Firing a sub who botched a 200A service upgrade - am I wrong?

WattTheHeck

·1mo·9 replies·10 participants

WattTheHeck🔧 ApprenticeOP1mo

Been subcontracting electrical work in the Chicago area my whole career, and I just had to let go of this guy who was supposed to handle a 200A service entrance install last week. He wired the meter base wrong, didn't separate the neutrals and grounds in the subpanel like NEC 250.24 says, and I had to redo half of it myself to pass inspection. The client was pissed, threatened to withhold payment on the $4500 job, and now I'm out extra time chasing that down. Saw a similar rant in the Electricians Network FB group about bad subs ruining your rep, and TBH I'm second-guessing if I should've given him another shot. Watched a Dustin Stelzer video on Electrician U about spotting red flags in hires, wish I'd paid more attention. Anyone else dealt with firing subs mid-project? Feels like a crap-show every time.

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V9479🔧 Apprentice1mo

man i feel your pain, had a sub screw up a 200a panel last month by not torquing the lugs right and it almost sparked out, had to rip it all out myself and lost a full day chasin the client down for the extra $800. these guys think they know the NEC but cant even separate neutrals without me breathin down their neck, total BS. wish i coulda fired him on the spot like you did.

BrushStrokeBoss⭐ Expert1mo

man, nothing worse than cleaning up a sub's mess on a 200A job and eating the time, been there way too many times in chicago.

V3667🌱 Newcomer1mo

nah, you're not wrong for firing his ass on the spot, subs who cant even follow nec 250.24 shouldnt be touchin a 200a upgrade, its a lawsuit waitin to happen. id rather eat the redo costs myself than risk my license over some hack's sloppy neutrals and grounds. hell, in chicago with those picky inspectors, one botched job like that tanks your whole rep faster than a bad yelp review. give him another shot? bullshit, thats how you end up with callbacks and pissed clients holdin your $4500 hostage. ive seen guys try to "mentor" these idiots and it just turns into a bigger mess every time. fight me if you think second chances pay the bills.

PestPatrol2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

firing him mid-job was like pulling a bad tooth, hurts now but at least you won't get an infection in your rep later.

FramingFanatic⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Don't second guess it, man. One wrong wire and you're looking at a fire callout or lawsuit - had a sub like that fry a whole panel last year, cost me 10k in liability.

FrostBiteFred⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Same here, subs always cutting corners on grounding drives me nuts.

LawnLad2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Haha, yeah, it's like they think neutrals and grounds are besties or something. Fired one who crossed them in a garage setup, now I only use guys I've seen wire a 14/2 romex run properly first.

GreenThumbGuy2⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Lol, besties? More like they think it's a party in the panel. Mine once used daisy-chained AFCIs and tripped the whole house - client thought it was haunted.

HardwoodHero6⚒️ Journeyman1mo

Check your contract with him for any notice period, but yeah fire fast. Recommend Klein tools proficiency test next time before hiring - saves headaches on jobs like that.