Asking questions

[green-hornet]

Have you ever watched who wants to be a millionair?

Good program, however have you noticed not many people win the million.

Do you know why?

I do.

Its simple.

Not everyone knows everything, and you only know the answer if you know.

Thats why when some people ask questions on this forum, I hate to see some posters assume that they should not be asking the question.

You only know what you know by at some time in your life asking the very same questions.

Some people would assume that from my posts I know a lot about this trade, well if I did I would not be here learning even more.

My signature says everything this forum is about, which is why I spend some of my spare time on here.I learn something new everyday, from posts I never reply to, but follow.

I am certainly not a snob when it comes to electricians, there are no better or worse in my opinion, all I want is that if someone askes a question, whatever their experiance, or our personal views as to their capabilities is to give good sound advise, which should include any safety considerations you feel may need to be pointed out.

There really are no stupid questions.

Knock anyone for asking and they may never ask again.

 

[PC Electrics]

Here, here.

 

[Northern Electric]

As most of you know I have only been on this site for a few days. I have found it very interesting to talk to other sparks in various parts of the UK and no doubt further.

As an Electrician and a supervisor I would expect a certain level of training to be instilled into anybody claiming to be trading or working as a spark.

I agree 100% with GH that when somebody asks a question it is answered in a non patronising manner to the best of the individual's knowledge.

However, we need to ensure we are not passing our hard earned knowledge to those who have leaked through from a DIY forum, the have a go heroes.

We were all trainees at some point, but remember we are constantly learning.

There are many things the newer trainees and newly qualified sparks on here would be able to teach me due to the ever evolving regulations, it is many years since I did my C&G 236 quals, but I do try to keep on top of as many of the changes as I can.

Good post GH.

 

[Apache]

Neil, I know you are new and most of what you say I agree on, but one thing this forum doesn't do is exclude anyone (unless you are spamming.......)

However, we need to ensure we are not passing our hard earned knowledge to those who have leaked through from a DIY forum, the have a go heroes.

If you read the very first page of the forum:

The UK's Friendliest & Fast growing, number 1 Electrical & Electrician Forum. A trusted Web forum For Professional Electricians, Student Electricians & DIY.

and

Talk.electricianforum.co.uk was set up to help Professional Electricians, Student Electricians and the Avid DIYer, where a friendly conversation could take place without being ridiculed.

If a DIYer wants to come on here, fully intending to do something in their own home, is it not better they take some advice and do it properly rather than bodge it as Mr B&Q said? You are not taking away your trade, these jobs were never going to be done by electricians anyways. You can do your bit to make it safer?

If you really disagree with the DIYer questions then no-one will mind if you quietly ignore them, just don't go posting 'call a spark' - it helps no-one.

Signed Apache - no electrical qualifications at all

 

[avinalarf]

Signed Apache - no electrical qualifications at all

But my goodness, he's helpful AND knowledgeable (did I spell that correctly?!)

:x

 

[Northern Electric]

Apache,

I appologise for not reading the instructions. I assumed that the forum was targeted at electricians and trainees.

On the subject of the have a go heroes, this is an area we will have to agree to disagree on. Home owners need to be educated in electrical safety and awareness in a public manner, just as was done with gas appliances.

No doubt now I have made my opinions public on this matter there will be numerous home owners who have used this site, used the information and installed various electrical circuits safely. I appologise if my opinions offend you, but when you have seen some of the appalling and dangerous installations undertaken by homeowners, that I have seen over the years, I hope you can respect my views.

Case closed.

 

[Apache]

But my goodness, he's helpful AND knowledgeable (did I spell that correctly?!) :x

Blushing spelling's perfect!

 

[Blue Fox]

The other point that needs to be remembered is we are all from very different backgrounds and may be tryin to move into a different area of electrical work. For example I'm tryin to move into domestic type work from industrial and so ask some pretty basic domestic type questions which some people may think surely he must know that but I don't have the domestic experience although I have learnt a lot over the last ten months but ask me about a plc system or motor control or inverter systems and ill probably be able to answer it. So just because someone asks a question that seems obvious to you because you have done it hundreds of times doesn't mean its obvious to someone else who is doing that particular job for the first time despite being in the trade for fifteen years. On the diyer front we would all rather they came to us of course but they are not so let's try and help them not to kill themselves and do the job right if you really feel it is beyond a diyer for example a cu change then that's different. In my time on this forum I have seen a few people bein put down by replies but very very rarely and I think that is a huge compliment to the forum as everyone will help out which is what its all about

 

[spinlondon]

Apache,I appologise for not reading the instructions. I assumed that the forum was targeted at electricians and trainees.

On the subject of the have a go heroes, this is an area we will have to agree to disagree on. Home owners need to be educated in electrical safety and awareness in a public manner, just as was done with gas appliances.

