Arggghhhh NVQ or not to NVQ, ECS Card or no ECS Card??

[phabpixs]

Ok time for a little rant....

I have retrained done my 2330 levels 2 & 3, 17th edition and doing 2391 currently. I'm also registered with Elecsa, have my own business and I'm self employed.

OK so If I want to work as a contractor on a main construction site (when times are quite on the domestic front for example) then I need an ECS card, but under that scheme set up by the HSE I'm not elegible as a skilled tradesman, because I don't have an NVQ!!!

Can I get an NVQ being self employed - NO, because in theory I'm meant to be learning off a skilled individual. So if your self taught a keen learner etc you're stuffed.

How is it that I'm deemed by one government scheme to be competent person but not by another? Isn't domestic work more heavily regulated that commercial/industrial? I find it farcical that I can potentially wire up a new build on my own as a competent person, complete the test & certification process if I do it myself, but if I do the work through a third party unless I do the NVQs I'm classified as a numpty with no skills!!! What are we coming to in this country.

Arghhhh I'm so frustrated at the moment.... give me some sanity... Please!

 

[Dean]

You need your NVQ Level 3 to be a JIB graded electrician. There are plently of 'electricians' out there that dont have NVQ3. Each to there own. But normally, to get decent work, on a site. They will want you to be JIB. Say what you will about JIB, but it is what it is.

 

[AlanWirral]

Hmmmmmmm looks like it better to have than not to i suppose. How long does it take to do?? Been told if you knuckle down it can be done in 2 weeks!?

 

[GStueyXR]

The lower the voltage, Higher the current!!!

Are you being serious?

Okay, you are partially correct, very partially. If you were talking about current flowing in a 50w downlight for instance, then in a 230V downlight 0.22A would flow, where as in a 12V 4A would flow.

BUT Voltage is the potential for current to flow. SO for any given resistance (maybe the human body) almost double the current will flow between line phases over a phase earth/neutral.

Dean, I dont know your background....... But I pray it is not in the electrical industry.

 

[Dean]

Excuse me, i never specified measuring a current between two phases. Maybe i should have made that clear. Of course the current is going to be higher between two phases, 1.732 times higher.

 

[olly w]

Excuse me, i never specified measuring a current between two phases. Maybe i should have made that clear. Of course the current is going to be higher between two phases, 1.732 times higher.

In this case voltage is the constant..230v from phase to neutral/earth, the impedance is what will determin the current flow, and hence the potential danger.!

 

[armbands0]

Are you serious?

If you apply a higher voltage to a fixed load you get a higher current, you would be that fixed load.

 

[D Skelton]

The lower the voltage, Higher the current!!!

C'mon Dean, this is GCSE physics, kinda simples isn't it? Take it right back to Ohms law and a reasonably estimated resistance of the human body between hand and foot (1500ohms approx). I=V/R, or in simple terms; Lets say you decide to play piano with a live busbar, you'll get (230V/1500ohms) 150mA of current dancing its way through your body. If you get zapped swinging live 400V cables around then that's (400V/1500ohms) 260mA. I don't wanna seem patronising at all but this is just the schoolboy maths confirming armbands' answer.