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..

 

[VoltzElectrical]

You can do the NVQ3 and get a JIB card by doing a 2 day PAT testing course instead of 2330??!

Not a dig btw just find that odd

quite simply, this is 'fuzzy' thinking! Yo so CAN NOT as you describe above.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

I agree with the original post. Some of these posts are first year apprentice stuff and all these bits of paper ain't gonna make u a spark.ever.the problem lies in this governments bid to get the rates down by introducing at last estimate 100k people retrained as sparks/plumbers. 100k trainees requires 100k people with the relavent experience to teach them properly.this forum is a good source of info and I do know that everybody has a different level of ability if you don't know you don't know.is this not a reason for some government set up to actually make it worth your while to take on apprentices instead of shafting guys who think there is £££ to make by being a spark with cack courses?

Well, .... this forum is open to anyone so like it or lump it anyone can ask anything.

Or spend 20 years moaning about it and getting wound up!

 

[gooner1984]

Well, .... this forum is open to anyone so like it or lump it anyone can ask anything.

Or spend 20 years moaning about it and getting wound up!

here here

 

[GLENNSPARK]

here here

I like the idea of a forum thats open to the general public to come in and ask away but many of these threads are started by folk in the industry (in some capacity or other anyway) and some of the questions asked........well many a time its about exercising some common sense and looking at the problem and thinking about how to address it, making a decision then going to it....

 

[victoria stiles]

Experience matters a lot. There are loads of dissimilar subordinate contractors out there. Some inexperienced electricians are still asked to work though because they are cheap. There are also those who will make certain that they are experienced and are very much aware of what they are doing.

 

[Guest112]

reading through the posts i think people need to consider that one electrician is completely different to another like myself have barely touched on domestic because most of my work is commercial or industrial and i do a lot of inspection and testing in between.

so ill put my hand up although domestic install is relatively easy the tricks and cheats that some domestic sparks know over my knowledge is priceless, Ive started thread on here about rewiring my house because I'm not self employed and never have been so the questions may have seemed silly or basic to some but the information received was great and very much appreciatred about the legalitys of notification and so on. People need to consider that different people know different stuff regardless of age experience or qualification, I will stick by one of my previous posts and suggest that before going it alone as a DI get some experience as a mate first or try your hardest to find an apprenticeship, best thing i ever did

 

[alarm man]

im as peter,domestic isnt my thing for skills,tho i know how to wire a socket and light,just slow at it, the problem i see is people who have done the quick course and go out getting work,they dont have a clue what they are doing,some come on and try to bluff their way thru giving half truths,some come on and demand they be given step by step instructions,if you dont know what you need to do just tell the truth ,dont lie dont bs and just say i need help,then i find people give the help,its those who say that they are xyz with years of experience when clearly they dont who start the arguments..............i know ,i know, pot kettle..:lipsrsealed2:

 

[cmac91000]

It's a bit unfair to assume that people on here who ask 'basic' questions have taken a 5 week course and calling themselves domestic installers or electricians. Some of the 'electricians' who have been at it for 30 years are the worst for taking short cuts or working to old regs. Maybe they could do with going back for training?
I did my apprenticeship 40 years ago and then left the trade after 5 years. I have recently been on one of these 5 week courses to get up to speed with building regs and 17th edition. I apologise in advance for the 'basic' questions I will be asking and I would be extremely grateful to anyone who is willing to help me. Good forum and I hope it continues to be so.

 

[pmosely]

Is it better they ask on here than try and mess up without seeking advice - i think not.. let them ask, thats the only way to ensure safety - and asking is showing they gives a damn its the ones who dont and try it on without asking and messing it all up!!!!

 

[john1doherty]

heres a thought................. when your on a job with another spark how many times have you put your heads together to "second guess" something you already know the answer to but for a fleeting moment your brain fogs, 2 heads together and problem solved. now one spark on the job on his own, who does he turn to in moments of brain fog ???
forums like these are a godsend to all the sparks working alone,and i agree that nothing beats experience but a little advice from those more experienced goes a long way.
( alough to be fair some of the questions people ask on here scare the hell out of me !!!)

 

[GLENNSPARK]

It's a bit unfair to assume that people on here who ask 'basic' questions have taken a 5 week course and calling themselves domestic installers or electricians. Some of the 'electricians' who have been at it for 30 years are the worst for taking short cuts or working to old regs. Maybe they could do with going back for training?
I did my apprenticeship 40 years ago and then left the trade after 5 years. I have recently been on one of these 5 week courses to get up to speed with building regs and 17th edition. I apologise in advance for the 'basic' questions I will be asking and I would be extremely grateful to anyone who is willing to help me. Good forum and I hope it continues to be so.

Yeah well at least you have got with the modern age and the 17th. No doubt you have done a fair bit of installin over the years but my post was aimed at them who are at it day in day out and either arn`t listening/watching what they are being taught or they have dropped out the backside of one of those "be a sparks in 6 weeks" centres..and its of to the wholesalers with em and installing away. We know the part p providers dont give a hoot who is on their schemes as long as they have a deep (and open) pocket. But for them to keep coming on here and asking juvenile questions without assessing the issue/problem first is making a bit of a mockery out of a lot of good people in here.............

 

[i=p/u]

' who needs a spark , il do it myself '

 

[Kiers1970]

I was called in by another spark today who had fitted a new CU at his own house. I found the fault and fixed it,took an hour, he had dismantled his entire kitchen ring, and was about to rewire it, before he bit the bullet and called me.he'd been messing with it since yesterday afternoon the poor sod. Had THREE Meggers out on his kitchen worktop. Ohm the fault was on his 2 way lighting circuit , switch tightened against a strapper.Weirdly, the rcd only operated when he was using kitchen ring main which took him , literally, down the garden path.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I was called in by another spark today who had fitted a new CU at his own house. I found the fault and fixed it,took an hour, he had dismantled his entire kitchen ring, and was about to rewire it, before he bit the bullet and called me.he'd been messing with it since yesterday afternoon the poor sod. Had THREE Meggers out on his kitchen worktop. Ohm the fault was on his 2 way lighting circuit , switch tightened against a strapper.Weirdly, the rcd only operated when he was using kitchen ring main which took him , literally, down the garden path.

yep well firstly good on you for finding it. But really anyone installing should know to bunch up the cables towards the middle of the switch before attempting to fix it to the wall as the cables have a tendany to "spread" when offered to the backbox...and talking of backboxes...if its all getting a bit congested behind a switch front (2 and 3 gang) etc.... then whats the problem some have with going for a deeper box?....makes sense doesn`t it?.........

 

[DaveyD]

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

How much loft insulation resists the cold and keeps the house warm