Inexperienced 'Electricians'

[Kiers1970]

I know everyone has to start somewhere, but it grinds my gears reading some of these posts, asking for help on completely straight forward problems that some guys come up against.

Not being funny, bit if you are working for yourself, you should know what to do, no post on this forum.

Imagine this scenario...

I know the lights arent working now Mr, Mrs. Doctor, Lord, Sir, etc, I'll search for a solution on the 'net tonight. Oh, and can you have payment ready for me tomorrow? .... hey do you have wifi, I'll bring my laptop..

 

[topquark]

Yep, you'd think we'd know by now that electrickery won't flow against the force of gravity, it only likes going downward on a one in forty slope :dunce2:

 

[Rockingit]

I think there are times when all of us encounter something new and have a bit of a brain-scratch moment, no matter how long we've been doing it, and I'm certainly no exception to asking for the occasional pointer or to try to benefit from others having solved a problem before me (it's what makes this forum brilliant - knowledge is power etc etc). But like you both, I've done my time in the cr4p, and without help, at silly o'clock and in a time before the internet was even an idea.

Customers are paying for the benefits of experience, time spent, qualifications and time in class. They shouldn't be made to pay for cut and paste support lines.

 

[Kiers1970]

God only knows none of us are Genius's but to ask for money when you haven't an igloo gets on my threpenny's.
I had a gas fitter here years ago, fitting a fire, anyhow, he puts the copper in , tests and finds there is a leak on drop test. I turn up, watch him with the leak detector, all his joints passing. Then tries to charge me for full day.... 3 guesses what my reply was...

 

[Kiers1970]

I think there are times when all of us encounter something new and have a bit of a brain-scratch moment, no matter how long we've been doing it, and I'm certainly no exception to asking for the occasional pointer or to try to benefit from others having solved a problem before me (it's what makes this forum brilliant - knowledge is power etc etc). But like you both, I've done my time in the cr4p, and without help, at silly o'clock and in a time before the internet was even an idea.

Customers are paying for the benefits of experience, time spent, qualifications and time in class. They shouldn't be made to pay for cut and paste support lines.

Definitely, sometimes ten mins away and a brew clears the mind... how many times have u searched for that downlight cable, for 10/15 mins, stop , find all the rest, go back and get it straight away... (or make a fool of someone whos been looking for an hour?)

 

[Engineer54]

I know everyone has to start somewhere, but it grinds my gears reading some of these posts, asking for help on completely straight forward problems that some guys come up against.

Not being funny, bit if you are working for yourself, you should know what to do, no post on this forum.

Imagine this scenario...

I know the lights arent working now Mr, Mrs. Doctor, Lord, Sir, etc, I'll search for a solution on the 'net tonight. Oh, and can you have payment ready for me tomorrow? .... hey do you have wifi, I'll bring my laptop..

And, ...What makes it worse, is the very scheme providers that were created to provide prove of, and maintenance of competency in the profession just DON'T, and will accept the lowest credentials in the industry as being a electrician!! And are more than happy (for a fee of course) of letting these people legitimately undertake work in people homes.

I reckon a 1st year student can pass one of there so called competency assessments from what has been explained on the forum. You really do need a ''National Register of Qualified Electricians'', and get rid of these blood sucking bottom crawlers scam providers once and for all!!!

 

[highspark]

So you think you know it all? Serious mate nobody knows the lot and this is what the forums for advice and opinions sharing experience - getting pointed in the right direction. Yes some posts are ridiculous but don't mock inexperienced lads I'm sure you've been puzzled from time to time.

 

[telectrix]

problem is that young guys are getting chucked in at ther deep end with the paper quals. but not the practical experience. christ, i've been at it for 30 years + and still find things that get me head scratching from time to time.

 

[colshaws]

I am a domestic installer who has many years experiance working alongside qualified electricians, some very good and some that I wouldnt let them in my house to wire a plug. I only carry out work that I know I am capable of doing and if unsure seek advise or bring in help. There are good and bad in all trades , qualified or not, but if you stop people from asking advice then you are only encouriging more of the bad workmanship and mistakes that can be dangerous, I thought this forum was here to help.

 

[Kiers1970]

So you think you know it all? Serious mate nobody knows the lot and this is what the forums for advice and opinions sharing experience - getting pointed in the right direction. Yes some posts are ridiculous but don't mock inexperienced lads I'm sure you've been puzzled from time to time.

never said I know it all, and i'm not mocking, I'm simply saying that if you are offering your services as an electrician, with all the responsibility it carries, you should be able to do what is required, simple fault finding etc, using your test equipment and brain etc. and If you want paying for the privilege of it too, a poist on a forum asking how to repair a simple lighting circuit isn't in my view acceptable!
would you pay for someone to visit your house, put some lights up and leave with out half the rest of the houses lights off? I'd be well peeved to have thought I'd even let them in the house!!!

 

[gooner1984]

I am a domestic installer who has many years experiance working alongside qualified electricians, some very good and some that I wouldnt let them in my house to wire a plug. I only carry out work that I know I am capable of doing and if unsure seek advise or bring in help. There are good and bad in all trades , qualified or not, but if you stop people from asking advice then you are only encouriging more of the bad workmanship and mistakes that can be dangerous, I thought this forum was here to help.

i agree. the lads made a mistake and he come on here for help. yes its basic stuff, i like this forum for the advice thats always being given out and people willing to help each other out, i think its unnecessary to start a new thread having another dig at him. how this going to help him

 

[AIM]

I worked on the Railway for over 15 years. One memory was of a Yard Supervisor making a fool of a young Shunter by saying "I've been on the job over 20 years, you've only been here 5 minutes"

The young Shunter replied "I've only been on the job 7 years, but worked all over the place. You've done the same day in the same Yard for 21 years"

Length of time on a job and experinece are often two very different things. Anyone who as a lad spent 4 years brewing up and carrying traps for the Gaffer, may have served their time. But do they have the experience on the tools them self?

Time does not always mean knowledge.

 

[Kiers1970]

i once asked a lad just out of his time, 'what does an insulation resistance tester test?' his answer, on a postcard please..

 

[telectrix]

I am a domestic installer who has many years experiance working alongside qualified electricians, some very good and some that I wouldnt let them in my house to wire a plug. I only carry out work that I know I am capable of doing and if unsure seek advise or bring in help. There are good and bad in all trades , qualified or not, but if you stop people from asking advice then you are only encouriging more of the bad workmanship and mistakes that can be dangerous, I thought this forum was here to help.

yes, the forum does help. it's not the fault of guys going out into the real world without adequate experience. it's the system. years ago, a firm took on an apprentice and put him alongside an experienced guy to learn. if he made mistakes, they were corrected and he learnt not to make the same mistake again. the employer could stand the cost. nowadays, it's all about money. it's a cut-throat world where the lowest price gets the work and firms can't absorb the cost of proper training. there are young lads out there with all the paper quals. needed, but not the knowledge of how to cut tray or make bends in trunking. too much emphasis on H&S, political corruptness ( think that's the word for things like calling a ballcock a floatation valve etc.). and a lack of practical training. you can learn to spread plaster or join 2 bits of copper pipe in 4 weeks, but you can't learn to be an electrician in less than 3 years. ( time for a beer now, rant over)

 

[Mr.Ian]

Yes the forum is a great help and guide, but some of the questions asked are on very basic electrics/testing, silly things that should be known from day one regardless of when day 1 was (30 years ago / last month). Asking how to do basic jobs worries me that the person asking is a ''qualified" spark charging a customer for a service he obviously isn't sure of or even knows at all.