Need some opinions

[FreshSpark]

I've recently completed a domestic electricians course over the past 6 weeks and have C&G 2393,2382 & 2392. My knowledge of circuit design is good (Ib,In,It , volt drop etc). I've pretty good construction skills also.

Having completed a basic rewire of my small 2 bed home (tested (loop continuity on the rings and r1-r2 on the radials, and insulation tests on the lot) I feel I could do this for someone else, and charge for it.

Obviously there are some gaping holes in my experience but would advertising as a domestic electrician be biting off more than I can chew?

Has anyone here followed this (or a similar) path? Any opinions?

 

[stuartcourt]

yes I did the same last year and now I am a millionaire and only work because I am bored

 

[telectrix]

if you are competent to do it, join a scheme and go for it.

 

[trev]

Should there be a comma between loop & continuity? I note there's no mention of IR or the correct sequence of tests, is this a wind up?

 

[snowhead]

To compare it to working in a office;

You are able to pick up a pen and put marks on paper.

You are NOT able to spell or construct sentences or write stories in any form that anyone could understand.

That doesn't mean you are not able to learn very quickly, but to expect others to pay you whilst you learn is too much to expect.

 

[dcelectrical]

in my opinion, now that you have peices of paper to say you can do the job you need to learn how to do the job, the only way to learn is to be shown, in short you need to get a job and do an apprentiship, there is no shortcuts it take 30 years to make 30 years of knowledge. if you advertise and get called you are likely to be dealing with things you know little or nothing about and customers do not pay nowt for nowt, in fact the often don't want to pay

 

[FreshSpark]

Sorry my terminology was wrong, I meant L-L, N-N, cpc-cpc, L+N, L+cpc for the ring and r1+r2 for radials and I said insulation tests which I take it you mean by IR?

 

[Adam W]

Remember not everyone who calls an electrician wants a basic rewire of a 2 bedroom home.

 

[trev]

Sorry I missed that bit. Bottom line is mate, you've done 6 weeks. Would you let a dental student with 6 weeks experience take a tooth out?...I don't want to pee on your fireworks but the course that you did is merely an introduction to the vast and complicated world that we operate in. My best advice is for you to realise that there's a shedload that you don't know, try to get a mate's job with a local spark who can teach you how to go on. Please note, I'm not having a pop at you. I hate the game, not the players.

 

[FreshSpark]

To adam W - That of course is very true, but is not a lot of work things that require a similar set of transferable skills. Replacing accessories or faulty/damaged wiring etc I'm sure I can do these things also. I'm not a complete novice I have some DIY experience also.

To Trev - No worries, I understand what you're saying. I'm not friendly with any electricians, otherwise i'd jump at a chance to shadow their every move! What I was thinking is that there is no harm done in taking a look at a job and if it's way out of my league I could simply apologise and say Iit's beyond my skill level.

What would you guys think of this as an idea: I advertise for work, take a look and quote, offer my best advice. I then speak with a local spark and put the work their way but with me tagging along? Kind of sub contracting? Any opinions?

 

[stuartcourt]

you dont need any other skills mate just get a t shirt with your name on and count the money

 

[dcelectrical]

I have a green house and am doing really well at growing stuff, and I also buy flower for my wife occasionally so next year im entering the Chelsea flower show - you read this and you think **** maybe I should set my heights a little lower and maybe you should start by getting a job and learning how to be, I know all about the short courses, I employed someone last year who had just completed one

 

[Sintra]

That says it mate "DIY experience"

Not having a pop at you mate but this trade takes years to learn not weeks. As stated before get some practical experience. IMO it's these stupid 6 week courses that has ruined this trade.

Truthfully what can you learn in 6 weeks.

 

[trev]

Credit where it's due, given a rewire or an extension to a circuit or adding a light, you'd probably be fine. How would you handle fault finding though? There's a guy at my local who is a good DIYer, would you trust him to wire your house? I wouldn't. I'm willing to bet you've got a good head on your shoulders, and you're probably a good bloke but do you seriously think you're ready to be unleashed on the unsuspecting public?....Take the quals you have earned so far and get yourself a mates job with a local spark, you'll learn more in a week than you learned in those 6 weeks that you (no doubt) paid handsomely for

 

[robbalaar86]

Do they do 6 week courses to become a doctor? I have some experience, I give my little boy medication from time to time...

 

[trev]

just get a t shirt with your name on and count the money

A bit harsh I thought but never mind

 

[ipf]

A bit of difference, I feel, between 'not a complete novice' and putting yourself in the shopwindow as an experienced tradesperson.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Obviously there are some gaping holes in my experience but would advertising as a domestic electrician be biting off more than I can chew?

