What your favourite part of being an electrician

[Phil L]

As the title says, what is everyone favourite part of the job?, is it meeting new people, fault finding, design or install or anything in between

 

[littlespark]

The govt wants that 83 year old to use computers for everything else…. Cashless society, booking health appointments etc…. Turning on the lights will be easy

Reminds me of a customer whose father had died…. This elderly chap was high in the Scottish police force, pushing for computers and new tech in the force during the 80’s…...
Latter years of life his tv was stuck on sky sports as he didn’t have a clue how to change the channel.

 

[timhoward]

I don’t mind automation and remote control supplementing traditional controls.
But sometimes things aren’t fully thought through. I’m sure we’ve all wanted to turn a telly off and couldn’t find a remote.
Or take automatic electronic hand brakes on cars. A nice enough invention. But if a car breaks down blocking an A road, and I stop to help push it out of the way, I don’t want to have to start reading a manual to work out how to allow the hand brake to be released!

 

[stevethesparks]

takes aim



you can have your heating thermostat where you want, no wiring to the location…. You’re away from the house, you can adjust the heating for a sudden cold snap.

And allows my mate to shout through my letter box "Alexa, turn the heating up to 30º"

 

[pc1966]

I don’t mind automation and remote control supplementing traditional controls.
But sometimes things aren’t fully thought through.

Like cars with only electronic locks, and being faced with a flat battery and no way to open the bonnet to jump start?

 

[littlespark]

Just change the name from “Alexa” to “computer” and pretend you’re Jean luc Picard.

 

[timhoward]

Like cars with only electronic locks, and being faced with a flat battery and no way to open the bonnet to jump start?

Funny you should say that. I was in the audience at a concert once and there was an announcement for whoever had the electricians van in the car park to contact staff.
Long story short they needed help rescuing a harp stuck inside a Galaxy with a completely flat battery.
I managed to get 12v into it via jump leads and the towing socket in the end. I’ve still got an oil stain on the cuff of a dress shirt to remind me of this happy evening.

 

[pc1966]

I managed to get 12v into it via jump leads and the towing socket in the end.

You cunning Devil!

A friend of mine called me for advice as someone she knew was in Dyce airport car park with a flat battery and no way in. I suggested they call the AA/RAC as they would have non-destructive means of doing it but they guy ended up smashing a window to get in. I'm pretty sure it would have cost him more than the non-member rescue charge.

 

[GBDamo]

As the title says, what is everyone favourite part of the job?, is it meeting new people, fault finding, design or install or anything in between

Getting to drop crap around a site and have other trades clean it up.

....Shut up!

It's what they expect so why disappoint them.

 

[DPG]

Like cars with only electronic locks, and being faced with a flat battery and no way to open the bonnet to jump start?

Cars usually still have a traditional lock hidden under a plastic cover in the handle. Or have they even stopped doing this now?

 

[timhoward]

Cars usually still have a traditional lock hidden under a plastic cover in the handle. Or have they even stopped doing this now?

To be honest most do, the problem is the owners never read the book to know this, and by the time they need the information it’s locked inside.

 

[Intoelectrics]

Personally I just like designing and building things especially if it's bespoke stuff. So it's not just about electric's for me, it's also about engineering.
I like to problem solve by coming up with a new design or system that was better than the previous system.

I studied engineering & architecture as my first, then moved on to electrics after this.

 

[Mikegh]

Personally I just like designing and building things especially if it's bespoke stuff. So it's not just about electric's for me, it's also about engineering.
I like to problem solve by coming up with a new design or system that was better than the previous system.

I studied engineering & architecture as my first, then moved on to electrics after this.

In the Electrical though you're mostly working off a page,. planning and design is already done

Troubleshooting is a bit different you might have to think outside the box

 

[pirate]

My favourite parts are
1. Being retired
2. Not being an electrician
3. Learning stuff about being an electrcian and wishing I had chosen that career path...

 

[Moley]

My favourite parts are
1. Being retired
2. Not being an electrician
3. Learning stuff about being an electrcian and wishing I had chosen that career path...

Being a nosey bugger and you don't have to answer but what was your chosen career path?

 

[DPG]

Being a nosey bugger and you don't have to answer but what was your chosen career path?

Pirate wasn't it?

 

[pirate]

Pretty close, some would say!

 

[Moley]

Ah, financial consultant/ banker ?

 

[Intoelectrics]

In the Electrical though you're mostly working off a page,. planning and design is already done

Troubleshooting is a bit different you might have to think outside the box

Yes, I've done years of installation and fault finding. Both which can be very rewarding.
My real passion though has always been design and construction over, fault finding and testing...

 

[snowhead]

Fault finding where others had failed.
Fault finding over the phone, guiding someone else, without being on site and sometimes having never been to that site.

But the best part is after 51 years being employed / self employed U.K Gov pay me money every month and I don't have to lift a finger, apart from on the keyboard to check it's been paid.

They do get a little bit back due to other pensions but you can't win them all.

 

[UNG]

Cars usually still have a traditional lock hidden under a plastic cover in the handle. Or have they even stopped doing this now?

And when you really need it due to a lack of use and any maintenance you find it is seized