Hard Hat Industry Solutions

Electrical estimating software

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Archives for December 2020

How to Do Electrical Estimating for Roof AC Units (2020)

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Estimating Roof AC Units is fast and easy when using Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Software.

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Software has all the components needed to estimate electrical AC units mounted on the roof. (Or mounted anywhere). 

In this blog, we show you how to do electrical estimating for roof AC Units. 

Below is a drawing of an AC unit on the roof.

It shows a 3 pole 60 AMP 600-volt weatherproof fused disconnect switch mounted on the AC unit.

It shows conduit and wire size 1 ¼” Conduit 3 #4 & 1#8 wires feeding the disconnect.

For some reason, the designer oversized the conduit and wire feeding the disconnect switch (It does not take #4 wire to feed 60 AMP).

It is standard practice to estimate as per what the blueprint shows. So we will not change the conduit or wire size.

The drawing also shows 1 GFI receptacle and 1 duct smoke detector fed with #10 wire.

Blueprints do not show every detail. The image doesn’t show that the conduit must penetrate the roof.

Because it takes time (labor) to penetrate the roof, include roof penetration in the estimate.

Also, roof jacks or pitch pockets are needed. If you are required to provide them they would be included in your estimate. If you are not providing them, make sure to exclude them on your proposal.

Since blueprints are one dimensional, it does not show the height of the roof, But it is important to know the height because the conduit has to drop down from the roof to the panel below. 

The distance from the roof to the top of the panel is around 27 feet and we have to add that to the total conduit length.

Below is an example of a material take off:

Material Take off forms can be printed when logged in to Red Rhino.

The process goes like this; Count and measure materials from the blueprints, write it on the take off sheet, and input materials into Red Rhino. When you input materials from the take off sheet, check it off so you do not input materials twice.

Below is an image of Red Rhino’s conduit wizard. 

Using the conduit wizard you can estimate thousands of feet of conduit and wire fast and easy. 

The conduit wizard is set up to estimate 1 ¼” Conduit 3 #4 & 1#8 wires.

With the click of a button, it will input both material cost and labor, for conduit, connectors, couplings, supports, total footage of wire needed.

Red Rhino has thousands of items of materials loaded with labor built-in, and thousands of items with material pricing, commodity items like Conduit and wire roof jacks (pitch pockets) disconnect switches, circuit breaker termination labor, and motor connection assemblies that speed up the process of estimating.

Watch the video below to learn more:

Leave your comments, suggestions or questions.

Red Rhino is online so you can log on from any computer with an internet connection. The Cost of Red Rhino is $99.00/ Month with an affordable setup fee.

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial

Click this link to sign up for Red Rhino.
You will immediately get access to our online software.
Training videos will guide you step by step to learn how to navigate.

Call us if you have questions.

888- 492-5565 x 1

How to Estimate Transformers Using Red Rhino Electrical Estimation Software(2020)

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Red Rhino electrical estimation software makes it simple and easy to estimate transformers.

Red Rhino has labor for installing all different sizes of transformers.

Note: You must get pricing from your supplier for the cost of transformers.

You get pricing by sending your supplier a copy of the plans. Usually, you get transformers, circuit breakers, and panels quoted together. They will send you a “lot price” (The total cost of all transformers, circuit breakers, and panels).

In the video, John Kelsey shows how to estimate transformers using Red Rhino electrical estimation software.

 

Red Rhino has labor for installing panels from 100 Amp to 4000 Amp, and labor for installing transformers from 5 KVA up to 1000 KVA.

How it works:

     * Count transformers from single line drawings.

     * Write quantities on take-off forms.
     * Input quantity of transformers into Red Rhino.
     * Red Rhino Electrical Estimating software displays labor to install transformers.

When counting the transformers, highlight them on the single line diagram to make sure you don’t count them twice.

Tip: Use Red Rhino material take-off forms for your take-off.
           They help keep you organized and keep it neat.

           It can be downloaded from Red Rhino Software.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MATERIAL TAKE OFF FORM

Example of transformer on take-off sheet.

Input quantity of transformers.

Example of transformers in Red Rhino product catalog:

Red Rhino displays the labor (time) it takes for each transformer.

Example of how Red Rhino displays labor for transformer:

That is how Red Rhino electrical estimation software makes it fast and easy, to estimate transformers.

 

Red Rhino is online so you can log on from any computer with an internet connection. The Cost of Red Rhino is $99.00/ Month with an affordable setup fee.

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial

Just click this link to sign up for Red Rhino.
You will immediately get access to our online software.
Training videos will guide you step by step to learn how to navigate.

