Im currently a landlord / property developer Ive always been interested in electronics and all things electrical since i wa

[Paul.M]

Welcome.

A couple of others are doing their 2394/5 atm, what help do you all need? Just start a thread.

 

[ElectroChem]

I've been in here for a while but I'll add my $0.02.

My name's Stephen; I'm a 32yo apprentice from Australia who stumbled on this forum searching for God knows what and got stuck here.

I did university out of school, ended with a Bachelor of Chemical Sciences (H1 Biochemistry), very nearly went on to do my Doctorate but drifted away from the field. I spent 5 years as a Cabbie in disabled taxis before a lingering interest in electrocuting things prompted me to work at a career change.

Becoming an electrician in Australia is no joke; you are required to serve at least 3-4 years full time as an apprentice, with a set 3 year (one day/week) TAFE (college) course and rigorous final testing plus your master's sign off before you're qualified. At time of writing I've almost finished my first year, though I'm a year up on college as I did a pre-apprenticeship course that covered the first year of TAFE.

Our regulations are of course different in many areas, but electrical theory is the same everywhere and learning how the Mother Country does things is always interesting.

I mainly work in industrial and farm settings, rarely in houses and almost never in shops. As an adult apprentice I at least get to avoid the worst of apprentice wages, though I'm not exactly rolling in cash. Still, sacrifice now to get ahead later!

 

[JLK]

Hello All,

It's been some time since the last introduction...

I thought I better introduce myself, I joined in 2013 so better late than never...
My name is Jordan, a 22 year old 2nd year apprentice from Merseyside - I am currently studying C&G 2357 Level 3 which now, during the final year, incorporates 2394 and 2395. Bonus :cool4:
I am thoroughly enjoying the work, the learning curve and of course for want of a better word 'banter' during work (and evidently on this forum).
My aim once qualified is to take my skills overseas ideally Canada, I don't know why but I have a love for the place.
Outside of work I play bass guitar and piano and enjoy all types of music but mainly the likes of Pink Floyd, The Who and AC/DC.

I look forward to gaining some extra-curricular knowledge during my time here.

:flowers:

 

[trev]

Welcome aboard mate.
What gear are you using and what's your favourite bass?

 

[JLK]

Cheers Pal,

When I started I bought the CK Premium
kit - it's taken a beating to be fair and the zips on the bag are starting to go. I didn't like the Combi cutters because they do everything but cut. Changed them out for some
NWS, they're sweet. I'm looking at a set of new screwdrivers any recommendations, Jurassic Sparks in work all swear by Bacho

Bass wise I have a bog standard fender jazz in sun burst with the turtle shell pickguard , my favourite that I own is an unbranded one I got from an auction which dates from 1960s it has great tones and I think the unknown history of its previous players is nice. My dream bass would be Rickenbacker 4001. Do you play yourself?

 

[trev]

I do mate, I'm a Spector man myself. I hate the look of Fender basses but I;m happy to admit that they're very nice to play. I could go for a 4001 too, they're far better than the newer versions of them that they brought out.

 

[Leo_chaos]

With the intention of being around on here more, I'll say hello

Names Luke and I'm 27, halfway through my first year of 2365, after finally deciding what to try and do with my self, I got my BTEC National construction in '06 and tried to further it but there was a few hiccups and in the end I decided it wasn't what I wanted to do.

Using cheap and cheerful equipment since I'm on a budget.
Hoping to find myself and apprenticeship or something along those lines before the end of my second year so I can go onto the 2357, though not holding my hopes up for an apprenticeship due to my age.

Don't know what else to put really, so... hello

 

[trev]

Trainee forum might be a good place for you bonny lad

 

[pennychew]

With the intention of being around on here more, I'll say hello

Names Luke and I'm 27, halfway through my first year of 2365, after finally deciding what to try and do with my self, I got my BTEC National construction in '06 and tried to further it but there was a few hiccups and in the end I decided it wasn't what I wanted to do.

Using cheap and cheerful equipment since I'm on a budget.
Hoping to find myself and apprenticeship or something along those lines before the end of my second year so I can go onto the 2357, though not holding my hopes up for an apprenticeship due to my age.

Don't know what else to put really, so... hello

Hi Luke, loads of lads in the same boat on here so dont hesitate to ask for any help or advice or just a bit of craic!

Stu

 

[Pete999]

Hi My name is Pete, sometimes called Dad, I'm 69 years young, just about to finally retire, been working for HMG since 1976, yes a civil servant of sorts, been overseas a lot working.
I'm also known as a tool tart, with lots of tools that will probably never see the light of day, still they look nice, I open my tool bag up occasionally just to remember what it was like to actually handle tools, like to keep abreast of all the changes in the industry. Love this Forum.

 

[Notle]

Hello! I'm Notle from Durham, maybe the oldest trainee sparky in the world, at 58?

