Electrician cost

G

gshamr

Joined
Jan 18, 2002
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Can anyone give me a rough estimate for the cost of an electrician to convert one of my interior outlets from 115 to 230V? It is in the same room as the breaker box and about 8 feet from it.

I live in a condo that was converted from an apartment complex, if that makes a difference. Thanks.

Gerry Hamrick
Everett, WA
 
I'm an electrician. Without looking at it I can not say for certain. Converting from one to the other is not always such an easy thing.

You will likely be better off running a new circuit to where you want it. The problem is that if you change that one thing to 230v it will probably have other things on with it that you can't have as 230v like lights and other plugs. You will likely need at least one or two spare spaces in your existing panel.

Two breakers should cost around 8-10 dollars, could be more if you have a weird panel. Wire cost isn't too high maybe 5 dollars. It will probably cost the electrician at least an hour of his time to go and get the receptacle that you need, and other various supplies. Probably 2 Hours for his work. You will probably need to have drywall repaired unless he surface mounts the wiring in pipe or wire mold which would drive the cost and time up.

So about $25 dollars in materials.
Around 3 hours of time. at 65 dollars an hour
I'd say between $200-$250
It will be even more if you really do things right and get the work inspected. Not many people do that though.

You can find desperate electricians in this economy willing to work for peanuts though!
With electrical work there are just too many variables. Just get a couple of estimates :D
 
If you have the know how, you could install the conduit and box and pull the wire. Then the electrician could make the final connections. That could save some time.
 
It also depends on how many amps you want for that circut, if its low then you can run #10 wire, but if your talking about a 50 amp circut, then you'll have to go with #6 and that'll cost you.
Del
 
Since it's only a few feet away, why don't you have the electrician set the outlet up at an easy place next to the box. Then make up an extension cord just how you want it.

Good luck with it, Craig
 
Well here is why I asked...maybe I'm making this too hard.

I bought a big knife kiln from Sugar Creek Industriies. Before I ordered it, I asked them if it would work to put it on top of my kitchen range, and pull out the range enough to use that outlet. It is listed as 30 amps on my breaker.

When I finally got ready to use it, I realized that the kitchen range has one of those outlets that fits the huge cord on the range (I should have remembered this, I know). It is one of those big plugs with 3 wide, flat prongs. The kiln is 230V but has a smaller mail plug with 2 flat posts and one u-shaped post. It says "Leviton" 250V and 20A.

I went to Home Depot and the guy said there is no such thing as an adapter to fit these two. He said I could probably buy a big 50A cord for a range and replace the cord on the kiln with it. I have an email in to the kiln company to see if it's possible but I'm leery of doing that. If it's possible, maybe an electrician could do it for me.

The knife kiln is listed on their site as 230V, 11A and 2530 watts. I'd rather use my kitchen oven outlet, if possible, since it will be safer. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Gerry Hamrick
Everett, WA
 
i would advise you to consult a QUALIFIED electrician. i been doing elec work since 1976. you will feel safer and sleep better for it. good luck !! let us know how it turns out paul
 
The range plug wiring will be a #8 or #6 wire, and the breaker is more than likely a 40a-60a 2pole. The breaker will have to be reduced to a 20A- 2pole, and the range receptacle changed to the proper configuration, as well as the branch circuit wiring reduced to #12 to fit in the correct outlet. This is not route to go, especially if you want to use the range again. My suggestion is to just have an new 20A -220 outlet cut in below the panel and get a portable table for the kiln...2hrs time max...maybe 20-30 bucks in material. +1 on having a qualified electrician do the work

HTH
Dave
 
get a sparky and let him do it, cause you could be doing something else and he will do it twice as fast as you.
most only charge 75 a hour around here , but thats iowa
but if he did it wrong and your place burns down , then he will have to pay a lot more then 75 and hour
good luck
vern
 
If you're comfortable doing it, make an extension cord that has a male range plug on one end and the female socket for your ht oven on the other end. You don't have to hook up the white common wire that your range needs to work the 110v parts. You can get the parts at big depot.

But maybe check with the electrician, Craig

sorry,I didn't read that your range plug had only three leads, so you don't have to worry about a four prong plug, just hook up two hots and one ground, good luck again.
 
