Is too late to start .

[Thommo]

Hello everyone,
Just wondering your thoughts and welcome any advice.
Just been made redundant again from my original trade of printer which frankly is a dying trade. I did a 5 year apprenticeship in the early eighties which at the age of 55 now seems worthless.
In and out of the print trade over the years I regularly worked on site ceiling fixing for my uncles firm.
I worked a lot of nights on London Underground steel fixing and installing ceilings and panels over track and escalators etc.Running compartment trunking along platforms, using chem fix on threaded rod and many other things.Therefore I do have plenty of experience using tools etc and have gained certification necessary for that work on lul.
All have now expired except CSCS card.Have enquired about this kind of work, but jobs are scarce and based on who you know.
I have been offered a start as a sparks mate and doing a months trial. Obviously I am not a kid who will be on his phone all day, I have a mentality of a good days wedge for a good days graft. I would want to learn as much as possible because I wouldn’t be content just labouring.More of an elderly improver, So I will give it a go, do any of you think I am too late . Old dog new tricks and all that.

 

[pc1966]

Everything looks daunting when you get a whole pile of stuff dumped on you!

Its a bit like salami, you (probably!) would not try and force a whole one in your mouth in one go, but slice it and make east bite manageable. Just like the real world, academic exercises come down to the same aspects of taking manageable steps, applying previous knowledge, experience, and a logical process to getting towards the right answer.

Or acceptably good. In many cases good engineering is the art of compromise: it has to meet the minimum standards of safety and functionality, but beyond that you often will have more than one possible solution and then it comes down to other aspects of judgment and budget (and also a degree the ability to explain the options to the client so they can understand the pros and cons in order to make an informed judgment).

 

[ipf]

Hello all,
Have not been on here since starting out in October.Did not have much to contribute. Read and digested a lot of your encouraging advice and decided to go for it.
Just thought I would log in for a nose , now I’ve been working in the trade since September and started a full on course today and suddenly it’s all looking very daunting.
How did any of you feel when you set eyes on all those bloody books ?

I can't remember much....probably had my mind on the second floor more when I started at Tech....all the f***y in the hairdressing department.
Seriously, it'll get easier as you go along. As I mentioned, common sense and a will to learn goes a long way. There's always a way to figure things out. Make sure you understand things as you're going along...if not, ask.
Good luck....and if you get a bit stuck...always here to come

 

[pc1966]

Just as ipf said - ask if in doubt. Folk here won't do your exercises for you but some are very willing to help anyone understand any aspects they struggle with.

 

[cloverman]

Good to hear that you went for it Thommo and all is going well.
I wouldn't worry too much about all the books, You come across to me like a bloke who has their head screwed on the right way if you know what I mean !
Work your way into it gently and the more experienced and knowledgeable guys on here are great for helping out or giving hints on what direction to take when pondering over an issue

 

[Thommo]

I can't remember much....probably had my mind on the second floor more when I started at Tech....all the f***y in the hairdressing department.
Seriously, it'll get easier as you go along. As I mentioned, common sense and a will to learn goes a long way. There's always a way to figure things out. Make sure you understand things as you're going along...if not, ask.
Good luck....and if you get a bit stuck...always here to come

Good to hear that you went for it Thommo and all is going well.
I wouldn't worry too much about all the books, You come across to me like a bloke who has their head screwed on the right way if you know what I mean !
Work your way into it gently and the more experienced and knowledgeable guys on here are great for helping out or giving hints on what direction to take when pondering over an issue

Thanks cloverman
I found today that I was doubting myself quite a bit.
Having done H&S courses for Cscs Lucas and ECS over the years I realised I knew most of the answers, but the c&g worksheets I was given seemed to be worded in a way that made me a bit apprehensive.
I struggled to find the words for the written answer.
I understand that the first exam in a couple of days is multiple choice, which should be more up my street . Just struggled with confidence today.
Thanks for your input much appreciated

 

[Taylortwocities]

Thanks cloverman
I found today that I was doubting myself quite a bit.
Having done H&S courses for Cscs Lucas and ECS over the years I realised I knew most of the answers, but the c&g worksheets I was given seemed to be worded in a way that made me a bit apprehensive.
I struggled to find the words for the written answer.
I understand that the first exam in a couple of days is multiple choice, which should be more up my street . Just struggled with confidence today.
Thanks for your input much appreciated

C&G seem to delight in wording questions in the strangest way. You'll get the hang of what they are looking for, after a bit of practise.

 

[pc1966]

As with most exams, once you learn to "think like the examiner" you will find the questions easier. I don't know the C&G details but I expect you will have worked example answers to questions for guidance, but always try to answer it first before you looks - it always looks easy when you see the answer!

If you have access to (or can afford to buy) the IET Guidance Notes those books also help explain the intentions of the regulations is a far more readable manner than BS7671 itself.

 

[SJD]

With any C&G exams, read some chief examiners reports from past papers. The reports list key / common things that candidates get wrong, and it is the same things that crop up from one exam to the next.

Here is a link to a random example from a 2395 paper, to show you what I mean:

https://www.cityandguilds.com/-/media/productdocuments/building_services_industry/electrical_installation/2395/additional_documents/2395-302_chief_examiners_report_october_2016-pdf.ashx

 

[Vortigern]

What course are you doing? What will it lead to domestic and or commercial?

 

[Thommo]

What course are you doing? What will it lead to domestic and or commercial?

Just on my break, it’s with able skills. Gold card approved level 2&3, 18th edition, test and inspection.
Moving on the c&g diploma and am2.
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With any C&G exams, read some chief examiners reports from past papers. The reports list key / common things that candidates get wrong, and it is the same things that crop up from one exam to the next.

Here is a link to a random example from a 2395 paper, to show you what I mean:

https://www.cityandguilds.com/-/media/productdocuments/building_services_industry/electrical_installation/2395/additional_documents/2395-302_chief_examiners_report_october_2016-pdf.ashx

Interesting read mate, will look more at that.

 

[MDJ]

go for it mate. @ 55 yous still got 15 + years to go. even if you stay as a sparks' mate, wages are decent.

55 is the same as a teenager for you ?
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i'm still at it at 72. knees and back permitting.
phwe good job i proof read that. originally said i'm still a ---.

72? No one believes that ?

 

[Edtwozeronine]

I'd like to learn more about electronics seeing as those that have cracked it seem to make a good living out of it, I follow YouTube channels like big Clive and eevblog but I feel I learn nothing from these as they're more for people who already have a clue, resistors are about the only thing I understand as they are just put in circuit to lower power; I assume to not cook another component in the circuit that only needs a specific amount of volts to work.

Is there a good website that teaches you very beginner's kind of stuff? Any kits like those build your own radio sorts of things worth bothering with?

 

[pc1966]

Is there a good website that teaches you very beginner's kind of stuff? Any kits like those build your own radio sorts of things worth bothering with?

Off hands I don't know, but a good starting place would be to look at stuff targeting secondary school for an introduction. The book "Make Electronics: Learning by Discovery" by Charles Platt gets some good reviews, maybe worth seeing if there is a 2nd hand copy cheap enough to buy as casual reading to start with.

Once you grasp the basics then the book "Art of Electronics" by Horowitz & Hill is an excellent guide to all sorts of stuff.

 

[telectrix]

55 is the same as a teenager for you ?
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72? No one believes that ?

73 now... keep up at the back ! .
born in 1946. as the septics say, you do the math.

 

[Pete999]

73 now... keep up at the back ! .
born in 1946. as the septics say, you do the math.

Kids don't you just love Em?