domestic / commercial / industrial ????

[jameseye12]

Wow so you been practising electrics since you were 10yrs of age? James

Yes around about then, was always making circuits with batteries and stuff like that before then, but I was about ten when i started making up ring mains and lighting circuits, all out of old bits i scavenged off people, and old bits of T&E. Was quite rough when i first started out and now i look back and think "gawd, what was i thinking!". When I was 12, in my summer holidays from school, i spent a lot of time on the farm where my dad was working at the time, and i was allowed to rewire the lighting in some of the old cattle sheds (old vir, no cpc, always tripped when it rained), spent two or three days playing about at that, the farmer got someone else to check it and connect it up, still working to this day. Looking back, the only thing I probably could have done better was to be a bit neater running the cables across joists through walls etc

 

[kerching]

Well for my part EVERYTHING that Evans has said is 'Me' to a tee, we must be related...its spooky

My prefered work is Data and Comms. I used to really enjoy the sheet and plate metalworking machinery controls side. I used to repair, install, commission etc all over the country. That came to an end when one of my employees left and 'took the work with him'.

I went on my first job with my Grandad at the age of 6!...transport was an Isetta Bubble Car. I was running sites at age of 18 during the summer holidays from school. 2 years at college ONC in Senior Engineering, 3 years at University [bSc Hons Electrical Engineering]...failed [whoops]...Full time in family business from age of 21, Full proper apprenticeship, followed the JIB trail up to and including Electrical Technician. Had to go self empployed 3 years ago through no fault of my own...best move I ever made

All summer holidays were spent on site from the age of about 13 [seriously!].....if my Dad said: you did!!!!

well , you did ask!........... :coat

 

[unphased]

No speed cameras loony. But I did have the gun.... :innocent

 

[gavindrummond]

Really enjoying reading this tread! really good to hear that people been interested in electrics from such a young age. Some interesting backgrounds

 

[kerching]

I still have the scar on my knee from when at the age of about 8 i dismantled an electric meter [removed] and knelt upon the bits of broken porcelain insulator that were inside it!!

Used to disembowel TVs, take out the valves, smash them up and sniff them!!! [probably explains why I now have so many 'issues']

Used to get old valves and put 240 across them to see which pins made it go bang, same applies to loud speakers [only 2 terminals so less of a gamble].... :coat

 

[streetlighter]

Well I left school in 2000 passed the JTL aptitude test had a few interviews with big firms for an apprenticeship but had no luck in securing a job. So in September 2000 I started the full time electrical course with a local college, did my 2360 part 1 units 1-4 of the new 2351 and as part of the course we did work experience with local employers this was used to fill in evidence to gain my NVQ level 2.

Started an apprenticeship in January 2003 with a street lighting firm called MEWS got sent to college day release with JTL so I've got the full set of 2351 NVQ level 3 passed my AM2 first time also hold the 2382 2391 and 2377

Think I got some good experience during my apprenticeship didn't just do highway lighting they had us wiring up ports cabins on site and also worked on a local high school installing dado trunking in IT rooms.

After that I worked for a local council lighting department for two years hated working for them so been in my current employment for 4 years now working for the contractor on Cheshire highways been a reasonably good job, again not just working on the highway but wiring offices and ports cabins fault finding PAT testing anything.

Always had my own jobs on the go at the weekends and been my dream to go out alone doing domestic and commercial. So last year took the big step and set my own firm up registered with ELECSA bought a van and started advertising.

Well it's dead at the moment no quotes or any little jobs on so I'm glad I've kept my main job on, getting me down at the moment really wanted to be fully working for myself by now but no chance of that.

 

[SeánH]

I'm just about to start my third year as an apprentice with my company. We mainly do process control, instrumentation and HV work. So I suppose thats classed as industrial. Don't know an awful lot yet, but hey, everyday is a learning day :Salute

 

[lineman]

In this order; domestic&commercial equally heavy commercial as it were then industrial. Special location- presumably you are domestic only but damn knowledgeable at it.

 

[hxsarge]

i was about the same age when i started messing around with mainly electronics etc, but when i got to about 14/15 started working with my dad who is a jurasic spark! but i did go through a 5 year apprentaship when i got to 17... and i personaly would be warey of thoses who didnt. no disrespect ment, just disscussing the topic. im just shy of 23, and no-one questions my ability, they trust im the "apprenaship" label.

andy

 

[Bacon]

Well did 16 years in a press forge in maint department,Working on a range of stuff from forging presses up-to 2500 Ton, Clip presses,Induction furnaces,frequency converters,MCD machines(Magnetic Crack Detection) CNC's, building control panels from the small enclosures to large type 6ft*8ft for press control,Hydraulic systems and all the stuff in a busy production environment.

