Cabling Estimate Cost and Manhours

So little to go on, hmmm...

I would go:

Cost of cable x (2 -10), depending on the project (which we don't know).

OK, maybe I could be a little more specific:

Cost of (electrical cable + instrument cable) x (2-10) = total cost.

How's that?

thank you sir,

can u suggest on the manhours per km

Are you serious?

My replies were somewhat in jest.

I gave you an estimate of anywhere from..

Lets do this:

Cost of electrical cable = m

Cost of instrumentation cable = n

Lets say cost of both is m + n = p

I said that you could estimate by using p x 2 - 10.

Let's say:

m = $20,000

n = $5,000

then p = $25,000.

By the low end of my estimate, you would be looking at: $25,000 x 2 = $50,000

OR by the high end of my estimate, $25,000 x 10 = $250,000.

Which sounds better to you?

I am going to shout now:

HOW DO YOU THINK ANYONE COULD GIVE YOU A BETTER ESTIMATE UNLESS THEY KNOW MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE INSTALLATION?

GIVE MUCH MORE DETAILS, OR FIND A QUALIFIED ENGINEER TO DO THE JOB!

Thanks for clarifying. I thought you meant:

Cost of (electrical cable + instrument cable) x (2-10) = total cost.

= Cost of (electrical cable + instrument cable) x -8,

and OP would either gain or lose a lot (depending whether buying or selling the installation).

Why is that a problem? If the cost to a business is a positive number then the payment to the business should be a negative number. I know many accountants prefer (brackets) for negative numbers and what is positive versus negative is backwards but this still works.

I thought for SURE that that couldn't be mistaken, but I guess I still think that there are intelligent OPs out there. My bad.

Best is to contact a couple of service companies and ask for a quote. The man hours as well as per km price should be explained by the bidding company.

Please note that labor cost in particular vary from country to country and business to business. So not such a estimate can be given without knowing a lot more about the where and what.

<...we...new...> This posting indicates a failing in the business. One would not expect someone with entry-level experience and no training to tackle an estimate of <...250km of electrical cable and..250km of instrument cable...>. Costing in particular is a commercially-sensitive area where spivs, sharks, greebs and vagabonds lurk, snapping at the heels of the unwary.

<...anyone can guide...> Ask for training and for a mentor from within the operation.

£36,749/7-4d

Try THIS

Why estimate? Just ask the captain of the transoceanic cable laying ship how much they charge to install a cable between Mozambique and Madagascar.

https://www.craftsman-book.com/media/static/previews/2014_NEE_book_preview.pdf

You are doomed!

Buried?

Conduit?

Overhead?

Tray?

Quit your job, now!

Search for cost estimating tools on the internet.

Did I forget to mention the kilometer long tunnel through granite?

With 250 folds of power cable and 250 folds of instrument cable inside it? Some tunnel!

The tunnel is just part of the path. Any idea how much it costs to obtain the "right of way" for the other 249 kilometers or can a simple show of force work?

Point taken.

<unsubscribes>

This may be helpful information:

University of Texas at Austin Cabling and Wiring Installation Cost Estimator

Maybe all of the wiring is in a single aircraft or building? Perhaps it's over/under the land or sea. It might be low or high voltage of some gauge and number of any type of conductor/s? Ss it merely unspooled on the ground or is it more like high tension power lines?

Anywhere from 45K to 4.5M per kilometer should put you in the wheelhouse. More details would be needed for a better estimate?

This is not an entry level endeavor....It takes years of experience and an abundance of working knowledge to estimate large jobs like this...It is a highly paid position in most companies...a company can go out of business or flourish depending on accurate estimates of job costs....one mistake can be catastrophic ...

What more do you need?

"250km of electrical cable and 250km of instrument cable" tells the whole story.

Here's your first roll....

Where's the electrical cable?

We're waiting for the check to clear....

Just PM your direct wire bank account number to us and we'll do the rest.

Not to worry we're sending our friendly accounts receivable team over to handle the details....

How will you get them out of Brazil?

On its way

155 miles??? Are you sure you don't mean 250m? Sure seems like you're in over your head on this one, best to quit this job before you wind up in one of the trenches under the cable.

The hardest bit of estimating is analyzing what you are being asked to price for. So you need to study the enquiry and find out the scope of work. If this is not clear contact the customer and get them to confirm, in writing, precisely what they require. Most disputes in work of this type arise over interpretations or misinterpretations of what is included in the contract. That needs to be fully sorted before you price up for the work.

First find out where the cable is to be installed. Laying 1x 250km length is very different from laying 5x 50km lengths over the same route. Is it outside, inside, buried? Each of these options has sub options. Outside could be on poles, pylons or clipped to existing structures. Inside could be run on tray, in horizontal ducts, in vertical ducts, clipped to walls or buried in plaster or some of each. Do you have to make fireproof any holes where the cable passes through walls? If buried what are the ground conditions? Do you have to make good any roads that are dug up to bury the cable and what will the local authority charge you for closing roads while you do the work.

Next you need to price up the materials and labour. Depending on the scope of work this may include, getting permissions from land owners over whose land the cable will pass, erecting pylons, trench digging, road laying, temporary hire of traffic signals, and this is where the analysis is important. If you miss anything your company still has to provide it so the cost comes out of their profit, and if you miss too much that becomes losses and possibly company liquidation. Over a period of time, and that could be a few months to a few years, you will learn where to go to get quotes from suppliers and sub contractors. Some companies insist on at least three quotes for each item which becomes a real pain long term because even if you secure the contract two of those companies will not get to supply or sub contract. After a while they will be reluctant to spend time giving you quotes when there is little or no work in return.

Estimating may be the hardest bit of supplying for one off installations. Rely on you colleagues at first until you develop some skills. Even when you become the worlds best estimator, get somebody to check your work. Non of us are perfect.

Yes, i am new in estimating field That is an understatement!

Details!!!???

What are you doing with the 2 cables? How are you running them? Who is running them and what is their level of expertise? Do they have good automated methods or are they using "grunt" to pull them in? What are the cable sizes? (I guarantee a 2/0 cable will cost more and require more labor than a #12 wire) Where are you buying the cables? Will there be transportation costs? And on and on they go......

I do this kind of estimating regularly, but I know the above details very well.