Electrician or security and fire?

[Gxorge]

Hi I'm currently doing an apprenticeship in electrical installation, and have been doing it for about a year and a half now. After having a reasonable amount of experience and meeting different people and seeing other kind of work I've taken an interest in the fire and security area. Recently I have been very interested in the techy side of it, I've always been into small gadgets and so and any bit of data I get I'll do at work and I'm happy to do it. I've come to a bit of a problem though a lot of people have told me that it's not worth getting into as it don't pay as much and it's not hard blah blah. But to me it looks like something I would really enjoy and if it pays £2 an hours less I'm not really bothered. But I don't know wether carry on with my apprenticeship as I'm half way there or just start a new in the fire and security side. I'd also like to know the sorta day you have and work you do (fire alarm guys/data boys)Thanks George

 

[GMES]

Hi George and welcome along, I don't know who told you there is no money in the above but I would say Fire, cctv, door entry systems etc is quite profitable especially compared to regular electrical installation work.

 

[ruston]

And - if you are lucky enough to have an apprenticeship stick with it.
Many people would give their back teeth to be where you are.

 

[Lagentium]

He first and most important thing I have to say is make sure you get your apprenticeship completed, the time will fly by mate, then you will be able to make a more educated decision. I've always fancied the PLC side, I just need to make an inroads while I'm young enough!!

 

[Gxorge]

Just other electricians and one of my college friends used to do fire alarm installs and said he wasn't on much and that's why he's doing an electrical course. But looking on the uk salary website they both look about the same ?

 

[Lagentium]

The company we use for commissioning our addressable installs and Vesdas charge a fortune for a day, but I guess a fraction of that will be paid the the engineer on site.

 

[Brightspark2]

Complete your apprenticeship then move over to that side of things.

If you don't like it or it turns out not paying as well come back to electrical, you have your apprenticeship to fall back on.

 

[Hellmooth]

As others have said, completing your apprenticeship is a must, you can then choose what you want to do!

 

[stevey1983]

Like anything it depends how good you are, if your really good at your job you will be in demand and will earn more. I have worked with a guy who does alot of fault finding for a number of big fire alarm companies all over the uk (subby) and his hourly rate is in the 3 figure region but his really good at his job

 

[KWCFC]

I qualified as an electrician and then moved to the security side and I love it and wouldn't go back to normal sparkying now. Fitting an alarm and camera system that transmits to a receiving centre and gets a police response can be quite technical but I get more of a buzz from that than adding a couple of sockets in someone's house, but that's just me.

I would agree with everyone else and say complete your apprenticeship first though. Everything we fit on the security side needs a mains supply and its all a lot easier when your already a spark.

 

[Hellmooth]

I qualified as an electrician and then moved to the security side and I love it and wouldn't go back to normal sparkying now. Fitting an alarm and camera system that transmits to a receiving centre and gets a police response can be quite technical but I get more of a buzz from that than adding a couple of sockets in someone's house, but that's just me.

I would agree with everyone else and say complete your apprenticeship first though. Everything we fit on the security side needs a mains supply and its all a lot easier when your already a spark.

I'n the same, a big part of my work is gate and barrier automation and access control, I prefer this without a doubt to normal sparking!

 

[rolyberkin]

I think you may regret not completing what you have started. As the two areas are so closely linked, complete the installation side and then add another string to your bow by studying and qualifying in the other area. Having a good base qualifications and work area will give you a fallback position.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I've done data, BMS, door access, fire alarms, CCTV, PV, power and lighting, street lighting, railway signalling, etc.
Can't say any of them pay more than the others.
Commisioning on the other hand, pays a lot more.

 

[shanky887614]

is there any online bms courses worth doing? ive mainly done bms and doot access but id like to learn more about the systems

bms, fire alarms and door access seem to get less chancers than regular electrics

 

[shanky887614]

complete your apprentaship first it will be worth it