yourself, and having in the end good luck with the inspector?
Last edited by Nashkat1; 03-01-13 at 08:48 PM.
#2
You probably wouldn't use an electrician for design, although they can do it. I would consider an architect to make drawings including the electrical needs you specify. It will be in blueprint form so it would be easily readable. There are parameters electricians must adhere to when installing components. That is not a problem. It appears, however, you are looking to electrical "design", and it would be what YOU want, and not what is required by code.
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Is this for a house you're building or planning to build? If you know some basics of the NEC (and you must if you intend to do the installation yourself), you could probably lay out the electrical yourself. That's what my wife and I did when we built our log home a few years ago. Once we finished all the framing, we went through each room and marked where outlets, switches, and fixtures would go, which switches would be three-way, which outlets would be switched, etc. Then I drew a very simple hand sketch showing what circuits would be needed, what amperage for each, and breaker type (regular, GFCI, AFCI).
I had intended to do the installation entirely by myself, but in the interest of it not taking forever (I'm not a pro) I hired a Master electrician friend to help me. He looked at the layout and my sketch and didn't recommend a single change.
I had intended to do the installation entirely by myself, but in the interest of it not taking forever (I'm not a pro) I hired a Master electrician friend to help me. He looked at the layout and my sketch and didn't recommend a single change.
#4
Welcome to the forums!
Designing an electrical system is a job for an electrical engineer. Electricians are responsible for doing the installation.
Most jurisdictions require an EE's stamp on an electrical plan before they will review it.
Has anyone had any luck getting an electrician to just do drawings and design, then doing the implementation yourself, and having in the end good luck with the inspector?
Most jurisdictions require an EE's stamp on an electrical plan before they will review it.
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Isn't the "design" of an electrical system entirely dictated by code requirements and not by engineering principles? I've never even heard of an electrical plan, at least not for a residence. There's certainly no such requirement where I live. My electrical system was "designed" as I explained in my earlier post; there was no review except by the electrician I hired, and no approval by anyone. Of course, it did have to pass inspection, which it did.
#6
Isn't the "design" of an electrical system entirely dictated by code requirements and not by engineering principles?
I've never even heard of an electrical plan, at least not for a residence.
There's certainly no such requirement where I live.
My electrical system was "designed" as I explained in my earlier post; there was no review except by the electrician I hired, and no approval by anyone. Of course, it did have to pass inspection, which it did.
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In my jurisdiction, there is no separate permit for electrical. In fact, there's no separate permit for anything, only a single permit to build an entire house. I still have the blueprints the log home company drew up, and there is nothing electrical on them. So the only "plan" was as I have already explained. I do understand that other jurisdictions may be more strict.
#8
I understand. Residential permits, particularly for new construction, sometimes include all of the work in one permit number. That said, there's more to a permit application than the drawings. There are also specifications, and those usually include specs for the electrical, mechanical and plumbing work. YMMV.
#10
Gotta love WV, I guess
#11
In my jurisdiction, there is no separate permit for electrical. In fact, there's no separate permit for anything, only a single permit to build an entire house.
That being said, many contractors have design/build capabilities, but generally those contractors will not design or do drawings or seal drawings for other contractors or individuals to work from. It's an insurance thing; Errors and Omissions insurance isn't cheap.