Rates for PV Installers

[leolen]

Hi, I'm currently in the process of becoming a PV Installer can anyone tell my what the going day rate is for a PV installer.

I would really apprieciate your feedback

Thankyou

 

[leolen]

Hi, I am a spark yes currently in the process of sorting my part p my exam for that is in a couple of weeks, from that I have work for PV installations so I want to sort my mcs out but in the mean time carry out the installations.

 

[Echo]

No disrespect but if your a spark, why are you doing a 'Part P' exam???

To be 'part p' approved all you need to do is join one of the bodies, NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, etc etc.

If you have only done the domestic installer course, as stated in a previous thread this doesn't cover anywhere near the knowledge needed for the installation of PV.

 

[leolen]

Thankyou, I have been in the game for 7 years now JIB approved with all my qualifications.However I've found myself in a company that doesn't want to pay the rates nor excel themselves as a company. I feel with the PV Installations offered to me and other domestic installs offered I feel I need to do this to gain more experience, better myself and ultimately earn more money.
The purpose behind the part p course was to have better knowledge of building regulatuions, but to be honest I agree a waste of money and cant believe they encourage proper electricians to do it. Thanks for your replys

 

[Echo]

foneextra i strongly disagree, I would never employ anybody that is under-qualified whether he has a right to earn a wage or not. That's irrelevant now anyway so back on track;

leolen we pay our subcontractors the same day rate no matter what job they are on, whether it be domestic/commercial/pv the average up here for a time served spark seems to be between £13-£16ph

So I guess what I'm saying is your day rate should be the same.

 

[leolen]

I agree with your point.Thankyou for your help!

 

[poheZ]

£13-16 per hour is not worth it. If people work for that then contractors are on a winner!

 

[Echo]

Why would they need part-p or MCS? They are subcontractors so while they are working for a company the work falls under the companies schemes.

That seems to be the going rate at the minute, I know of sparks working for £10 an hour as a subby as they seem to be the only jobs going at the moment.

 

[madmac]

Like all other sectors, the sparks hourly rate is being hammered by "Domestic "Installers" working for less than a qualified spark!!!If you are an approved JIB electrician with 7+ years experience then part p is wasting your time/money and is insulting to have to pay for!!! Just pay your fees to one of the regulatory bods.,provide the proof of competency/qualifications they require and if you are still a bit green regarding the installation of PV units then spend some money at a college and get up to speed. You are a qualified approved electrician, this should be treated as another string on your bow just like gaining 17th 2391-10 or compex etc. But nothing more, nothing less, because there are guys out there that are not sparks and put all their efforts into learning this small part of the electrical industry then make out they are fully qualified/competent electricians!!!
They come in all sorts of guises from SMA's (steel mechanical assemblers) to electricians mate (not recognised in the SJIB), to Domestic Installers (semi-skilled, house bashers)!!!etc etc.
It will take some poor bugger to get killed/electrocuted before the powers that be return to the tried and tested apprentice trained, fully qualified and competent electrician!!!

 

[Ramjam]

I've met plenty of idiots with qualifications and it was never an experienced man that ever built anything new or brilliant. Getting into a cock measuring excercise about electrical qualifications is the road to ruin. PV is not that complex you do need to do a lot of reading or learn from someone else. The courses are just an introduction but to say that someone who's got level 3 is by some measure capable of solar PV without specific training and/or experience is hopeful to say the least.

 

[poheZ]

yes, but qualifications are a way of assessing competence. How many times have you heard 'yeeaahh i'm a sparks' only for them to trun out to be pretty useless

 

[SolarCity]

How many times have you heard 'yeeaahh i'm a sparks' only for them to trun out to be pretty useless

Generally, I'd say that well over half - perhaps even as much as 75% of 'electricians' that we have used over the years have been useless. Some of them utterly dangerous. We have has NICEIC sparks come to work for us with a frightening lack of knowledge. Qualifications aren't everything but I'd be very suspicious of anyone that didn't have his qualifications.

Is PV complex? I believe it is. And it is far more dangerous than some people appreciate.

 

[malcolmsanford]

I've met plenty of idiots with qualifications and it was never an experienced man that ever built anything new or brilliant. Getting into a cock measuring excercise about electrical qualifications is the road to ruin. PV is not that complex you do need to do a lot of reading or learn from someone else. The courses are just an introduction but to say that someone who's got level 3 is by some measure capable of solar PV without specific training and/or experience is hopeful to say the least.

PV is just another special location within a book of regulations and as such I would think that a competantly trained electrician would be able to install a system pretty easily. The same as a Marina is or an Agi installation, I can count on 2 hands the number of Agi installations I have worked on in my nearly 40 yrs in the industry but the ones I have done were safe and fit for use, by working to the regulations, and relying on my training.

The design of a PV installation is perhaps a little more involved and need for extra and specialised training IMO is needed. Again though I know having done the EcoSkies course that there isn't a great deal more to it than a few calculations, which again most competant electricians would grasp easily, and being able to read and understand technical manuals. The MCS acreditation is perhaps a little more intensive than joining a normal Part P scheme, but again as the MCS survivie on the installers money to keep in business your assessed to pass not fail.

What is though the defining factor is, non electricians that do the PV course, will struggle when it comes to knowing what is not in section 712 or what is not on a course. Once you start working on Mrs Jones electrical installation the game changes. You need to know about bonding, you need to know how to complete testing on the AC system, what needs RCD protection and what does not, how to complete an EIC and a schedule of inspection and results, all things competant electricians do.

It is unfortunately like everything else in my industry, you now have Fire alarm engineers, UPS engineers, alarm engineers, Domestic Installers even emergency light engineers, and now PV installers, where all you really need is a competant, trained electrician, and not a semi trained "engineer"