Best way to improve testing/fault finding knowledge?

[th_walking_dude]

Hi all

Hopefully I'm not letting myself in for a verbal head kicking here but I'm prepared to take the risk so here goes!....

I have just completed my registration with Elecsa after going through the 2330 level 2 and 3 and the 2382 (which I did over 3 years) and I have started to pick up a bit of work, I've done lots of little jobs and a full rewire, I fell really confident when putting in new stuff but it's the fault finding bit that I am struggling with as it something we hardly touched on at all in college and as you will all know a test board in a class room is very different to the real world!

I really enjoy all aspects of my learning from the maths/science/theory right through to how to put a carpet back down properly and the best way to chase out a wall but I really feel the need to gain a higher degree of competence with fault finding and testing.

I fell good testing when things go well but if there is a problem that is when I start getting all sweaty and nervous!

so far I have guidance note 3 on its way and am planning on doing my 2395/5 in February. I have the ususal books regs, osg, Chris Kitcher books to accompany the courses I have done.

I really want to be the very best at this that I can and not some fly by night, I am more than prepared to put my head in a book for as long as I have too and am prepared to get stuck into the work and do this but what I would really like to know is what is the best way to gain and build on this knowledge?

Do any of you guys who have done the 2394/5 think it is a worthwhile thing to do? The qualification would be handy but I really am after the knowledge.

Also if anyone could point me towards some good books that aren't too full on to start with that would be very much appreciated.

Any advice on the best way to progress would be awesome, to clarify the work I am doing and the only work I currently foresee myself doing is domestic.

Many Thanks
Sam

 

[ferg]

if there is a problem that is when I start getting all sweaty and nervous!

Don't. It wont help, it just stops you thinking clearly.

Accept it might take you a while and treat it as a learning opportunity.
Calmly and methodically work through the problem.

Take notes, sometimes writing things down can help the thought process.

Loads of good tips in this thread. use them.

 

[th_walking_dude]

Thank you, I understand how circuits work, I understand the regs well and know how to find what I don't know. I can do an initial test and inspection with my eyes closed (well nearly) it's getting to grips with fault finding I am trying to work on, I actually paid £30 an hour for some one on one lessons on testing and inspection to refresh myself recently and would gladly do any courses that are relevant to what I am trying to achieve. If you have any suggestions of which courses you think would be best I would be happy to look into them.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Wish you were a bit closer I'd rig up a whole weeks' worth for 28.50 an hour :ihih:

 

[th_walking_dude]

Thanks all for so many great replies, really didn't expect that! I think I will spend a lot more time looking on here taking in as much from the threads as I can and buy the Chris Kitcher book also. I think the more I knowledge on testing and understanding the results I can put into my head the better the chances are of being able to unravel the mystery!

I had a job today with an intermittent fault on a lighting circuit and tried to keep cool and wrote a little list of the order I should be going through things, found it in less then an hour, wasn't a tough one but was an encouraging start. I guess I got a little flustered because I doubted my ability to find it if it was not so easy and didn't like that feeling much so I'll do everything I can to improve and most of the above answers have given some good hints to take on board so thanks again gents.

 

[th_walking_dude]

Ha! I didn't think it was too spiteful really for what it was, won't be making a habit of it though.
I really miss college (sad I know) so was nice to go back for a bit!

 

[Englishman]

Echoing what others have said, experience is key but you'll always come across new faults. Knowing how to interpret the readings will help massively because they'll always point you in the right direction. And good luck with the intermittent faults, they are work of the devil, especially when the resident withholds information!

 

[ferg]

I recently had a conversation with a friend of mine that had been playing with things he shouldn't have and was denying, it went something along the lines of......


" If you just tell me what you have been messing with this will be much quicker. Otherwise it will take me longer to sort and it will stop being a favour and start being expensive."

Information was forthcoming problem solved in minutes.

We then promptly got on to the more important matter of bitching about our wives.

 

[tony mc]

This may sound daft but when you go to a job to investigate a fault TAKE all your test equipment with you and be sure that you KNOW how to use each bit of gear!

 

[PEG]

...And don't forget the Lie-detector,Megger do a 2 lead one,connect to customer R to L,B to R,standard yes/no questions,such as "Have you been using a post-hole auger for that new post and rail fencing,along that cable route?" ...:49:

 

[Knobhead]

This may sound daft but when you go to a job to investigate a fault TAKE all your test equipment with you and be sure that you KNOW how to use each bit of gear!

Don’t spoil it for everyone. It’s open season when we get “I didn’t have my test gear”. It makes the start of the grouse shooting season look tame.


Not as tasty though.

 

[UNG]

I don't think anybody could come up with a fault finding course that could cover every possible fault you are likely to come across
As has already been said a good understanding of how your test equipment works will influence your choice of what to use for the job in hand followed by understanding what your test equipment is telling you and an ability to get the best out of it is a good base to start from
After that fault finding is down to a method to suit the situation / problem in hand.
When you start the first meter to use is yourself those initial questions and answers may give you the answer without resorting to opening the toolbox just because someone has turned off a switch
If the toolbox is opened then start simple and work to a method
With circuit faults splitting a circuit in half and then splitting the faulty section in half again and so on until you find the fault is probably fault finding at it's easiest the hard bit is finding the hidden accessory / jb that has failed
For me fault finding is a skill that is learned and honed at the sharp end not in a classroom and when your back is against the wall under pressure and your customer needs it fixing now not eventually is when you really learn to fault find efficiently

Over time you will start to build a catalogue of similar faults that will improve your fault finding technique and where to look for those hidden problems that kitchen fitters test us with

 

[Engineer54]

For me fault finding is a skill that is learned and honed at the sharp end not in a classroom and when your back is against the wall under pressure and your customer needs it fixing now not eventually is when you really learn to fault find efficiently

Very true!!

The best way to improve fault finding abilities/knowledge is working with a mentor that has those abilities in cart loads. Alas not so easy to find these days, and another reason why we should mourn the passing of indentured apprenticeships. All i can say is, that it's going to be a long hard struggle for anyone that doesn't have that background to gain one....


As for the suggestion of home practice hook-ups, ...what a complete waste of time those things are. They will teach you Nothing!!