Finished at that place Feb 09 took redundancy then went subbing for a few months,Started at MOD doing installation on all mobile shelters ranging from explosive storage for Navy. Air flight refuelling stations,various types of field shelters pre deployment to Iraq and Afgan.All types of ground equipment all associated with aircraft and helicopters and inspection and testing around the country at various bases. Laid off there Nov 10 and started with a local firm 1 week after finishing there doing installations and breakdowns and inspection and testing at commercial and industrial premises.

Try to avoid Domestics like the plague.

 

[hxsarge]

sounds like some good background bacon.

 

[ProDave]

Well here's "my" story.

Like a lot of others, I started experimenting with electrical things at a very early age. I helped my dad rewire the lights in the house while still at school (no formal electrical qualifications then of course)

Luckily I went straight from school to an apprenticeship.

Worked for the first 26 years of my life doing industrial. Mostly automation, controls, PLC's a bit of robotics and a bit of laser stuff.

9 years ago I took voluntary redundancy which just happened to be on offer when I was planning to quit anyway so couldn't have worked out better, moved north and became self employed.

Now mostly domestic, and a walk in the park compared to what I used to do.

The main thing in favour of domestic, is you need to "stock" a lot less kit. Commercial and industrial usually demand a lot more, and more expensive stuff, so what little commercial and industrial I do now, everything is ordered for the job.

 

[rins]

I started as an electricians mate back in 1998 in industrial back then they were reasonably long contracts and good money for a mate plus you finished 1 contract and dived stright into another. then i got into street lighting yawn yawn yawn this bored me to tears so sat my quals then got into pub refurbs this work was a cracking number but good things never last, after this i jumped on new builds as these were going up everywhere you looked, the last few years ive been part time maintenance and part time domestic working for firms so i took the plunge in january and got my part p and only recently went to full time self employed, this is the work i prefer because each day is different its early days but ive secured a couple of contracts to help me on my way

 

[Paultrim]

Consultancy to the Leisure Industry which involves carrying out testing of Amusement Device. Work involves testing & inspection (EICR) of the fixed installations and includes thorough testing of the ride control systems. Have been working in the field for 9 years now. Besides working to BS7671, we also have to work to various other standards including EN13849, EN418, BSEN60204. We're also required to carry out functional testing of the amusement rides/ accelerometer testing.

Served my 5 year apprenticeship as an electrical engineer in robotics & manufacturing and gained my HNC in Mechatronics. C&G2391, 2381,2382.

Also a member of the IET for the last four years.

 

[Guy]

electricians mate, 5ww :coat

 

[poni]

put my name down

; )I'm thinking of starting "The Old Pharts Club". If you ever worked with the following, or installed them then you're in :- ( Any one gets you free membership)Soldering lugs with ladles or gas torch.yes[/i

]7/.029 etc just had a few rolls in the stores

3/4 conduitsame as above, spent alot of time going from " to mm

Rawlplug tools big yes still have one and use some time

Drummond Test Lamps yes still have one under the stairs

Redheads same some under the stairs

2BA screwsstill have some in a box under the stairs

Works van was an Austin A55 column change, no sycro on 1st no comma van

Wylex hardwood frame domino fuseboards. yes dont have any left used the last one a week ago

16mm meter tails yes

6mm bondingyesBonding sink tops and metal window frames.yes glad its all over now had to bond a chain link fence once

OTA @

 

[Megaohm7]

Mainly commercial these days but still do some domestic work.

 

[Sidewinder]

Mainly machinery, but I do industrial, commercial, domestic (If I HAVE to) & medical.

Not just electrical though do mechanical, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, programming and H&S!

 

[Steve3948]

I do all types, but it seems these days to be very large country homes, manor houses, barn refurbs, still do a few factory jobs but very little commercial.

I've been in the trade 41 years and self employed for 27 years, giving my age away now !!!!!

Also worked before self employment for all the big national contractors around the UK, in those days we were deemed journeyman Electricians, with OTA which covered digs etc.

Started on

 

[jakecameron]

Started 2 years as a labourer to a sole trader. Done 4 year apprenticeship with the gas board. Loads of 3ph and control gear big switch rooms project work including instrumentation etc all complying to compex etc. done a year thee after finishing and now work for myself doing council rewire is my biggest contract ATM but still do the odd industrial installs and private rewires etc. anything with wires... I love a challenge and love going to a job and feeling that I have learned something new about the industry

As for 5ww they are not electricians.