atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Percentage of sparkies who install data?

I do not see much call for companies who exlusivly install data,voice cabling for companies and was curious if sparkies for the most parts doing this type of install?

My experience is that to have the best work done you should find a contractor who specializes in voice and data network cabling. Look in the yellow pages under telecommunications or networking.

It used to be that electricians did some of the worst work when it came to low voltage applications. Some just didn't understand the difference in the code requirments, some didn't want to learn HOW LV worked and so they didn't spend the time to learn it.

This is starting to change and I'm seeing more electrical contractors that are doing good LV work. Some that are even starting seperate divisions in their companies specifically dedicated to voice and data networking.

Unfortunately, that is still not the norm in this area.

I spend a lot of time in stop-go traffic and I've noticed that a lot of the "one call" companies are advertising voice-data cabling as being one of their product offerings. Just about all of the sparkie companies around here offer it, but I'm starting to see more plumbing and HVAC companies advertising it as well.

Imgaine: You can get your toilet unclogged AND a couple of network drops run in the same visit. Hard to believe, but someone must be buying it.

OK, now I'm cleaning my monitor off!!

Percentage of sparkies who install data- 99%
Percentage of sparkies who have it lettered on their trucks 75%
Percentage of sparkies who tell tell their customers "no problem, I'll throw it in while I'm here"- 99%
Percentage of sparkies who actually know how to install data- 2%.

I'm starting to see more plumbing and HVAC companies advertising it as well.

Heck, why not. Makes about as much sense as a sparkie doing it. You can sell anything to stupid people.

-Hal

However, we do still get to bill the customer for the error of their ways when they pursue this.

That goes for CG's as well, in fact, we bill extra if we do not get the cable portion of the job...too many unknowns...

:read:

Maybe so, but it's not the same. They get the $10K for the job and we get $1K to fix it. Sure, the customer may dock them our $1K, but who comes out ahead? The sparkie/plumber/carpenter who did the original job. All we net is service work to fix their problems.

Sure, the customer will never use this yokel again, but he still got all of the real money for the job and we'll just get nickels and dimes. Wonder if they aren't smarter than we are?

Unfortunately, we can't do the same thing by installing bootleg plumbing or electrical wiring with no responsibility. That stuff is inspected and tested for proper functionality, but our stuff isn't.

All we net is service work to fix their problems.

All we net is a headache from fixing someone elses mess. There is only so much we can charge per hour and for that same money there are many other things I would rather be working on.

-Hal

Okay thanks guys for answering my question. It has been from what I have seen electricians doing these installs but only large companies advertising it. Now what seems to be the trend is large construction companies will hire Tel/data techs. I guess thay do not want to pay outsource companies the rates they charge and just underpay a tech and keep them happy in some other form.

Too Many!