Thousands of other people are doing it, so, if you're 100% comfortable with your personal skill level, Go For It!


Personally, I wouldn't.

 

[stuartcourt]

A bit harsh I thought but never mind

I would never usually speak to anyone like this, but this is an idiot wind up saying what he knows will get us to bite ( I will say sorry if proven wrong)

 

[trev]

Mind. Fair play to you Freshspark, you had the balls to tick your head into what can be a lion's den at times. So far I think you've gotten a pretty good reception for your question, the lads must be buckled. I know I'm on me way to it

 

[trev]

I would never usually speak to anyone like this, but this is an idiot wind up saying what he knows will get us to bite ( I will say sorry if proven wrong)

Perhaps the Bombardier has mellowed me a little too much tonight

 

[FreshSpark]

Hey guys, I understand it appears to be making light of your trade that I can "be an electrican in 6 weeks!" but i'm well aware that i'm a good number of years from being a spark. But! I've paid for these qualifications, i've learnt and memorised the theory and as someone mentioned earlier I feel competent enough to follow regs and not cut any corners. Obviously the big thing i'm lacking is being able to enter a property be told what it is that isn't working and immediately have an idea as to whats up. That is what you (by that i mean the experience sparks) have in spades over someone like myself.

 

[stuartcourt]

so what is your plan

 

[Silly Sausage]

Things must be different up your way Trev, if I was buckled, I wouldn't be able to type and the wife would be doing unmentionable things to me.

 

[trev]

The grandson is here mate, I'm getting quietly buckled in the kitchen while everyone else chases him around instead of me

 

[stuartcourt]

you dont need any other skills mate just get a t shirt with your name on and count the money

yes very true sorry to be offensive

 

[FreshSpark]

My plan is to make something of the course i've completed and recoup the cost through paid work. What i'd like to do is advertise, quote, speak to local spark. I would secure the work, and maybe split with the local spark 70/30, so I shadow what they do.

If a noob electrcian called you with that offer would you think I was barmy, or would you take it on?

 

[stuartcourt]

if your serious then good luck to you but think would be far easier to become mate

 

[dcelectrical]

just a word of warning to a newcomer I have been self employed for 6 years and it is only in the last 3 months that I have started to make real money, or least I will if they cough up. and I have been trying sooooo hard from day 1 and I was very qualified when I started and I still get to jobs and don't have a Scooby about stuff and I have had greater exposure to stuff than over half of the sparks on here (in my opinion). so don't rush because the quicker you rush in the less you will make in the end

 

[trev]

Personally, I think I'd be willing to talk to you but there's no way I'm giving you the benefit of my experience for a 70/30 split in your favour. What you seem to be forgetting though is on what basis would you be pricing? For work which is self generated I'm looking at a minimum of 25 an hour and I'm cutting my own throat at that sometimes. How are you going to estimate how long it will take to complete a particular task when you have no experience to base your opinion on? Once again, not trying to pee on your fireworks but you have no sound foundation to price jobs on mate.

 

[FreshSpark]

It was 70/30 in YOUR favour! I was looking to base my quotations from Spons, but I was thinking along the lines of saying to the customer something like "I work with another chap and would like them to take a look also..." I'd then ring you and ask you to take a look.

What would most people here think of that kind of arrangement?

 

[trev]

Now that's a bit more like it. Are you going to put the kettle on and go for the bacon sarnies too?

 

[dcelectrical]

that's one of my interview questions for subbies, you must suspect someone who drinks neither tea nor coffee and I am very partial to the bacon sarnies, where are you based freshsparks

 

[stuartcourt]

sorry for how rude I was to you I thought you were hacking on us how old are you

 

[trev]

that's one of my interview questions for subbies, you must suspect someone who drinks neither tea nor coffee and I am very partial to the bacon sarnies, where are you based freshsparks

If he says South Shields I'm hunting him down and killing him in front of his grandparents

 

[Silly Sausage]

Bacon butties, you can measure a man by which colour sauce he uses!

 

[dcelectrical]

I used to like red but as I have aged I am always desperate to get in the brown, my journeyman has mayo - what does that make him

 

[trev]

Bacon butties, you can measure a man by which colour sauce he uses!

Now there's a challenge...I'm calling brown because tomato sauce is for kids and McDonald's idiots.

- - - Updated - - -

my journeyman has mayo - what does that make him

A Witch....BURN HIM!!!!

 

[stuartcourt]

Now there's a challenge...I'm calling brown because tomato sauce is for kids and McDonald's idiots.

I guess that means we cant be friends after all

 

[trev]

However a sliced, fried tomato is perfectly acceptable on a bacon sarnie.

- - - Updated - - -

I guess that means we cant be friends after all

No, You blew it!