No doubt now I have made my opinions public on this matter there will be numerous home owners who have used this site, used the information and installed various electrical circuits safely. I appologise if my opinions offend you, but when you have seen some of the appalling and dangerous installations undertaken by homeowners, that I have seen over the years, I hope you can respect my views.

Case closed.

Two things.

It is often the case that DIYers do better jobs than so called qualified electricians.

One such case I had dealings with, the Electrician failed to identify switch wires, did not install grommets at cable entry points on new CU, failed to install flash guard in CU and did not issue an EIC.

The DIYer had used T&E to supply an outside light, that in my opinion required mechanical protection. The DIYer had also extended circuits in a bedroom and the kitchen, provided a new circuit in the kitchen and provided a switch for the outside light, all of which were satisfactory including the identification of the switch wire in the light switch.

When the electrician remedied his faults, he managed to swop over the up and down rings and still did not issue an EIC.

The other thing.

Home owners are allowed to work on gas appliances in their own homes.

It is only people offering to work on gas for remuneration that have to be registered with CORGI or Gas Safe as it is now known.

 

[tom1]

i have said it befor if u dont know then u dont know, u should ask.

its better to ask even if your just confirming what u know

this forum is great for q & a

 

[L-E_Fault]

If a DIYer comes onto forum to ask about changing a switch or maybe a light fitting, then forum members would and should help because as patch said its unlikely there going to call in an electrician, at least with some advise it should be a safer job.

However if a DIYer wants to change his consumer unit then the only advise that should be given is "contact a local electrician".

If you do like to make people feel small and stupid, and offer no help, I can fully recommend the 'screwfix' forum.

 

[kme]

Tim77 raises a good point there.

Many of the original members of this forum came from the "other place" - I don`t know about since, as I haven`t been back - ever.

Lets not pick on a specific item, such as a cons. unit. The level of competence of mr. DIY varies considerably. If ANYONE of any skill level asks about doing a particular job, those knowledgeable about that subject best serve the forum by explaining the difficulties and possible pitfalls associated with the works.

This even applies to us sparks. I, and many others who would consider ourselves intelligent & diligent sparkies, may be faced with a particular issue which is far enough out of our usual work that we are unsure as to the correct proceedure. Does that mean we shouldn`t do that job? If you answer "yes", how in the world do you ever learn anything??

We are here to try and help, not to berate someone who is not as skilled at a particular job as you are.

KME

 

[Andy™]

Tim77 raises a good point there. Many of the original members of this forum came from the "other place" - I don`t know about since, as I haven`t been back - ever.

ive never been back to the other forums either - and it wasnt SF. although from what ive read the odd time, its just as bad

 

[Evans Electric]

Other Forums ! You mean "The Dark Side" . I strayed there once by logging in thinking it was this one. Theres a post about it somewhere. There was a definite " attitude" on there . Many came here after some great falling out over there but I don't think many stayed , did they ?? I never go there myself, just felt I didn't belong.

 

[spinlondon]

Are we refering to the IET forum?

 

[batty]

[quote name='Andy

 

[paul b b]

With my family comitments, mortgage, child, expensive wife etc..... it ment that i could not afford to do a full 3 year course and work for someone cheaply, so at thet

age of 31 the only thing i could do was a full on fly by night course that i compleated in 1 year, i know that this course would only get me through the exams and i would start to learn when on site (knowing the regs is 1 thing, putting into practice or knowing the best way to get a cable from a-b is another).

this forum has helped me emensly am i am eternaly greatful fo all the help i have had in here! as said before it's better to do a job right.

so thanks to:

GH

Electric evans

Neil

Wozz

Andy tm

Kme

Patch

Godfarther

Batty

Betty swollocks

special location

Nozspark

and all others that have given me advice!

 

[monkey5]

With my family comitments, mortgage, child, expensive wife etc..... it ment that i could not afford to do a full 3 year course and work for someone cheaply, so at thetage of 31 the only thing i could do was a full on fly by night course that i compleated in 1 year, i know that this course would only get me through the exams and i would start to learn when on site (knowing the regs is 1 thing, putting into practice or knowing the best way to get a cable from a-b is another).

this forum has helped me emensly am i am eternaly greatful fo all the help i have had in here! as said before it's better to do a job right.

so thanks to:

GH

Electric evans

Neil

Wozz

Andy tm

Kme

Patch

Godfarther

Batty

Betty swollocks

and all others that have given me advice!

ditto!

 

[monkey5]

and special location!

 

[sellers]

I'm in the same boat as blue fox here. Give me conduit, trunking, juicy armoureds, 3phase all day long, but when it comes to getting past a noggin in a wall my knees go all queesy. And that is why this place is such a good help. No judgement, just solid secure, indepth answers to any questions I need to know.