DIY Forum for DIY Electricians? - Doing It Yourself? Electrical Advice This Way

[Dan]

Should I create a DIY forum to direct people away from this forum who are doing DIY jobs?

I could then make our three main forums (tilers, plumbers and electricians) all for professionals and trainees only. I think that's how most networks are doing it. So perhaps we do the same?

Your thoughts?

 

[littlespark]

My thoughts is no.
If a DIY question is posted on a DIY forum, they are going to get a DIY answer.... which may or may not be correct.
For example which works would now require an RCD which maybe didn’t when your mate down the pub spent 3 weeks as a labourer on a newbuild and watched the sparky for a bit.

Some of us may be guilty of saying “get a qualified spark in” and berating the OP to the point of them ignoring us and doing the job anyway.
You’ve mentioned it on other posts, Hurricane @Dan , that if you don’t have something constructive to say, don’t say it at all.... which we all try to do, but sometimes the OP is so far out of their depth they need to get pro help involved, and the “get a spark” advice is valid.

All the materials to change a DB or rewire a house can be bought by joe public from every Homebase and b&q in the land.... we’re not going to be able to stop anyone from giving it a try, but we can point them in the right direction to do it safely.

 

[westward10]

I agree with @littlespark they come on here and should receive professional advice. Some thing are easily addressed and I try and keep an eye on them and close them if necessary suggesting professional help is the only way forward. A DIY forum for DIY advice probably isn't a great idea.

 

[Pete999]

My thoughts is no.
If a DIY question is posted on a DIY forum, they are going to get a DIY answer.... which may or may not be correct.
For example which works would now require an RCD which maybe didn’t when your mate down the pub spent 3 weeks as a labourer on a newbuild and watched the sparky for a bit.

Some of us may be guilty of saying “get a qualified spark in” and berating the OP to the point of them ignoring us and doing the job anyway.
You’ve mentioned it on other posts, Hurricane @Dan , that if you don’t have something constructive to say, don’t say it at all.... which we all try to do, but sometimes the OP is so far out of their depth they need to get pro help involved, and the “get a spark” advice is valid.

All the materials to change a DB or rewire a house can be bought by joe public from every Homebase and b&q in the land.... we’re not going to be able to stop anyone from giving it a try, but we can point them in the right direction to do it safely.

Also, don't agree with " DIY Electrician" could always re Title to "DIY Electrical" After all Dan, DIY Electrician, MAY get up qualified, Electricians noses a triffle, you did ask for thoughts. those are mine. The same could be said about any Trades Person.

 

[telectrix]

as the forum is, DIYers come here for professional advice. if they want Dave who's swapped a few socket fronts, they can go to screwfix forym or DIYnot for bad advice. leave well alone. that's my thoughts.

 

[Midwest]

Also agree.

Leave the DIY forums to themselves. There’s too many forums out there offering dangerous advice. It’s not like painting a wall, or hanging a garden gate. Tackling electrical work without appropriate knowledge, experience and proper equipment, is a recipe for disaster. Whilst simple tasks, such as replacing a light or a switch, can be advised on here, there’s some that seem to determined to tackle more complex tasks.

Don’t think you should comprehend it @Dan.

 

[Lister1987]

If poster takes advice from here and is injured or killed (while Darwin smiles down at them); where does that put this forum from a legal standpoint?

I would set a limit on what DIY advice we give; you can get cards from B&Q etc detailing how to change a light fixture but you won't find one for adding sockets to rings/radials or installing a sub-main etc (afaik - changing socket faceplates might be the exception) that's as far as our advice should go.

Anything that remotely involves taking the cover of the DB then the hard-line GET A PROFESSIONAL IN should be absolute default.

Now, posters may get the 'they're just saying that to get the job and money' vibe from that but **** em, we're doing them a favour, if you really wanted to negotiate with them to show that it's not just about job/money that's down to you.

 

[Markyd]

NO.....DONT DO IT.....Everybody all together now NO

 

[Andy78]

Always been a minefield and always will be on the internet.

We as electricians are taught to deal with things we know for definite. We cannot assess the competence of diyers or others for definite over the internet. Someone can tell us they know what they are doing but that's the same as someone telling us a supply is dead before we work on it, we need proof regardless. The ramifications for protection of life are the same.

The best advice on the internet from a professional to a diyer will and should always be the same. Get a professional in. It is professionally and morally remiss to advise otherwise unless the job is a simple one that requires no specialist knowledge and equipment, and the person can be instructed to do the job safely.

 

[Deleted account]

Initially I though good idea, but then read littlesparks reply.

Spot on.

It’s a no from me.

 

[Dan]

I thought I was good too until I read this thread. I'll cancel the domains I bought then. PMSL.

 

[Lister1987]

I thought I was good too until I read this thread. I'll cancel the domains I bought then. PMSL.

I hope you're joking (about buying them in the first place).

A 'sensible' middle ground may be a wiki type deal allowing us to share our knowledge and good practice (even if it stays internal while populated and articles verified).

 

[Dan]

Oh Christ no that wouldn't work for tiling the products change so often supplier to supplier and week to week.

It's not 25 quid down the pan. I'll use them as test forums to break instead of the real ones. No boggy. Edit: No Biggy. lol

 

[littlespark]

No boggy?
ha ha ha

 

[Baddegg]

No boggy?
ha ha ha

Staffordshire for biggy I think mate