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Dave - could you tell us why the wiring and breaker would have to be reduced? We run circuits all of the time beneath their capacity. As long as the wire and breaker are properly paired, it shouldn't matter if the load on the circuit is lower than it is rated for. To me, this is not a complicated wiring problem. Anyone who has moved their dryer from one house to another can handle this, unless I'm missing some major piece of the puzzle.
 
gshamr said:
Well here is why I asked...maybe I'm making this too hard.

I bought a big knife kiln from Sugar Creek Industriies. Before I ordered it, I asked them if it would work to put it on top of my kitchen range, and pull out the range enough to use that outlet. It is listed as 30 amps on my breaker.

When I finally got ready to use it, I realized that the kitchen range has one of those outlets that fits the huge cord on the range (I should have remembered this, I know). It is one of those big plugs with 3 wide, flat prongs. The kiln is 230V but has a smaller mail plug with 2 flat posts and one u-shaped post. It says "Leviton" 250V and 20A.

I went to Home Depot and the guy said there is no such thing as an adapter to fit these two. He said I could probably buy a big 50A cord for a range and replace the cord on the kiln with it. I have an email in to the kiln company to see if it's possible but I'm leery of doing that. If it's possible, maybe an electrician could do it for me.

The knife kiln is listed on their site as 230V, 11A and 2530 watts. I'd rather use my kitchen oven outlet, if possible, since it will be safer. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Gerry Hamrick
Everett, WA
Click to expand...
The 20 amp 230v is an oddball plug that used to be much more commonly used for old window unit air conditioners. It is better if you have an outlet put it. It is also better if you don't use that thing in your kitchen....lol With that said, you can still buy a short extension cord in that format. I am using one for my press. I had the 230 wire up for 20A because that is what my Paragon uses, so I went with the same type of plug for my press.
 
If an electrician named "Shorty" shows up at your door, but he is over 5'10" tall, do not hire him.:D Be safe, and have it done right. One of the largest causes of house fires are from common wires getting too hot due to improper sizing or amperage overloads.
 
AcridSaint said:
Dave - could you tell us why the wiring and breaker would have to be reduced? We run circuits all of the time beneath their capacity. As long as the wire and breaker are properly paired, it shouldn't matter if the load on the circuit is lower than it is rated for. To me, this is not a complicated wiring problem. Anyone who has moved their dryer from one house to another can handle this, unless I'm missing some major piece of the puzzle.
Click to expand...

you are correct Cap , a breaker is sized for the ga. of the wire .

Any way , there is an easy fix for his problem . Just add a cut-in box above the range box and put in another outlet . It would take an electrician an hour to do this , it is legal and safe . Just don't operate the range and kiln at the same time and if you do , you will only pop the breaker , that is what it is there for .
 
gshamr said:
Can anyone give me a rough estimate for the cost of an electrician to convert one of my interior outlets from 115 to 230V? It is in the same room as the breaker box and about 8 feet from it.

I live in a condo that was converted from an apartment complex, if that makes a difference. Thanks.

Gerry Hamrick
Everett, WA
Click to expand...

I'm an electrical contractor but with out seeing the obstacles and knowing what i am dealing with I could not give you an estimate. The other problem is the labor rate in your area. Based on what you have said i would charge you around $250.00. But again without seeing it there is no way to give an exact.
 
I wanted to give an update in case anyone has a similar situation in the future. An electrician put in a 20 amp, 230V outlet yesterday. He put it in above the baseboard, below the breaker box. He called me from his warehouse beforehand to get info on my breaker box, so he didn't have to shop.

It took less than an hour, there is no drywall damage for me to repair and it cost $143.00 total. I'm really glad I did it and just finished heat treating my first knife. Luckily, it didn't warp.

Thanks to everyone for the info they gave.

Gerry Hamrick
Everett, WA
 
Glad you got the work done.


But for those watching this thread and wondering the same thing....



I was in your shoes when I set out to wire my home shop.


Get this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-...=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253329239&sr=1-4

51D4EU1X%2BxL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg



You CAN do this kind of stuff yourself, guys. :thumbup:


I knew next to nothing about wiring beforehand...and while I'm not perfect at it now, I do know I could figure out what I'd need in a couple minutes with the above book nearby.


Just read everything THREE times before you act on it. :D


Dan




p.s. Gerry - this is not to say your money wasn't well spent - sometimes it can buy peace of mind too!
 
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$143.00! an electrician charged me like $300.00 :eek: to nipple off the dryer plug! i was like thats it? i could have done that! took him 10 minutes!

It was a 30A breaker running a 15Amp kiln. Worked great for years before we sold the house !
 
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