I just had a conversation with my PB about how they are going to wire my EasyTouch 8 control panel. First a little background. I have a 42 slot 200 AMP main panel (just upgraded it myself from 125 AMP to allow for pool equipment, lighting, etc) with 6 slots left open. The controller we are using is the EasyTouch 8 that has a 125 AMP capable 16 slot sub panel built in. I want to save some slots in my main panel for dedicated 20 AMP and/or 50 AMP circuits for things like power tools and a welder, etc. I also wanted to mention my main breaker panel is about 5-6 feet from where my control panel will be.

The electrician my PB uses wants to run a few individual runs (a few 30 and 15/20 AMP runs) to my control panel which would completely bypass the sub panel in the control panel. This solution would use 5-6 slots total from my main panel. By doing this it leaves me without any additional power for landscape lighting, etc at the control panel and basically would force me to run additional power to the control panel if I want to add landscape lighting or something else that would be controlled by the control panel.

What I wanted to do was have them make a single 100 AMP run from the main breaker panel (100 AMP breaker in my main panel would only require 2 slots) to the control panel and run all the equipment from the sub panel built in. This would leave me with plenty of power for landscaping lighting, power to the outdoor kitchen, etc at the control panel. My understanding this is the normal way to do this. Most of the panels I saw from other PB's had their control panels wired this way.

In order to do it my way they want to charge an extra $300.00. I was told this represents the cost for the extra breakers, wire, etc. It seems awfully excessive considering the multiple 30 AMP and 15 AMP runs would not be needed. The incremental cost here is larger wire (#4-#2 copper depending on what chart you use vs whatever would be needed for the other circuits (BTW #2 is $ .95 a foot so that is only $15.00 for the largest wire)) and the cost of the 100 AMP feeder breaker (about $35.00). It was also mentioned that larger conduit would be needed and that is harder to work with the larger wire. I am not so sure about how hard it is to deal with #2 copper. I just rewired my main panel with 4/0 aluminum and that is tough stuff to work with!

I am not pissed at my PB at all but the situation really bothers me. To me it would seem the way they want to run it is not normal and is basically talking the easy way instead of doing it the right way. It seems like I am at the mercy of the electrician and that is part I hate. I want to push this issue but don't want to get into an adversely situation with my PB.

What do you guys think? Thanks!

Steve