Call us if you have questions.

888-492-5565 x 1

Electrical Estimating Example: Tips for Estimating Circuit Breaker Installation on Energized and De-energized Panels.(2020)

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The goal is to give an electrical estimating example how to cover the cost for installing circuit breakers in energized and de-energized panels.

Disclaimer: This information is NOT intended to suggest or give advice on safety standards for working on energized panels. Your company must determine your safety standards for live work.

You estimate according to your company’s safety standards when estimating working on live panels.

When estimating remodel jobs, circuit breaker termination labor requires estimating working in either:

  • De-energized panels
  • Energized panels
  • Panels that must be de-energized during a scheduled shut down.

Electrical estimating example of circuit breaker termination in de-energized panels.

Circuit breaker termination in de-energized panels takes the least amount of time.
Simply input each circuit breaker.

Example: Estimate Circuit breakers in de-energized panel.
1 – 1 Pole 20 Amp circuit breaker
1 – 2 Pole 40 Amp circuit breaker
1 – 3 Pole 50 Amp Circuit Breaker
1 – 3 Pole 125 Amp

Example below shows circuit breakers input to Rhino.
Notice Red Rhino shows labor for each breaker.

Electrical estimating example of circuit breaker termination in energized panels.

Some companies require 2 people to be present when work occurs in live panels.

In that case you would add extra labor for 2 electricians to suit up with Kevlar suits and get set up with safety equipment needed.

Example: Estimate the same circuit breakers in energized panel when 2 people are required to do the installation.

In the example above 3 extra hours were added for time required for electricians to set up safety equipment needed to install the circuit breakers in a live panel.

You the estimator must determine how much extra time it will take.

Estimating circuit breaker termination panels for scheduled shut down, after hours.

Note: This information does not cover the actual process of scheduling a shut down.

Often times, written notice is required and someone actually has to sign off approval of the shutdown before it can occur.

Find out what is required and cover the cost.

In this example: The same number of circuit breakers need to be installed but.

  • Your company does not allow work in live panels.
  • Circuit breakers to be installed during shutdown after hours. (Overtime)
  • 2 People are required to do the installation.
  • Minimum hours you are required to pay electricians is 4 hours each.                                                                    

Note that 2 men at 4 hours at time-and-a-half equals 6 hours each. A total of 12 hours was added for the shutdown.

The cost of a shutdown makes installing just a few circuit breakers an expensive process.

Your results will vary but the goal is to cover all your costs when estimating installing circuit breakers in any condition required and to cover your cost

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial

Click this link to sign up for Red Rhino.
You will immediately get access to our online software.
Training videos will guide you step by step to learn how to navigate.

Call us if you have questions.

888-492-5565 x 1

 

Electrical Estimating and Costing (Red Rhino Recap is a Game Changer)

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When electrical estimating and costing using Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Software, the process works as follows:

Make a material list of items that need to be installed. Items like conduit and wire, plugs, switches, light fixtures, panels, circuit breakers, uni-strut, etc.

Next, input materials into Red Rhino which then displays material pricing and labor, in hours it takes to install material. 

Total material cost and total labor are then displayed in the recap.

The Recap is a summary of the estimate. It shows a very detailed cost breakdown of the estimate.

Below is an example of Red Rhino Recap

The Recap shows how many hours are in the project. It also, shows total dollars of materials cost.

Input your cost of labor per hour and it displays your total labor dollar cost.

When completed the recap displays the total bid price. The bottom left of image above shows the total price of $ 54,354.00. That is your total bid price. 

Making changes is easy. The recap re-calculates totals in a split second.

Here’s a video of How Red Rhino Recap works

If you are estimating manually or using some outdated spreadsheet stop torturing yourself!

Here is another video about Red Rhino Recap and accuracy.

When electrical estimating and costing the Red Rhino Recap takes the guess work out of estimating. It displays the exact cost to do a project giving you accuracy.

Red Rhino is online so you can log on from any computer with an internet connection. The Cost of Red Rhino is $99.00/ Month with an affordable set up fee.

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial

Red Rhino Electrical Estimating Sofware | 30 Day Free Trial

Click this link to sign up for Red Rhino
You will immediately get access to our online software.
Training videos will guide you step by step to learn how to navigate.

Call us if you have questions 

888 – 492- 5565 x 1

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Hard Hat Industry Solutions, Inc.
P.O. Box 16309
Irvine, CA 92623
Phone number:
888-492-5565 x 1
Office Hours:
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PT (Monday - Friday)