Electrician Wanted

[cr0ft]

Hi all. I'm already a qualified plumber and have recently completed my 5 week inspection and testing, 17th Edition and Domestic Electrical Installer Qualification. I am looking to try and build up a working relationship with an electrician in the Lincoln area who might need a second pair of hands. In return I am actively getting electrical work in through my existing business and it looks like I will have a re-wire coming up in the next couple of weeks.

The job will entail putting in a RCD protected consumer unit and running the usual 2 lighting and 2 ring mains circuits plus a cooker radial. I would prefer to work with a good electrician on this job as having 2 people speeds up work like this and also I don't really want my first job to be me out there on my own, even though I am very confident in the theory side of things and (having worked as a plumber running my own business) am happy working in properties.

Obviously we would split the labour 50/50 on the job and I will be supplying all materials for the job.

I'm really not interested in anyone flaming me about having done a 5 week course so please don't reply if you're only going to be rude about this! Even though I'm (in theory) well qualified to do this I am aware that practical experience counts for a lot, hence this post.

Finally, I'm ex-military and have a good work ethic and am looking for an electrician to work with who has the same attitude. This job will be assessed by the NICEIC in order to register me so all the work will need to be done to the highest standard. I am doing all the cable calculations for voltage drops, sizing etc.

If anyone is at all interested in this then please PM me.

Thanks for your time to read this!

 

[polo1]

I'm nowhere near you so not looking to offer my services - just wanted to say "good luck" in your venture. I'm sure most guys/gals on here will be happy to offer advice as you come across things for the first time.
Regards.

 

[malcolmsanford]

How are you going to explain to the NICEIC that the assessment of your work was in fact a partnership?

 

[Engineer54]

Of course you're not interested in anyone flaming you off, after all your a qualified electrician now aren't you, you've done your 5 week course!! There's nothing Rude about telling you, ...that all your doing is fooling your self, as well as any clients that employ you to carry out electrical work in there home!!

What you DO need, is to work with a qualified electrician not only on this job you've already taken on, but for another couple of years. Then you can come back and tell us your qualified. I can assure you now, you sure aren't NOW!!

 

[cr0ft]

Thanks for that. I don't think I'm fooling either myself or the clients. The clients have been clearly informed that I've recently qualified and that this will be a NICEIC inspection job. I know my limitations to which is why I'm looking to work with someone. Please can you tell me where either of us have been fooled (as you put it)?

I think I made it quite clear that on paper I am qualified to do the work but in practise I recognise the need for experience. Perhaps you should take the time to read my post before making sarcastic replies, your first paragraph clearly shows that you have only read what you want to see in my post.

I am looking to bring in the other electrician on an advisory basis only and to help run cables etc (this is of course much easier with two people). With my engineering degree and recent qualifications I am more than happy calculating voltage drops, cable sizing and all other technical requirements for the domestic installation.

The reality is that I do feel happy with the re-wiring of the property but it just seems sensible to me that I look to do my first big job with someone more experienced in case I hit any problems that I don't feel confident about to be honest.

I haven't taken a basic 5 days course and planned to start doing full-scope work under this, I've taken a 5 week in depth course but despite this still want to work with someone to develop my skills further.

I really don't need to be told how long I need to work with another qualified electrician for as I'm very much aware of my limitations and abilities.

In the longer term I hope I can build up a good working relationship and that we can help each other out on electrical work, maybe plumbing work too if they are interested. Working on the basis that most jobs are much easier with 2 people.

I'm sorry that you seem to have a chip on your shoulder about people entering the industry in this way, but that, to be blunt, is your problem not mine.

 

[Richard]

Out of interest, how long have you been in the plumbing game for?

Richard

 

[telectrix]

croft, it seems you have your head screwed on right way round , and realise your present limitations, so all i can say is good luck with your venture. you seem to be going about it the right way.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Thanks for that. I don't think I'm fooling either myself or the clients. The clients have been clearly informed that I've recently qualified and that this will be a NICEIC inspection job. I know my limitations to which is why I'm looking to work with someone. Please can you tell me where either of us have been fooled (as you put it)?

