Bar and POS electrical: revenue-critical infrastructure.
Bar electrical includes beverage equipment circuits, refrigeration, lighting. POS electrical centers on dedicated circuits with surge protection and network coordination for revenue continuity.
By Steven Lockhart · Reviewed by Alex Towery, C-10 #989290
Updated 2026-06-16
Bar electrical scope: beverage refrigeration (kegerators, wine refrigeration, bar back coolers each on dedicated circuits), ice machine (typically dedicated 20A), espresso machine (often 30A 240V), blenders and prep equipment, bar lighting (decorative pendants, bar back accent, under-bar service lighting). POS electrical: dedicated 20A circuits per POS terminal with isolated grounds and surge protection, network closet electrical, credit card processing equipment outlets.
01Bar electrical considerations.
Bar refrigeration is dense — multiple refrigeration units in compact space, each dedicated circuit. Modern bars typically have 4-8 refrigeration circuits (bottle coolers, kegerators, wine refrigeration, ice machine). Plus blenders, espresso, beverage dispensers. Bar electrical can match small restaurant kitchen in circuit count.
Bar lighting design: decorative pendants over bar at appropriate spacing (typically one pendant per 3-4 seats), bar back accent lighting highlighting bottles and signature liquor display, under-bar service lighting for bartender task visibility, dimmable for atmosphere control matching restaurant timing.
02POS infrastructure essentials.
Dedicated 20A circuits per terminal
POS terminals run cleaner on dedicated circuits — shared circuits with other loads can cause POS issues from voltage sags during high-current equipment cycling. Modest cost ($150-$300 incremental per terminal); meaningful for POS reliability.
Isolated ground and surge protection
Isolated ground circuits reduce ground-loop noise affecting POS electronics. Surge protection (point-of-use SPD on POS circuits) protects against transients that can damage POS hardware. Both standard for quality POS infrastructure.
Network equipment electrical
Network switches, routers, modems on dedicated circuit with surge protection. UPS battery backup recommended for network equipment ($200-$500 per UPS unit). Network down means POS down means revenue stop — UPS protection is favorable insurance.
03Coordination with POS vendor.
Modern restaurants use cloud-based POS systems (Toast, Square, Lightspeed common in Marin) that combine POS terminals with network connectivity and payment processing. Each system has specific electrical and network requirements that we coordinate with POS installer during design. Typically: dedicated 20A per terminal location, network equipment in protected closet, sufficient outlet count for printers and peripherals.
Sequencing: electrical infrastructure (circuits, outlets, network closet) installs during restaurant TI; POS terminals and active network equipment install at restaurant opening preparation. We coordinate with POS vendor on infrastructure specifications and final connectivity testing.
Common questions.
How many POS circuits do I need?
One dedicated 20A per POS terminal location plus one for network closet plus one for credit card processing equipment if separate. Typical full-service restaurant: 4-8 POS circuits depending on terminal count. Quick-service: 2-4 typical.
What's the bar electrical cost?
For typical Marin bar within full-service restaurant: $8,000-$22,000 electrical scope. Variance with bar size, refrigeration count, lighting design ambition. Dedicated bar space within larger restaurant: lower end. Premium cocktail bar with extensive equipment and design lighting: higher end.
Does POS need UPS backup?
Strongly recommended. UPS battery backup ($200-$500 per unit) protects POS terminals from brief outages, voltage sags, and grid disturbances that can cause data corruption or hardware issues. UPS for network equipment protects connectivity. Standard practice for quality POS infrastructure.
How do you handle pricing — flat fee or hourly?
Both, depending on scope. Routine service calls and predictable scope (panel replacement, EV charger install, transfer switch install, fixture replacement) are flat-fee quoted up front. Diagnostic visits and emergency scope are hourly because we don't know what we'll find. Either way, you get a written quote before work starts on anything significant, and we don't proceed beyond the quote without your sign-off.
How quickly can you schedule?
Depends on scope and season. Emergency dispatch: same-day across Marin County (1-3 hours business hours, 1-4 hours after-hours). Same-day standard service: 3-6 hours from call when capacity allows; otherwise next business day. Scheduled service work: 1-3 weeks typical. Larger projects requiring permits and PG&E coordination: 4-12 weeks depending on scope. We're upfront about timeline at the quote stage.
What warranty do you offer on work?
Our standard residential warranty: 2 years on labor, manufacturer warranty on parts (varies by product — typically 1-10 years). Major installs (panels, generators, EV chargers) often have longer manufacturer warranties (5-10 years). If there's an issue with our work in the warranty period, we come back and fix it at no cost. We also stand behind work past warranty — repeat customers and referrals matter more than a transactional fix.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. California State License Board C-10 Electrical Contractor #989290, in good standing. Carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance as required by California law. Bondable on projects requiring it. Happy to provide proof of insurance to clients or property managers on request. License lookup: cslb.ca.gov.
Talk to a licensed electrician in Marin.
Family-run, C-10 #989290, 20+ years in the trade. Honest scoping, fair pricing, work that lasts.