Electrical Courses

[addjunkie]

Don't touch anything HV. All 415 or lower

Is the cement stuff a dusty environment with ATEX motors or normal run of the mill stuff? If you get up to speed on LV stuff, sub 1000v, there are then further training places that cover HV switching, isolation and such like. I did a couple with Scottish Power.

@Brad93 - you "a bright capable young lad".

I am following this thread with interest (real interest).

You can carry on puting a bucket on your head and looking at a bright light all day - but the thought of you thinking about multiskilling - really reinforces how bright I think you are....

Multi skilling is a great thing, far easier for an electrical guy to learn mechy stuff than the other way round, mainly I think because the theory is far more abstract!

6k for training is a lot of money, but its also an investment in your long term future. We now live in a bits of paper world. The more you have the better.

 

[m_c]

I'm interested in this.

It's looking like unemployment may be pending, and as easily as I could get another job in the motor trade, I'm mostly fed up with it.
I've been keeping an eye on more engineering type jobs, but all the ones that seem to pay better, are looking for electrical qualifications.

Electrical theory doesn't bother me, as I have been master tech trained, and have spent many years playing with and retrofitting CNC machines, but it's something I have no qualifications in.
I am currently around a third through an HNC in control engineering, but I'm not likely to be finished that before needing a new job :/

 

[willie.macleod]

I'm more just thinking of ass covering.

Working on industrial machines, bearing replacement, gearbox overhaul, motor exchanges etc, cables need to be disconnected, components replaced.

I'm confident in my abilities, but that doesn't help you in a court.

Start with this, at £295 it is a bit easier on the wallet and will get you on your way and help with evidencing your electrical safety skills. Do you already have electrical test kit?

C&G 2377-77 - City & Guilds Level 3 Award in the In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment

PAT Testing Courses - 2377, 2377-22 & 2377-32

Learn how to test portable electrical appliances with a qualification in Electrical Equipment Maintenance and Testing. Aimed at practicing electricians, this qualification will help and progress individuals within the Electrotechnical industry. A qualification in Electrical Equipment Maintenance...

www.ableskills.co.uk

 

[dobbslc]

Cement Works, Recycling Centres, Bakeries, wherever work takes us

There's probably some special electrical procedure for working in that environment? Sparks and fine dust don't go well together.

Weekends could be an option, although it is pricey.

Not sure how many people do the full time course. You'd have to have a fair old nest egg to fork out six grand and take three months off work.

I think i'd start with the level 2 and do the level 3 separately.

There's no rush to do this as we have an electrician on-site most of the time. It's for them call out jobs where it's harder to get someone out at 10pm on a sunday.

View attachment 408239

6K! F me!
You could do a full on electrical qualification for less than that and be more that covered for working on three phase kit!

 

[Brad93]

Is the cement stuff a dusty environment with ATEX motors or normal run of the mill stuff? If you get up to speed on LV stuff, sub 1000v, there are then further training places that cover HV switching, isolation and such like. I did a couple with Scottish Power.

Multi skilling is a great thing, far easier for an electrical guy to learn mechy stuff than the other way round, mainly I think because the theory is far more abstract!

6k for training is a lot of money, but its also an investment in your long term future. We now live in a bits of paper world. The more you have the better.

Just standard motors. The cement dust doesn't pose a threat in my experience except in being transported through the pipes and in the bagging plant.

In the mills the whole process relies on dust being aerated and separated from heavier (larger) particles in an air stream by the clarifier.

The problem is i'm looking at the welding work out there, what other people are putting out, and why on earth would you try to compete. Half of it is dog doo, and the customers don't know the difference. There are people out there doing it proper, to exceedingly high standards. However i doubt many of them are earning more than £200/day.

Recently done a hardfacing job, 50 hours straight welding, customer ****** about paying us and not so much as a thank you.

 

[Brad93]

There's probably some special electrical procedure for working in that environment? Sparks and fine dust don't go well together.

6K! F me!
You could do a full on electrical qualification for less than that and be more that covered for working on three phase kit!

As far as i can see the £6k would give you a level 2 & level 3 C&G so then you'd have to do your 18th edition and then you'd be qualified although you'd have zero real world experience!

I think that worry's me more.

 

[MetalMonkey]

As far as i can see the £6k would give you a level 2 & level 3 C&G so then you'd have to do your 18th edition and then you'd be qualified although you'd have zero real world experience!

I think that worry's me more.

The 18th is just to prove familiarity with the wiring regulations. Worth doing anyway I would say, and required no matter what.

You have several options to become qualified.

You can do an apprenticeship, four years (soon to be 4 and a half). This is the industry preferred route.

You can do the college route level 2 and level 3 (c&g 8202 or EAL equivalent)

Or you can go for a training provider level 2 and 3 (c&g 2365). This is being discontinued next year.

There is another pathway for experienced workers who are already working in the industry to have their experience assessed against a framework

One you have completed one of these routes you need to complete a portfolio of practical work (sometimes known as an NVQ although it isn't) and have it assessed.

Then you will need to sit an practical AM2 exam, there are a couple of variations depending on which route you went down, but it is quite intensive and takes 16 hours.

Then, and only then can you be considered qualified. But there are still some extra courses and assesments which you really need to be considered properly qualified and accredited.

Either way you will be looking at a couple of years and a significant investment.

There are a lot of other courses on offer, but they won't count for anything "official" so don't get suckered in.

I'd say start with the 18th, and then see if you really need, or want, to proceed with anything further.

 

[premmington]

Is the cement stuff a dusty environment with ATEX motors or normal run of the mill stuff? If you get up to speed on LV stuff, sub 1000v, there are then further training places that cover HV switching, isolation and such like. I did a couple with Scottish Power.

Multi skilling is a great thing, far easier for an electrical guy to learn mechy stuff than the other way round, mainly I think because the theory is far more abstract!

6k for training is a lot of money, but its also an investment in your long term future. We now live in a bits of paper world. The more you have the better.

@addjunkie Your quote "6k for training is a lot of money, but its also an investment in your long term future"

-----

I don't think it is - £6k looks like £120 a week to me over a year - @Brad93 is self employed I think? - training is about as tax claimable as you can get (rightly so). So that makes it £90 a week in real terms...

It is a commitment - and you gotta finish what you started to get the value out of it.

You could buy a bit of plant for £6k (or even a slightly better van for work) and not earn out of it - where multiskilling would bring a higher income in the end (doubt it would take you too long to get your £90 a week back). Or it could even buy you job security, bettter job options, if you wanted a PAYE job somewhere in the future.

Looks like a good investment to me...

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Able skills...that's the one. I remember it being very expensive but if it's claimable then maybe not so bad.

Some of it was very maths heavy...and the course was full on intense with a constant series of exams.

Mate was already an experienced industrial electrician but needed the UK qualification.

 

[Brad93]

Able skills...that's the one. I remember it being very expensive but if it's claimable then maybe not so bad.

Some of it was very maths heavy...and the course was full on intense with a constant series of exams.

Mate was already an experienced industrial electrician but needed the UK qualification.

if some of the apprentice trained sparkies i've come across can do the maths, i don't think i'm gonna have too many problems.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

It was all doable stuff as I recall...it's just the intensity that's tough I think...very little time to get to grips with the concepts so if they're new it's tough.

He seemed to be doing an exam every week or two...