In defence of the short course trainee

[GLENNSPARK]

better than shooting skyward in flames though flukey eh?...lol.....

 

[alarm man]

Great post Richy333 I've been using this forum for years now and have been so impressed with the conduct and banter of the group members but in the last few months noticed the change of attitude in reply posts. I can understand you may feel the 5 week wonders are getting in to easy and maybe getting experience from the forum, but the ones that make a career out of deserve it and rest that don't will have wasted money but had a go. I'm experienced and sometimes I feel intimidated to post due to the reply's I read to others.. But I say to say thanks to the regular posted like Lenny, engineer 54, malcomsanford, telextrics, dec 56 and many others you have helped many people with your answers read from a distance... Forget the politics its forum to help people.

granted forums are just like a site/work place,people discuss people argue,but the thing with forums people pop up 2 years later and say something out of the blue,ive always been suspect of those posters rather than regular posters..

 

[ian.settle1]

How do you make it 10 tests? I'd do 7.

Test between phases (3 tests), phases to neutral (3 tests), phases to earth (3 tests) and the last is neutral to earth (1 Test) hence 10 tests

 

[craig newby]

alarmman... why?

 

[alarm man]

alarmman... why?

why what...ask yourself

 

[craig newby]

its ok you just answered it for me.

 

[mechelec]

I've no doubt that from your attitude i.e you don't think you know it all & realise that even after doing a Domestic installer course you really won't be competent to do it on your own. Then you will get sensible answers even if you think the questions are silly, as has been said previously what rankles with most of us is the DI's that come on here telling us how fully qualified they are & how much they know & then ask questions the equivalent of how do i turn a light on. Anyway welcome to the Forum & ask away.

You have hit the nail on the head bang on. I would try to help If I could (i am wrong sometimes) but as you say someone starts a basic question by saying how qualified they are and it will make some less inclined to help, sorry

 

[alarm man]

its ok you just answered it for me.

im an opinionated ******* i admit,whats your excuse son...

 

[craig newby]

Its ok I'll go back cage. I was a bit taken back by your reply that's all, but now I think about it you are right to mention the length between post. Not to worry it just was a interesting subject thanks for the input.

 

[DNS1]

I think this is a very good topic started by Downtoearth and agree with everything they have said.

I am currently thinking of a similar course.. one evening a week for around 6 months, plus lots of study/practice in my own time I expect. I already work full time and look after my son by myself on my days off so this is my only option.

I do feel quite hesitant to ask questions sometimes on a electrical forum as often you get some remarks that just make you feel silly and stupid for asking. I have recently joined and have so far had a good experience of this site and hope that when I do start asking more questions I will not be shot down in flames for being 'dangerous'. I would simply be asking so as to further my knowledge and would have no intention of actually doing anything electrical until I was 100% certain it was safe.

I am very pleased and quite excited that such courses are available and fully intend to undertake one. I am then legally allowed to undertake work as a domestic installer but will still not do anything until I believe I am competent to do so.

If, or rather when (actually I already have) I do start asking silly questions please do as 'downtoearth' asks and give me a sensible reply that will point out my errors and encourage me to learn.

Thanks all.

You sound like me mate.

There will always be a bit of banter and mickey taking on here, as well as people moaning about the quick course installers, but if you ask the sensible questions you're pretty much assured of a straight and honest answer.

There's a big difference between asking for help with a calculation or interpreting a reg and saying "I'm installing a shower for someone, what size cable should I use?"

Who are you planning on training with? If it's evening classes it sounds like a local college or similar so you're likely on the right track. As everyone has been saying, avoid the "£8k to be a fully qualified electrician" centres like the plague...

Best of luck!