DIY Projects vs. Professionally Made

Planning out a project for power distribution can be tedious, confusing, and also very technical. This is why it’s important to lay out all your expectations prior to deciding whether it’d be best to hire a professional or just do it yourself. At Power Assemblies, we build everything by the book and in compliance with National Electric Code. We hope that you do the same if you prefer to make-up your equipment and connections yourself. In this article, we will be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of both DIY projects and leaving it to the pros. Disclaimer: Only licensed and certified electricians should attempt to wire their own electrical devices.

Before making your decision, let’s review everything step by step. You should consult with your team about your precise expectations and what you need to accomplish first. This should include the output required for your power distribution setup consisting of amperage, voltage, and wattage, along with the logistics of the project, and the duration of time temporary power will be required. Next will come the components needed, which commonly include a generator, transfer switch, power distribution cables, docking station, and a method of distributing your power effectively. You can effectively distribute power with the use of spider boxes, portable I-line panels, and transformer carts. Now, unless you are working out of an impressive custom shop that can fabricate your own frame by performing custom welds it would probably be best to leave the more custom projects up to the professionals.

However, some of the smaller tasks such as making up generator cables and landing wires inside of your electrical panels could be handled by a licensed and certified electrician with the proper training. If you prefer to take this route, our next recommendation is to lay out a list of components needed to build your DIY set-up. This may include your preferred wire type, gauge, and length along with the connectors you’ll need. This can vary from a twist-lock connection, camlock connection, lugged-ends, or bare-wire connection to tap into existing equipment. Once you have devised your entire plan with the list of components, it’s time to weigh the pros and cons to decide whether you should DIY or reach out to the experts.

Keep in mind that all electrical projects have serious safety requirements and should not be attempted by anyone who is not a licensed and certified electrician with proper training. If you are an electrician and prefer to handle this project yourself there’s nothing wrong with that, but your DIY temporary power project will probably not be perfect after the first attempt and may require more practice to come up with a flawless design.

DIY Projects Pros and Cons

Are you ready to attempt a DIY portable power project? If you’re confident in your electrical expertise and are ready to begin your project, get ready to set aside plenty of labor hours to get everything done in a timely fashion. We’ve comprised a table of the Pros and Cons of tackling a project on your own, which is featured below.

Pros	Cons
Save money (If you do it right the first time).	DIY projects can take a LONG time to complete, especially if you are taking on the task alone.
You can work on your own time and don’t need to rely on a distributor or contractor.	If you need to start over or repeat a certain task, you could be wasting time and money.
More control to replicate the exact vision you’re looking for.	An error could end drastically as electrical safety mistakes can have life-threatening consequences.
Gain experience that can be utilized down the road.	No warranty on equipment.
Realize that you may love this type of work.	All the liability is on you if the equipment fails.

When to Hire a Professional

As experts in the power distribution industry, we know about the difficulties that accompany the planning, designing, and building phases of an electrical project, which is why we will always advise you to seek help from a professional if you are not qualified. The problem with DIY projects on electrical equipment is that if a simple mistake is made, it can cost you much more than just time and money. You will see that small inconsistencies in your project could lead to possible hazards. An electrical wiring mistake that results in a fire could cost you or your customer permanent damage to their property or themselves and can even end in a loss of human life. Are you willing to accept that liability just to save a few dollars? The larger the risk, the more reason that you should hire an expert. If you have any doubt in your mind about your ability to perform a DIY task, you should not attempt to cut corners. Spend the extra money to hire a trained professional.

Power Assemblies has been designing, building, and engineering our own innovative portable power solutions from the ground up for certified electrical distributors around the country for over a decade. If you need custom-engineered electrical distribution equipment from the professionals, look no further and call one of our Sales Engineers today at (866)-825-8525 to find a Power Assemblies stocking distributor in your area. Our team of engineers can design the perfect power solution for your project that will exceed your expectations. Once you work with our team, you’ll quickly realize why we’re known as the experts in the industry. Our team’s unmatched dedication to their work is reflected in each and every piece of equipment that we manufacture for our distributors.

Whether you decide to move forward with a DIY project or hire a professional, you can still give us a call anytime and we would be happy to share some of our knowledge to help you craft the perfect solution for your project. Our team is available by phone at (866)-825-8525 or you can email us anytime at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you and cannot wait to help you design a plan for your future projects!