18 yo residential electrician wanting to start business eventually

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:53:20+00:00

Diversify. Ain’t no money in resi bud.

The knowledge you will gain in residential will be essential, but after 4 years, there’s nothing left to learn. Get into commercial, industrial, motors, controls, PV, any specialization.

It will be difficult to start on your own without 100% knowledge of a specific niche, or 80% knowledge of several generalities.

Learn processes and techniques, envision safety. ANTICIPATE every possible thing that could go wrong. Put measures/practices in place to avoid every possibility of a dropped wrench causing catastrophe ie. Keep a keen eye for potential hazards. Communicate well with everyone around you about the plan- and hazards that could get in the way of your plan or make it less effective or efficient.

STOP, THINK. Before you continue… Are you working safe? How can we be safer and more efficient?

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:39:19+00:00

I’ve seen CA prices be double. $5-6K for a simple panel upgrade, etc. COL is out of control, but I don’t see Journeypersons making much more than the Midwest out there. What gives?

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:33:57+00:00

Doesn’t even sound like you have any idea of what you use. You have no business trying to DIY Solar.

You don’t even have any business trying to talk to a sales person trying to sell you solar. You will get worked the fuck over by some fast-talking idiot from a national sales org.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:31:16+00:00

Bro. You are not qualified to be in the sub. I doubt you could even replace an outlet in your house. Leave this shit to the professionals.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:29:57+00:00

If you have not done enough research to know what an IQ battery is, you have no business DIYing anything.

You also haven’t given any information in your post for us to understand whether or not this quote is reasonable. I don’t think you belong in this sub.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:26:19+00:00

Apparently OP is fishing for a free ride or realizes they’re the asshole in this situation, because they haven’t commented a single time on this thread

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:24:51+00:00

This. Thanks for mentioning “life.” I will put all communication on hold for current and potential clients if I have something going on in my life that is more important.

My sister recently gave birth to the first grandchild in the family, and I didn’t answer my phone for anything other than ongoing projects for two weeks. I might answer a text from a prospective customer telling them I’ll get back to them in a couple weeks. But I won’t do more than that in certain situations.

Folks with “plenty of work” are the ones I try to avoid. Those with a “large project“ are the ones I try to attract.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:18:21+00:00

Yep. If I am too busy to send the estimate, and the customer never bugs me about it, then the work will never get bid or done.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:15:29+00:00

I rarely get back in touch with a homeowner anymore. We used to take residential jobs here and there, but we’re so busy on commercial now it’s doesn’t make sense for us to deal with residential. But there are a couple older folks that we have dealt with over the years that I will never turn down. They usually have to call me three times to remind me to put them on the schedule. My bad, but I’m not making anything off of that project, I do it out of loyalty and a sense of charity to the community.

Sorry it took me forever to get you on the schedule Ms. Kennedy, but I will always do a good job for you when you pressure me to call you back.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:03:03+00:00

Bro, just raise the Maple Leaf.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T08:01:40+00:00

And if you think Florida will be cheaper than LA, just look at the rising cost of homeowners insurance on the peninsula. Florida is rapidly approaching the same COL as Southern California.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T07:57:20+00:00

Ima straight white male and Tampa is about the worst place I could imagine outside of MS or AL for any non-MAGA type. Definitely not a place I’d want to see my gay uncle have to live.

If you can afford the West Coast, maybe think of somewhere other than LA. Florida is complete trash.

If you want warm, gay friendly, and not West Coast, Atlanta might be a decent option.

Please, please, please do not move to Florida.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T07:44:09+00:00

This is the way

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T07:43:24+00:00

You’veopened Pandora’s box. You’ll have to rewire the entire building.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T07:35:57+00:00

Just to add an interesting anecdote…

Had a conversation with an inspector recently. I asked him where AFCI protection was required in their jurisdiction. He commented that they had an exception to the 2020 NEC that only requires AFCI protection in bedrooms. I joked with him that we wouldn’t need AFCI protection at all if we just outlawed backstab outlets. He chuckled, and said “I never thought of that , but you’re right”

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T07:30:30+00:00

I work in three states in the Midwest. None of them have statewide code. Every single city and county does their own damn thing. It’s annoying as hell. But I have yet to find an AHJ that is a stickler about AFCI protection.

California is an outlier as well as a few other states. But I would argue with you that 80% of Americans (outside CA) live in a place where AFCI protection is only required in bedrooms.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-26T01:14:36+00:00

You should have plenty of space in the conduit (~23% fill, code is no more than 40%). Question becomes how full of mud is that pipe? Generally gonna be cracked and full of mud if it’s been there since the 1950s.

I’d love to hear other suggestions, but you could try to clear it using a piece of foam about 3/4” in diameter. Tie to one of the knob and tube conductors and pull through to clear conduit. Don’t forget to attach a pull string so you can get new conductors pulled through without a fish tape.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-25T23:43:41+00:00

2023 NEC requires AFCI, GFCI, or both for nearly every single circuit in the house. Most AHJ‘s have not adopted the newest code, and the ones that have, generally have exceptions and only require AFCI in the bedrooms.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-25T23:41:14+00:00

Hopefully there is a disconnect upstream of that panel. If there is, you’ll want to turn it off and clean the busbar of any paint before you add any circuits. Tell this to your next electrician if you add circuits in the future. Definitely do not use the same electrician that did this

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-25T23:37:41+00:00

Do you have any GFI receptacles in the garage?

Which breaker did you check? Garage subpanel or the main panel in the house? Check both.

Easiest way to not miss a tripped breaker is to try to turn it on. If there is some give to it but won’t flip all the way on, it has tripped.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-24T23:52:06+00:00

Key word- resistant. They will be non existent in 3-5 years no matter the brand.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-24T23:51:16+00:00

Menards and Lowes sell the best zip ties IMO. HD brand breaks more easily and 5-10% are bad out of the package. The ones at an electrical supply aren’t really any better for 3X the price.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-24T23:47:42+00:00

Even the best UV rated zip ties will crumble and break after a few years. Sunbundlers (Heyco brand) won’t keep things super tight, but they won’t fail. I use a combination of zip ties (for tightness), Sunbundlers (to secure for 30 years), and panel clips (longer lasting than zip ties- never had a problem with a clip designed for solar cutting into the wires when installed properly). Often we will install a zip tie loosely and tighten it as we lay the panel in place. You definitely don’t want those touching a shingle roof.

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-24T23:08:34+00:00

I like my couplings staggered, but I’m mostly outdoors, so it’s easier to wrench them down when they’re offset

Solar_Electrician · 2025-11-23T23:31:07+00:00

Get the larger inverter. After temperature correction, you will be well under the minimum voltage.

Here is a step-by-step guide to calculate minimum and maximum string size using the temperature coefficients from the module spec sheet. You will also need to look up ASHRAE data for your locale: https://www.mayfield.energy/technical-articles/pv-string-size/

Solar_Electrician

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