freelance self employed electrician

[dicky.ty]

I need advice pls I have been offered a job with a company doing meter installation and call outs, does anybody else do this? I have been given prices of £25 single phase £35 3 phase, call out for breakdown £30 in 60 mile radius. The company are putting me through the meter installation course but I have to work for them for 6 months after or will have to pay for the course myself. As I have always worked as an installation electrician I am not sure if this is for me or if it will actually pay the bills any advice would be great

 

[dicky.ty]

the course is in taunton, sommerset. the training company is called western power i've had a look at there web site and it looks quite impressive

 

[somersetsparks]

Hi mate, do meter changing myself from time to time ( I work for the contacting side of Southern Electric), The course you will be doing is MOCOPA, Its very easy indeed but worth having and you will probably get your own set of sealing pliers (issued by the company you are working for). Should be easy to make money on that for meters, You can have one changed in 10mins if its a standard setup! Three phase could be bit more difficult if you have CT Coils.
Western power operates the network for the southwest (Was originally part of SWEB).
Their place is excellent, Remember to take a couple quid for the canteen - Its spot on!

 

[Newsome3]

they looking for anymore lads?

 

[tonys]

Who you working for dicky, an agency ? or direct to western power ?

 

[dicky.ty]

only the training is with western power i could be working for a company based near london but it's direct to the company

 

[dicky.ty]

Hi mate, do meter changing myself from time to time ( I work for the contacting side of Southern Electric), The course you will be doing is MOCOPA, Its very easy indeed but worth having and you will probably get your own set of sealing pliers (issued by the company you are working for). Should be easy to make money on that for meters, You can have one changed in 10mins if its a standard setup! Three phase could be bit more difficult if you have CT Coils.
Western power operates the network for the southwest (Was originally part of SWEB).
Their place is excellent, Remember to take a couple quid for the canteen - Its spot on!

the training center does look impressive, the company have said i will get set of sealing pliers with my national insurance number on the seals, i have got a list of the different types of meters at the i will be fitting with prices per meter,install and commission lv ct connected and communications, directly connected polyphase meter and communications, don't really know what any of these are yet but i'm sure it will make sense, after the course, more used to commercial/industrial installations but with there being so little work at the minute i think i'll have to give it a go, there seems to be loads of jobs advertised wanting the mocopa licence.

 

[dicky.ty]

Who you working for dicky, an agency ? or direct to western power ?

only the training is with western power i could be working for a company based near london but it's direct to the company it seems a bit strange i will still be self employed, i thought you could only work self employed for a company for 12 months don't know if it's been changed.

 

[dicky.ty]

they looking for anymore lads?

they told me if i'm not interested there is 5 more people waiting on standby. should you believe that,

 

[somersetsparks]

You will fly through the course mate, mine only took a couple of hours, meter changers don't have to be electrician and on a lot of firms most aren't. Amazingly enough some number the tails when changing meters as they have no underestanding of the theory of how they actuallt work!
I would definately Give it a go if I was self employed, the only bugger sometimes is the locations of the meters and obviously shutting down factories and offices can be a bit of a hassle sometimes! Other Than that cushty little Number!

 

[dicky.ty]

You will fly through the course mate, mine only took a couple of hours, meter changers don't have to be electrician and on a lot of firms most aren't. Amazingly enough some number the tails when changing meters as they have no underestanding of the theory of how they actuallt work!
I would definately Give it a go if I was self employed, the only bugger sometimes is the locations of the meters and obviously shutting down factories and offices can be a bit of a hassle sometimes! Other Than that cushty little Number!

they told me i would be on the course for 5 days, but i think i'll give it a go, thanks