Default forum response to DIY enquiries vs. skills shortage

[tlangdon12]

To the qualified electricians on the forum:

The default response to DIY enquiries on how to do stuff seems to be "Get an qualified electrician in, it's too difficult for a DIY'er to do". Given the skills shortage within the industry, is this a reasonable response? Is there another way?

 

[pirate]

Rpa07, you might be right, "good old all-rounder", fed up with so-called experts in the past. I do plumbing but not gas, I do joinery, and just about everything else, including some electrical work, but I do know my limitations. That's why I enjoy this forum so much as it is a great place to learn. The fact that I like to learn stuff doesn't mean I'm going to do it, just that I like to find out new stuff. Thus, while I am happy doing most jobs, running cable, changing switches and sockets etc I don't even think about holding myself out as an electrician, and installing a CU is a step too far...3 steps too far, because I don't have the equipment or knowledge to test everything. Example: my cloakroom fan has stopped working today. It has been fine for over 10 years, and I installed it in place of one the builder put in that couldn't shift a fart in 2 hours...oh yes, I needed a fan in there due to Building Regs, but he put in the cheapest fan he could find...it was totally ineffective, but it was a fan...so, compliance, apparently. I researched, bought a centrifugal fan with good spec for air changes, and it has been fine.
I have checked this failed fan this afternoon. There is power to the isolator, there is power to the fan connector block, so I simply conclude the fan is duff. I will order a straight-forward replacement and connect it. I don't think that's excessive DIY. Had there been a power supply problem, suggesting a fault upstream of the isolator, ok, I might have had a look, but if there was nothing obvious like a poor connection at a JB, wel...I'd call an electrician in...and just hope he/she wasn't a kitchen fitter masquerading as a spark!

 

[45140]

The biggest mystery to me is now that it is actually illegal to work on electrical systems without being defined Competent, why so much electrical equipment is available in so many outlets ???

My understanding is that the work needs to be tested and certificated afterwards, and that this can only be done by a Competent person with the relevant C&G/EAL certification, yet it seems people come here looking for answers when the questions they raise in many cases clearly indicate at serious lack of knowledge.

Given that electrical work is governed by the Building Regs and the EWA it is surely foolish if not technically a breach to provide guidance to DIYers, most of whom in my experience are a menace. I do have to agree with the poster whose response is to get a qualified electrician. It is not only wise but surely the only legitimate answer that can be given ?

 

[Squid]

Rpa07, you might be right, "good old all-rounder", fed up with so-called experts in the past. I do plumbing but not gas, I do joinery, and just about everything else, including some electrical work, but I do know my limitations. That's why I enjoy this forum so much as it is a great place to learn. The fact that I like to learn stuff doesn't mean I'm going to do it, just that I like to find out new stuff. Thus, while I am happy doing most jobs, running cable, changing switches and sockets etc I don't even think about holding myself out as an electrician, and installing a CU is a step too far...3 steps too far, because I don't have the equipment or knowledge to test everything. Example: my cloakroom fan has stopped working today. It has been fine for over 10 years, and I installed it in place of one the builder put in that couldn't shift a fart in 2 hours...oh yes, I needed a fan in there due to Building Regs, but he put in the cheapest fan he could find...it was totally ineffective, but it was a fan...so, compliance, apparently. I researched, bought a centrifugal fan with good spec for air changes, and it has been fine.
I have checked this failed fan this afternoon. There is power to the isolator, there is power to the fan connector block, so I simply conclude the fan is duff. I will order a straight-forward replacement and connect it. I don't think that's excessive DIY. Had there been a power supply problem, suggesting a fault upstream of the isolator, ok, I might have had a look, but if there was nothing obvious like a poor connection at a JB, wel...I'd call an electrician in...and just hope he/she wasn't a kitchen fitter masquerading as a spark!

I do gas and I am still her

 

[Silly Sausage]

I do gas and I am still her

You accuse me about word confusion?!?!

 

[Squid]

You accuse me about word confusion?!?!

 

[Silly Sausage]

View attachment 46201

Note the !



Bloody cockneys, thars a pain int arse!

 

[rolyberkin]

There isn't a skills shortage, just people who like dabbling to try to save a few quid. Personally I like people doing DIY, I still charge the same to sort out the cock ups as if I would be doing the whole job so everyones a winner.

 

[BeardyJaws]

I know I’m new here and spend most of my time browsing the threads but my thoughts are along the lines of
A) is it notifiable?
No, then advise on how to change a fitting for example, like for like.
Yes, they haven’t the equipment or means to test and cert, so best to get a spark in.
B) I don’t know about you all but out of habit if for no other reason, notifiable or not, I pop the testers on for a Zs. Can a DIYer carry out that basic test? For the most part the answer is no.
C) how often do you go to a job that’s ”straight forward” or “just this or that” and it turns into a cluster phuck because of one thing or another that the persons requesting the work just don’t have the scope of knowledge for?

 

[johnduffell]

Proper response is "retrain as a sparky, in 5 weeks, then do your own work, then set up in business and solve the skills shortage."
Everyone's a winner!

 

[richy3333]

Or 3 weeks and the cash can come flooding in a lot quicker

 

[rolyberkin]

The last two or three jobs which I would put in the DIY arena I have gone to have involved potenitally major problems such as burnt cables, loss of earth continuity, three way switching with borrowed neutrals and a completely burnt out shower. I just don't subscribe to DIY electrical work. Unless someone has a multi function tester knows how to use it and understand and analyse the results. If they do not have test equipment they should not be dabbling. If anyone is on here asking questions they probably shoudn't be doing the work. We have all heard it before. I have a meter with which I can test continuity........