Your thoughts on XS sponsor 18th edition course

[Daniel Oake]

I'm looking to pay for the 18th edition course next weekend that XS offers through the forum, this will be my first edition as iv'e just finished level 3 (2365).
Hopefully this will help me be a bit more employable over my other colleagues.

Has anyone sat this course with XS yet and if so what are your thoughts?

 

[Adam W]

Same as above - I have a Fluke voltage/continuity tester and a Megger MFT, which the company bought but now I've got to grips with is a nice bit of kit.

The benefit of the Fluke voltage testers 'below' the T5 is you can't change the setting so if you put the probes on 230vac it'll let you know whatever.

 

[Andy78]

Fluke for voltage indicators for sure. I have a T5-600 and a T110 and they are both great bits of kit. So was my old T50 before I blew it up.

 

[mydigitalhome]

Fluke every time. The Fluke 1664FC is a joy to use and even hardened Megger friends have been impressed and even made the jump to buying one. Four people I know have done that and it’s their money. The T5-1000 or newer T6-1000 is very popular even with the Megger MFT users. At the end of the day you pay your money and make your choice. Have fun

 

[Adam W]

Fluke for voltage indicators for sure. I have a T5-600 and a T110 and they are both great bits of kit. So was my old T50 before I blew it up.

How did you manage to "blow it up"?

 

[Andy78]

How did you manage to "blow it up"?

Lost the GS38 boots for the probes. Continued using it. Stroked an exposed probe across L +E one careless day. Wasn't much left of the probe.

 

[Adam W]

Lost the GS38 boots for the probes. Continued using it. Stroked an exposed probe across L +E one careless day. Wasn't much left of the probe.

Easy to do on a grid switch - I may or may not have done that before, taking out the supply for the board and damaging the breaker next to it
The worst I got was a bit of a dent in the probe - the tester was perfectly functional after that.
I learned my lesson.

 

[Nigel]

I couldn't comment on the 18th edition course but I used XS Training for my NVQ3 and couldn't rate them highly enough.

I don't work for XS Training or this forum.

I agree that "having the 18th edition" will help you get work.

Is it XS training that write it all up for you and then just hold ‘technical conversations’ with you over the phone to determine if you are competent?

 

[Nigel]

I doubt it will make you more employable, any decent employer rates experience over a certificate number. I’d stay 17th for a while and save your cash, no one will demanding it anytime soon.

Completely disagree. As an employer I would filter out those that felt they were not worthy of keeping up to date at CV stage. Also clients love to know their contractors are up to speed on competences.

 

[Nigel]

True, but if you haven't got any experience an agency will ask you if you're 17th edition, which is what they know. If you say you're 18th edition that is the kind of thing they'll be looking for.

Only because they are charlatans and think holding the bolt on course means you are competent.

 

[Adam W]

Only because they are charlatans and think holding the bolt on course means you are competent.

Completely disagree. As an employer I would filter out those that felt they were not worthy of keeping up to date at CV stage. Also clients love to know their contractors are up to speed on competences.

 

[Adam W]

Completely disagree. As an employer I would filter out those that felt they were not worthy of keeping up to date at CV stage. Also clients love to know their contractors are up to speed on competences.

Only because they are charlatans and think holding the bolt on course means you are competent.

 

[Joshua]

I done my NVQ with XS Training, I would recommend them over a college or centre any day especially for the 18th Edition.
No days off work so no money lost and you can go over the lessons as many times as you like to revise
Their new 18th Edition course can be done off any device that has an internet connection. I've just started it and can do the lessons on the train in the morning on my phone and they've got an audiobook type option for some of it. Plug headphones in and listen while you work.

 

[The Ghost]

I have a couple of fluke Txxx and a drummond MTL20 they each have their uses. The fluke for digital read out of V. and the drummond for injecting a value of ohms that can see of phantom voltages. I also have the Martindale tester. Bit fiddly the Martindale and I don't like the trainees using them as you have to be precise in how you use them due to the spring covers. I use the fluke proving unit. Nothing on XS training, but I am doing the update course for £175.

 

[Pete999]

Yeah I forgot I needed to factor in the costs for the 18th edition BBB and on-site guide, a quick search comes up with the books costing around £115 or there abouts

Don't require don't

Yeah I forgot I needed to factor in the costs for the 18th edition BBB and on-site guide, a quick search comes up with the books costing around £115 or there abouts

Remember you can't take the OSG into the exam

 

[Midwest]

Is it me, or have posts 23-26 gone identical quadruplicates. Or is someone having some fun.