Anyway, I passed the C&G 2365 Level 2 in Electrical Installations last week, and passed the "17th Edition" about 5 years ago.

I'm a computer programmer by trade, with a BSc (hons) in Computer Science from Durham University. I've been working in investment banking for quite a few years, and I take full responsibility for the banking crisis :devilish: Lately I've been earning pocket money writing Android apps since redundancy 5 years ago.

I don't like to brag, but I sailed through the Level 2 exams, with distinctions in 202, 203 and 501, and marks of 80-90% in the others.

But I'm a little bit disappointed that I only got a pass in the practical assignment, and I've got questions I'll probably ask in another thread.

I did the electrical course hoping to get some installation work on private yachts, so that's something I'm looking into before I begin the level 3 course. But I'm thinking surely there must be some kind of a job for a sparky who's also a computer scientist.

Anyway, that's me

 

[Desiderata]

Evening all,

Intro'd myself briefly on the main boards but will do a little writeup on here as well.
Turned 40 at the beginning of this year, until then I'd been a mortgage adviser, then financial adviser, then latterly a licensed conveyancer.
Decided at 40 that I really didn't want to sit behind a desk for the rest of my working life, so took a three month sabbatical and then decided i'd go full circle and have a career change to become an electrician (i studied electrical engineering at Bradford but went into computing).
I'm self funding my course and am due to go in to do my first two week practical block in the new year, I use a couple of days a week to study but soon realised I needed to be out gaining experience - after emailing a number of companies asking if they'd be willing to take on a mature trainee for no pay (I wanted the chance to learn practical skills) one chap came back and agreed to let me accompany him.
So that's me - one eye on the future and working hard to become qualified AND have some real life experience of electrical work by the time I've qualified !

Vinny

 

[Pete999]

Welcome Vinny

 

[pine_womble_sparks]

Hi I am Martin, 35 from Suffolk - for the past 10 years I have worked with adults & children in various support worker roles with people diagnosed with autism, learning difficulties, mental health issues, dementia and crisis, palliative & domiciliary care. Love the work, but its draining and I need a change of sorts - looked at a few jobs, but electrics stood out as it really is future-proof & exciting - we are yet to have a real green energy surge spread very far, but it'll come with time...

I'm training on the Electrical Installation Level 2 course, as a complete beginner - I have found going back to some of the BBC Bitesize stuff on Electricity to be very handy BBC Bitesize - National 5 Physics - Electricity and energy - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/topics/zgjwxnb

 

[Joshua]

Hi, My name's Josh. I left school with all my GCSE's ranging from an E to a U. So I basically failed school.
I started College studying my PEO's Levels 1 and 2 along with my City and Guilds 2330 levels 2 and 3 in 2008 and finished in may 2011.

I started working as a trainee in October 2011 on a new build site but as with most people was just chucked in the stores to clear up materials and take in deliveries. Sometimes I was allowed to put a light up or even fix a BT point. Very Professional stuff.

After roughly 6 months my supervisor left the firm and I was taken over by a new supervisor. A supervisor who worked for the same company as me but wanted me to work via him for the same company. So the good news was I could actually get the chance to do some work but I'd be making this guy money in the process. I was 20 and still living at home with my mum so I saw it as an investment in myself.

After another 6 months I had had experience with pulling in SWA's, fixing lights in communal areas as well as 2nd fixing minor pieces in flats. I had helped rewire a community centre and fitted outside lights. Then that supervisor was asked to leave that job and go help out on another job but I wouldn't be able to go as I was inexperienced.

Then I met the supervisor who I say truly put me on the right track. He said he wanted me on his site. Although he didn't know what exactly he'd get me doing, he said he wanted me to escape the other supervisor as he was booking £100 a day for me and giving me £50 and telling me I wasn't worth a raise.

I was with this supervisor a year and a half and during this time I was left to snagging and helping out with 1st and 2nd fix in the commercial areas of the project. This is where I honestly believe I learnt what it meant to be an Electrician.

After that job finished we started on a new project. They had 180 plots to 1st and 2nd fix as well as a cafe, hair salon and mini gym in the communal areas and flats designed for the elderly and vulnerable. I started off 1st and 2nd fixing flats on my own and was finally earning some good money on price. So I decided to go and finish my NVQ 3 as nobody had a Gold Card on my site and I felt I needed it as I was only 23 at this point and my age was against me when it came to proving my capabilities.

2 years later and many different jobs later with the same company I've always been with and I've finished my NVQ, I'm in the midst of doing the 17th Edition and I'm starting my inspection and testing.
But I still need to brush up on my metal work tbh but I'm not aware of any courses you can do to learn it so might have to spend a few months with a guy to get up to speed.

But we're always learning and improving no matter how experienced we are, right?