Cost is going to largely depend on the existing panel and whether there's room for another breaker and if you have standard or slim breakers already.
Cost to add a bulked-up circuit to house?
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I embarrassed to say this 'cause I think I overpaid. It cost around $400 to put in a double 20 amp circuit for the outside. Now, I also talked to the electrician for an an hour asking him all about wattage etc. so that, I'm sure, added to the cost.
My suggestion: Do not do what I did and just tell him to do it and then he bills you later. That was one yucky surprise I got in the mail. Get an estimate first
My suggestion: Do not do what I did and just tell him to do it and then he bills you later. That was one yucky surprise I got in the mail. Get an estimate first
It is always good advice to get a quote from anyone billing by the hour.
Never tell a mechanic, plumber, electrician, lawyer, etc... to "do whatever it takes."
Heck... I took my dog to the vet after she lost a tooth.
1. They wouldn't treat her without updating her shots
2. Had to do bloodwork
3. Gave her shots
4. Cleaned her teeth, found 4 that needed to be pulled
5. Pulled teeth
6. Clipped nails, etc, while she was under.
Almost $500 later... my dog had minty breath. All I wanted was a frikkin' toothbrush to her teeth.
Never tell a mechanic, plumber, electrician, lawyer, etc... to "do whatever it takes."
Heck... I took my dog to the vet after she lost a tooth.
1. They wouldn't treat her without updating her shots
2. Had to do bloodwork
3. Gave her shots
4. Cleaned her teeth, found 4 that needed to be pulled
5. Pulled teeth
6. Clipped nails, etc, while she was under.
Almost $500 later... my dog had minty breath. All I wanted was a frikkin' toothbrush to her teeth.
What would help you out would be that you have the wire. You could figure that they would charge you somewhere between $1.50 -$2.00 per foot for the 12-2. You would think they are using gold instead of copper.
If its just a matter of adding a breaker and outlet, then I'd estimate $300-$600 depending on the price of the breaker itself, the GFCI outlet, the cost of the permit (if any) and how far away the new outlet is from the panel itself. You could save money by having the electrition install an outlet close to the panel and running Romex cable yourself to a second, more convenient outlet. Or....if you really want to save money and you already have a dedicated 220volt dryer outlet in your garage, you can get what is referred to as a pigtail (I think yours would require a double reverse Y-adapter.) This would effectively turn your dryer outlet into two 110volt 15amp outlets which you could easily run a fog machine and several other props. They are usually available at Boating or Marine Hardware stores and websites. You wouldn't be able to dry laundry Halloween night and I would ask an expert about the exact type of pigtail you would need. They aren't cheap, but it could be considerably less than adding the breaker.
Not to argue with you WC but that is not a safe thing to do because then he would be using a double pole breaker as 2 singles and running an un balanced load. Also a dryer runs on a double 30 amp breaker not a double 15 so to do what you are saying it would be like 2 120v 30 amp circuits..If its just a matter of adding a breaker and outlet, then I'd estimate $300-$600 depending on the price of the breaker itself, the GFCI outlet, the cost of the permit (if any) and how far away the new outlet is from the panel itself. You could save money by having the electrition install an outlet close to the panel and running Romex cable yourself to a second, more convenient outlet. Or....if you really want to save money and you already have a dedicated 220volt dryer outlet in your garage, you can get what is referred to as a pigtail (I think yours would require a double reverse Y-adapter.) This would effectively turn your dryer outlet into two 110volt 15amp outlets which you could easily run a fog machine and several other props. They are usually available at Boating or Marine Hardware stores and websites. You wouldn't be able to dry laundry Halloween night and I would ask an expert about the exact type of pigtail you would need. They aren't cheap, but it could be considerably less than adding the breaker.
Don't feel too bad Terra...my brother recently needed an electrician on a sunday because even tho' he knows how to fix anything...he just couldn't find the problem. The guy shows up and was too heavy to fit into the attic access so my brother got up there and did all the work while the electrician yelled instructions. It ended up costing my brother $300 to just connect a loose wire!I embarrassed to say this 'cause I think I overpaid. It cost around $400 to put in a double 20 amp circuit for the outside. Now, I also talked to the electrician for an an hour asking him all about wattage etc. so that, I'm sure, added to the cost.
My suggestion: Do not do what I did and just tell him to do it and then he bills you later. That was one yucky surprise I got in the mail. Get an estimate first
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