Just started level 2 at College. Contradictions...

[rich66]

Decided, at the ripe old age of 50+, to go back to College!

Once I got over the shock of being the oldest in the room, building and campus, and got cracking on the practical work, I've found that the two lecturers we have are giving me slightly contradictory instructions on some aspects.

Its quite annoying to have one guy tell you how to do something, you do it that way and then have the other guy come around and tell you to change it.

Only one days's practical in and it happened three times.

One example is the use of sleeving on the blue wire when used as a switched live. One guy wants a short bit of brown sleeve where the wire goes into the switch, the other wants all of the blue insulation covered with the sleeve.

I'm not 100% sure the best way to tackle this issue without upsetting anyone this early on in the school year!



It sure is wierd being college with all the 16-18 year olds!

 

[davesparks]

Once you start working with other electricians you will find that we all do things a little bit differently as far as those kind of things go.


Also, you're not sleeving the neutral conductor, you are sleeving the switched live conductor.
This may seem like a minor point but getting things like that straight in your head at the outset can save a lot of confusion later on, especially when facing unconventional wiring.

 

[westward10]

I've only ever put a short piece on but some with cover the whole conductor, there is no right or wrong and your tutors seem to be in both camps. You can make a light hearted comment over it see how they react I'm sure they have been quizzed before. Remember you are not sleeving the neutral conductor it is a line conductor.
Edit, snap.

 

[rich66]

Once you start working with other electricians you will find that we all do things a little bit differently as far as those kind of things go.


Also, you're not sleeving the neutral conductor, you are sleeving the switched live conductor.
This may seem like a minor point but getting things like that straight in your head at the outset can save a lot of confusion later on, especially when facing unconventional wiring.

Yeah, I accept that everone does things slightly differently, but in a teaching environment, its far from ideal, especially when you have to 'correct' something that's not actually wrong and then possibly have to 'correct' it again back to how it was...

Yep, when I said neutral wire I meant blue wire! I've edited that now, thanks.

 

[westward10]

You are there to learn so don't be afraid to query it, maybe the younger ones think the same but are afraid to ask. Without criticising just ask out loud do we cover the whole conductor or is a short tag enough.

 

[Lister1987]

Worth remembering too that the bean counters rule the purse strings and so little things like not sleeving an entire conductor or reusing switch and socket fronts or better still reusing a patress box with more holes than Swiss cheese.

So long as they're advising on the right way to do something I would t be too concerned

 

[rich66]

Some more contradictions, but now one of the lecturers is saying they need to get their stories straight, so at least one of them is aware of the issue.

I'm wondering if its the first time they've worked together!

 

[westward10]

Sounds like Carry On College, are they of a similar age.

 

[rich66]

Sounds like Carry On College, are they of a similar age.

Yeah it's quite funny, but annoying too... One is older (old school) and the other is a bit younger and only qualified maybe 8-10 years ago.

We have to draw a wiring diagram and circuit diagram for each circuit we build on the board.

I drew the main isolator as a double pole switch on my circuit diagram, like the younger lecturer showed me and the older guy says "Why have you drawn that? Why is everyone drawing these?" His drawings are very scrappy sketches and he won't do circuit diagrams. The younger guy draws really neat drawings.

 

[westward10]

Which one put the longest bit of sleeving on, the younger one?

 

[rich66]

Which one put the longest bit of sleeving on, the younger one?

The older one.

In the real world, is there any benefit in opening up a swtich plate and it being obvious that the blue is a switched live due to the blue insulation still being visible?

 

[westward10]

I'd have put money on it being the younger one. Provided it is identified is does not matter if the blue is still exposed.

 

[Lister1987]

The older one.

In the real world, is there any benefit in opening up a swtich plate and it being obvious that the blue is a switched live due to the blue insulation still being visible?

He knows to sleeve before you screw.....and we all know what a benefit THAT can be!

 

[davesparks]

In the real world, is there any benefit in opening up a swtich plate and it being obvious that the blue is a switched live due to the blue insulation still being visible?

In a simple switch no, there's no real benefit. But if its a bigger switch with more conductors behind it then it may be helpful to be able to see clearly what is a sleeved conductor and what colour is under the sleeve.

And if its something like a 19 core SWA where you have 19 white cores with numbers printed on them it is essential to be able to see those numbers.