I think I made it quite clear that on paper I am qualified to do the work but in practise I recognise the need for experience. Perhaps you should take the time to read my post before making sarcastic replies, your first paragraph clearly shows that you have only read what you want to see in my post.

I am looking to bring in the other electrician on an advisory basis only and to help run cables etc (this is of course much easier with two people). With my engineering degree and recent qualifications I am more than happy calculating voltage drops, cable sizing and all other technical requirements for the domestic installation.

The reality is that I do feel happy with the re-wiring of the property but it just seems sensible to me that I look to do my first big job with someone more experienced in case I hit any problems that I don't feel confident about to be honest.

I haven't taken a basic 5 days course and planned to start doing full-scope work under this, I've taken a 5 week in depth course but despite this still want to work with someone to develop my skills further.

I really don't need to be told how long I need to work with another qualified electrician for as I'm very much aware of my limitations and abilities.

In the longer term I hope I can build up a good working relationship and that we can help each other out on electrical work, maybe plumbing work too if they are interested. Working on the basis that most jobs are much easier with 2 people.

I'm sorry that you seem to have a chip on your shoulder about people entering the industry in this way, but that, to be blunt, is your problem not mine.

you an engineer........that is now a plumber ....who now wants to be a sparks ..................well that's me out of here

 

[electricalchief]

thats right! You may be perfect in theory and you want to work in order to find what you can do at site. But you are only a 10% ( in my opinion) qualified electrician until you had work for some years with some already experienced and qualified electrician.

 

[cr0ft]

Out of interest, how long have you been in the plumbing game for?

Richard

Hi Richard,

Just over 3 years now, all of which I was running my own business. I trained as a plumber prior to leaving the military. I started my business in January 2009 at the height of the recession and just VAT registered in June 2011. I'm really proud of what I've achieved and all of this stemmed by doing a 7 week course in this case.

Both the apprenticeship routes and the short course routes produce good and bad tradespeople. I had quite a degree of negative responses when I did this with my plumbing when I started up but now I've got a successful growing business up and running with lots of happy customers and good Checkatrade feedback.

I was just aware of my limitations and got a more experienced tradesman to assist when I was in my first year. They were happy for the work and I got experience whilst building up my business. I don't see any reason why it will be different in this trade.

 

[cr0ft]

And you don't think that the 3 are even slightly related malcolmsanford? It's pretty obvious to most that engineering plumbing and electrical work are all related but don't let that put you off, keep writing your sarcastic drivel.

And not a problem, it sounds like no great loss from your attitude. I actually want to continue doing plumbing and add electrical work to my portfolio too but don't let that bother you. Plumbing and electrical trades go hand in hand and to be honest I will achieve what I want with 100 negative responses on here, I just need 1 person who is positive about it. No problem.

In the case that I don't get anyone who is interested then I will do it myself and have it assessed by NICEIC anyway, I would just prefer to do it in a mature way.

 

[Knobhead]

Thanks for that. I don't think I'm fooling either myself or the clients. The clients have been clearly informed that I've recently qualified and that this will be a NICEIC inspection job. I know my limitations to which is why I'm looking to work with someone.

I just hope your client’s do. Finding your limitations part way through an install isn’t the best way to find out. As for passing the work of as your own…..

 

[cr0ft]

I agree. That's what I alluded to in my first post and that's why I'm on here trying to find someone positive with more experience than me.

 

[cr0ft]

I have to admit I'm amazed at the response on here. I think the intelligent thing to do when you have just finished a short course is to get someone with more experience in than you (and pay them of course) to help you get up to speed. From the majority of responses on here I'm kind of wishing I hadn't bothered wasting my time to be honest.

Sorry for trying to do the right thing. I've been completely honest with my clients and I won't have anyone make out I'm misleading them as to my abilities. I am also very aware of my limitations which is why I'm asking for this.

