Another domestic installer course question I'm afraid.

[Cal5289]

Evening all.

I apologise this is another question regarding the much hated domestic installers course, from what i have read on the forum!!

Im a self employed hard landscaper. Im finding we are getting more and more jobs that involve electrics. Lighting, water features etc.
We also do a lot of sheds and outbuildings which always involve power.
Most of the time trying to tie in electricians and pricing is some what of a pain. From initial pricing to getting work completed when its needed. This works both ways i.e. we are delayed or electrician can't get it done when we need it done.
Now 99% of the time i install all the hardware if thats the right term. All cable, lights, switches and usually into the house/garage so that the electrician can simple come and do the techy bit. I do discuss this with the electrician before hand to make sure I'm putting in what they want and in the right places. We don't do this to reduce the costs necessarily, more because we need to run things as we build. Cable under paving/ decking etc.

It would be nice if i could do it myself as it will save us time from pricing and completing work. Im also yet to find a local electrician who is that keen to do it most of the time. I work over a fairly large area and most people are already busy enough without being on there hands and knees in a garden hooking up a few lights. So it would be nice to offer the complete job in house.

So does the domestic installers course give me what i need to be able to complete most of my projects?

I have experience in building. Interior and out so the manual side of the job should be fine.
I have a decent amount of experience in 12v stuff. Ive restored/modified many cars and motorcycles. I know this is completely different.
I keep seeing that these courses give you no experience. Which i understand but I feel i have the on the tools experience if you like.

Im by no means hoping to come out of this a fully fledge electrician ready to take on the local area in a flashy new sign written van. I don't want to be an electrician id just like to be able to complete the small amount of electrics that are usually involved in the projects i do.

So if your still awake after all that. Will the domestic installers course give me the knowledge needed to carry out the type of work i need to do?

Many thanks
Callum

 

[Dillb]

Just because you only want to “do a small amount” of electric work doesnt mean the sciences, principles and experience of working on different installs is any different. I know its not what you want to hear but unfortunately thats how the trade works.

Much like yours there is alot more to it than what you see when you see people doing it all the time.

 

[The Ghost]

What course are you thinking of doing exactly? Power to out houses/sheds is a bit of a minefield technically for instance. Although a DI course may go over this it is doubtful you would be equipped to have sufficient knowledge of the various scenes encountered in such work. There are so many variables and knowing what to do about each of them takes some head scratching at the design stage. I think you would be better off using an electrician even though it is inconvenient. I work on sites and the way it works is usually organised chaos, it does not sound you are quite in that sort of situation. Surely the client will understand that this is the way it goes in construction. How about employing an electrician. It will cost you several thousand pounds to do a decent course and get registered with a scheme can you justify that as against working with what you have?

 

[Wilko]

Hi Callum and welcome to the Forum. Doing one of those courses will increase your knowledge of basic electricals and it may be a step towards getting membership of a competent persons scheme too. But I'd advise you have a good long think about how much cost and time will be involved to actually make this real. And then make friends with an Electrician who has the time to do what you need, someone semi retired perhaps?

 

[telectrix]

THAT SORT OF WORK WOULD SUIT ME, BEINGSEMI-RETIRED, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, TOO FAR AWAY.BUT THERE MUST BE OTHERSCLOSE TO op.

 

[telectrix]

bloody caps lock right next to "A".

 

[ferg]

I thought you were shouting because you had gone deaf in your old age.

 

[telectrix]

I thought you were shouting because you had gone deaf in your old age.

repeat please.

 

[Adam W]

The domestic installer courses are "much hated" for good reason, for one that it cheapens the trade and perpetuates the idea that a 3 or 4 year apprenticeship can be condensed into a few weeks, and as such I would be surprised if anyone here recommends that you ignore all other advice and buy one anyway.

From a 'customer's' perspective they are selling you what you want to hear - that you know it all already and you can get a course tailored to suit your individual needs, that you can pick and choose which 'modules' you want to do and leave out 'the fancy stuff'.