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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,685 Likes: 4
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The handyman yard worker, installed 6 outdoor lights, ran NM cable to Alum Bell Boxes, and buried the boxes, cable was about 4" in the ground, no GFCI protection.
The homeowner was pleased with his beautiful $3,000 job, until it stopped working.
The photo is one of the boxes, the others were just Alum dust, in the ground for about six years.
- LK ![[Linked Image]](https://www.electrical-contractor.net/Forum/Images/FSbox.jpg)
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,081
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Maybe it's good that the boxes were buried, in that when they finally failed the current went straight to ground? (Just an idea.)
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,438
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$3000 for 6 lights? why didnt this guy just throw a 'Malibu" set in?? Then you CAN bury the splices & 12V, youre not likely to hurt someone...
-Randy
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Randy,
The owner told us he supplied the lights, they were 120V custom fixtures, the $3000 was for installation only, what a deal, for a days work.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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LK
How long was the run??? $3000 I would've piped in ½" schedule 40, or at least UF cable... was there something difficult about the installation? Would the price have been justified if the job was done properly?
-Randy
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Randy,
The lights were around a garden at the rear of the house, he has the nm cable 4" or less in the garden soft soil, there were nicks all over the cable where the were planting, the owner was lucky, they din't take a hit, the run length was aprox. 100' in a garden circle.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Thats sad! I coulda used that $3000 right now! ![[Linked Image]](https://www.electrical-contractor.net/ubb/mad.gif) His lights would've worked a hella lot longer also! 4" underground? Was this guy using a garden shovel for his trench?? This guy was very lucky no one was injured or worse from this!
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Why is it that the rats all seem to make out like bandits even ignoring the corners they cut? Unless the lights themselves were incredibly expensive, that job couldn't have been more than $600 worth of materials even if everything was done properly. $2,400 for a six-light install is a pretty hearty price in my book... -John
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Joined: Jan 2003
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I asked, if they tried to contact him about what we found, the owners wife said, she did, he is a very nice man, and he was sorry that the material was bad, he din't make the boxes or the wire, you really should meet him, he is very nice.
When i explained the hazzard involved, i was told, Mr handy did a nice job, you should have seen the lights when they were working,
I don't like you telling me, it was his work that was bad, when it was bad material, he told me to watch out for the electrician, that you would bad mouth his work.
When i suggested they ask the town inspector about the work, she told me, he warned her about that, they just want money, and they would find all kinds of problems with my home, i don't want them here.
Mr wonderful!!!
[This message has been edited by LK (edited 04-26-2004).]
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Joined: Feb 2004
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LMAO, This guy covered his bases didn't he! You should introduce your homeowner to ECN! I don't know either of them, so my judgement is based solely on the facts! (As apparently yours is also! ![[Linked Image]](https://www.electrical-contractor.net/ubb/biggrin.gif) ) But I'd have no problem informing anyone this installation was an outright ripoff! If done correctly by a master/journeyman electrician on a "I want it done NOW!" basis, I'd say ok on the price... It's ok to be expensive, but you gotta give what you promise! -Randy PS I have no problem letting people know I'm not the cheapest guy in town.. We've all seen the results of most of the lowest bidders!
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