Topic: Installing 10x dedicated 50amp outlets - $8000 reasonable ? (Read 845 times)

If you're having the work done anyway, why not just have standard NEMA 6-15 or 6-20 outlets installed, 2 to 4 per circuit as appropriate, and skip the PDU entirely?

Gotcha. I also agree that pricing is insane. 30amps only lets you run 3 s9s/equiv while 40 lets you run four. I've found a fair few pdus that can handle that load. TO be fair, I've not weighed out the cost of the different outlets etc, and it may make more sense to run more with less optimal setup than less outlets with better "efficiency" outlet wise.

I would agree with others about the price but it's not totally unreasonable.  Materials for that job likely cost under two grand and it sounds like a 2-man 1 or 2-day job.  I'd think that you would be able to find someone to do it for around $5,000 if you searched and went with a handyman type.  Without knowing too much and making an educated guess, $8,000 sounds like you'll be paying around $200/hr labor per person.

That is a RIPOFF for anywhere outside of Manhattan (NYC).

Get more quotes.


30 amp outlets make sense because most PDUs are designed to run from a 30 amp outlet.

Can I ask why you went with 30 amp outlets? 30 just seems like a bad number to use, I'm curious if there is something I don't know.

Lol I got a new main panel, added a sub panel, got 5 30A locking outlets installed for $4300 and thst included all the parts and city inspection. 

I’m a licensed master electrician and a miner.  I just installed a 400 amp panel with transformer and 30 -30 amp recepticals for our new mining area. Transformer was the biggest cost at 2500, but with out that if you have single phase 120/240, price should be around $3000 plus permit.

I put in 2x 30a 240 lines just a couple hundred dollars- ish and days work. If you're not going far you could probably do it yourself. Just used the correct gauge wire and I passed inspection by the city, you'll just need to get permitting most likely for a high voltage line. I imagine if you mentioned "bitcoin" they think your a whale or something as well. The quotes I was getting were up to $1000 for my small job, just did it myself after a few days of research.

50a line will cost you about the same a two 30a lines with correct gauge wire, were you might be able to only power 2 more machines per 50a line. For my small mine I went with the two 30a 240 runs vs the 50a 240 and can power 4 miners per 30a outlet/receptacle for 8 total, where the singe 50a I could only power 6 miners. PDU prices also go up exponentially as well for 50a. You might be able to trim more off your COGs line there as well.  

So in theory you could install 20x 30a lines, for 80 miners total where you might only get 60 miners with the 50a runs. No sure what your plan is but if you're just looking to run 60 miners and not expand capacity, you're fine. I live in Oregon so if your close to the border buy here and save on sales tax to.

Just some thoughts from a newbie, best.

*edits for some (not all) spelling errors, grammar is still potentially horrible.

I have an old house, 100 years plus, my electric was added on as it was being invented. For two 220v circuits,  2 outlets each for 4 miners, from the basement to the 2nd floor spare bedroom,  he quoted me between 600 and 800, I offered 750 If he did it the next day. He seemed most pleased. And it was done the next day. Including a small breaker box on the side of my main box, 2 breakers one each circuit. 2 slots left in the box in case I need more later. US, northeast.

That is a very high price. Even if it takes 40 hours at $50 bucks an hour it shouldn't be more than $2,000

1) But 10 x 50 AMP circuit breakers on that panel? Can it handle that much AMPs? It seems like its a main lug breaker and wont be more than 400AMPs at all (but I can be wrong).
2) Also, I am curious why are you using 50 AMPs? Plan on running a 30 AMP and 20 AMP PDU on one 50 AMP circuit?
2) When are your miners arriving? If you already have them then you are loosing money each day they are not hashing. So consider that as well.
3) Try to find a house flipper friend who might know some small time electrician after all this is not a complicated job at all. Thanks.   

Wow, all the numbers y'all are throwing around make me glad to be self-sufficient.

$8k just to surface-mount pipe in some new outlets from an existing panel? Sounds about like a one-day job, so no more than a hundred bucks plus materials. That bid is almost twice what it cost me to do a 400A three-phase upgrade to my shop, including the panel and breakers, new pulls to the pole and the hosting room and new per-shelf subpanels.

If an electrician has too much to do, and maybe doesn't want the project, he will propose a high number.  A polite way to blow you off

That's a good indication that they were trying to use you for a big payday.

Get as many quotes as you can in, within a reasonable time frame.

In the meantime you can take a look, and run the cables, Install boxes and receptacles. This way you are just paying for them to do the connections and inspect your work.

Or if the relief of the price being significantly lower, pay them to do it all.

I wonder how busy he is.  I'm having some electrical work done in my home and quotes are all over the place (spa, 220v garage, rewire heat pump in new conduit).  The one company that's booked out until March has been the highest.  I'm going to have someone I know with an 01 certification do my job as a moonlight for 1/2 the price.  I hate overpaying for plumbers and electricians, especially when it's not that challenging of work.

You could probably do most of the work yourself and just have an electrician terminate the wires.  Use schedule 80 pvc indoors is sufficient and easier to work with than EMT - everyone knows someone that knows someone with an 01 cert.

I asked for an itemized breakdown and he just didnt answer back - got more quotes lined up for next week

Maybe he's trying to take advantage of you because he thinks your a high roller (and maybe you are).

But business is business.  Make him an offer of time and materials, not to exceed $2500, if he can have the work completed by the close of business on Tuesday.  Tell him you've received other quotes that are lower than that number but they can't do the work for 2 weeks or something.

For that price you can have someone fly in coast to coast and do it and still make a profit. 

I got the boxes. But will price out the rest on lowes

Cart Summary
Subtotal:   $655.36
Buy 10, Get 10% off   -$7.96
Buy 3, Get 5% Off   -$4.89
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The electrican actually messaged me back today and offered to do it for $6000.

I need to get more quotes

I'd price out what the supplies cost.

10x - Solid #8 or #6 x 3 wires per outlet @ 20 feet per wire
10x - 50 amp breakers
150-175 feet of EMT
10x - 2 gang electrical boxes.


That's the material list or close?  Price it out at Home Depot.  I think you're way over 500 in materials.  But not 1000s off..

Then you'll know what you're paying for his time.

Also, get at least 3 quotes.

I suggest u get more quotes. Thats juz insane pricing.