Quite frankly, the negative responses aren't very helpful, if someone is interested in working with me and wants to be positive about it then please PM me. Not going to bother replying to people being negative any more.

 

[DNS1]

cr0ft,

Sadly, you'll always get a really negative reaction from some people because you've not done a full electrical apprenticeship.

I found it helps to refer to yourself as a qualified "Domestic Installer", you'll get a lot less hassle.

I think you're doing the right thing though. Seems like you're in a similar boat to me. As a plumber with your own business you're clearly going to be experienced with "house-bashing" side of which is pretty much the same in both trades, afterall, pulling up boards and drilling through walls is the same whether it's for cables or pipework.

What a lot of people don't seem to get, is that people pick things up at different rates. Just because it takes one person years to get to grips with the calculations, doesn't mean it's the same for everyone.

You sound like you're doing exactly the right thing

 

[DNS1]

you an engineer........that is now a plumber ....who now wants to be a sparks ..................well that's me out of here

That so odd?

Some people just get a buzz out of doing new things...

I did an engineering degree, got bored, worked as a sound engineer/technician but work dried up. I've spent the past 8 years as cabin crew for a major airline and now I'm training to be a sparks.

 

[Specialist]

Hi Croft: I'm with telectrix on this 1, In that although as you say you've done a 5 week course you realise that you don't have all the answers & need someone more experienced to work alongside you.
Only thing I would say is that maybe you should have concentrated on some smaller jobs first to ease your way into things, rather than take on a full Re-wire straight away.

Anyway Good luck with it, have you tried contacting some of the smaller DI's in your area to see if they'd be interested ?

 

[cr0ft]

cr0ft,

Sadly, you'll always get a really negative reaction from some people because you've not done a full electrical apprenticeship.

I found it helps to refer to yourself as a qualified "Domestic Installer", you'll get a lot less hassle.

I think you're doing the right thing though. Seems like you're in a similar boat to me. As a plumber with your own business you're clearly going to be experienced with "house-bashing" side of which is pretty much the same in both trades, afterall, pulling up boards and drilling through walls is the same whether it's for cables or pipework.

What a lot of people don't seem to get, is that people pick things up at different rates. Just because it takes one person years to get to grips with the calculations, doesn't mean it's the same for everyone.

You sound like you're doing exactly the right thing

Thank you, nice to hear everyone on hear isn't spouting the same thing. Having the degree has helped me pick up a lot of the cable sizing, voltage drops etc because I've already covered a lot of it in detail in the electrical engineering side of my degree.

I know experience is required though. I could tell you how to wire in a consumer unit perfectly but I have no experience in actually doing one in someone's home and so I would like to do it myself with someone with more experience around if I hit a snag.

Totally happy with the house-bashing side. Glad someone realises that it's pretty much identical whether its pipes or cables. If you live near Lincoln you would be exactly the sort of person I would like to work with to be honest. Sods law says you don't though!

 

[cr0ft]

Thanks. I do get bored of doing the same old thing. Over the last 3 years I've gone from tap repairs to re-plumbing entire houses. The electrical trade seemed the next logical step to add as every heating install requires heating controls as a minimum.

Eventually I want to move into bigger building work and will hopefully subcontract out work but I want to have a good understanding of the technical trades I bring in.

Hope it works out for you DNS1.

 

[malcolmsanford]

For me it's not the fact whether you have done 5 days 5 weeks or 5 decades, it is the fact that your going to use another persons work on your self assessment, which pretty much defeats the object of the assessment.

Applaud that you want to gain experience with an older hand, but what are going to do once this older hand walks you through this assessment? I'm sure he will never be seen and your going to then be fully qualified and experience with that well known mining qualification of

Monkey see monkey do .......................... I bet my pension you will not learn anything on 1 rewire, well certainly not enough to complete a 2nd rewire on your own, but I have a feeling your going to try.

What your doing and asking to do really is tantamount to fraud. By having someone assist you on your assessment is exactly that, becasue if you inform the NICEIC of what you did, they will not assess you, are you going to be telling them?

I hope for one none of the lads on here will entertain this.