Switchgear, Panelboards & Electrical Distribution worked example

Panel Wiring Labor at 58% productive wiring time factor: a worked example

This worked example runs the panel wiring labor numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 58% productive wiring time factor instead of the typical 80%. Panel Wiring Labor estimates the cost of point-to-point wiring a switchgear lineup or panelboard — landing conductors, terminating control wiring, and dressing the panel to the schematic.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Terminations or wiring hours in the panel: 100 units (held at the documented default)
  • Loaded panel-wiring labor rate: 45 $ / unit (held at the documented default)
  • Productive wiring time factor: 58 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 80)
  • Fixed panel setup and test cost: 250 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Panel Wiring Labor cost = quantity × rate × capture factor + fixed cost.
  • Weighted cost works out to 2,860 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Per piece value works out to 28.6 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Captured value works out to 2,610 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed adjustment works out to 250 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where productive wiring time factor sits at 80% and the headline result is 3,850 $, this scenario comes in 25.71% below the baseline at 2,860 $.
  • Use it when quoting a switchgear or panelboard build, or when reviewing why a completed panel's wiring hours ran over the estimate. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Weighted cost: 2,860 $ (headline result)
  • Per piece value: 28.6 $ / piece
  • Captured value: 2,610 $
  • Fixed adjustment: 250 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Panel Wiring Labor calculator, set productive wiring time factor to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.