hi all basically iv just started my electrical installation work with a local sparky iv been in the field only 6 months and have realised the I dont really like the 1st fix installion I prefer 2nd and problem solving what shall I do what can i do long term in life is it realistic that I can only do 2nd fix later in my career im confused Thanks
Hi First Time Post I Just Need Some Guidance
- Thread starter mcaan
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Manator
©Honorary Essex Boy™
To be a good electrician you have to understand all the different aspects of the installation. During your training you will learn how to install properly, how to design a circuit and how to test. Larger companies will have teams of first fix electricians and second fix electricians, however they all have to know each others working methods.
There are loads of jobs that are menial and boring, but we all have to do them. After you qualify you could specialise in a certain area or field and never have to first fix again, but when learning you have to do everything.
There are loads of jobs that are menial and boring, but we all have to do them. After you qualify you could specialise in a certain area or field and never have to first fix again, but when learning you have to do everything.
so you want someone else to do the hard work for you, then you come in and do the easy bit? good luck with that
IMHO the 1st fix is where all the thinking takes place (apart from the design),,,, just doing 2nd fix would be really boring and is an unrealistic aim
Sounds like someone dont like hard work 
mm thanks something i have to really think About long and hard thanks for the advice manator I have 2365 lv 3
what about maintenance installation could that be the path for me of course will do my own research but generally asking hows that like
what about maintenance installation could that be the path for me of course will do my own research but generally asking hows that like
Afraid the others are right there there , Mcaan, after all these years I could do with just standing upright , fixing & connecting domestic boards in a warm envioronment while someone else does all the donkey work.
'Aint gonna happen .
'Aint gonna happen .
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I do very little 1st fix in the way that most of you do, the nearest I get is normally sticky back trunking and surface boxes most of the time, and no more than 6 points per job TBH.
The rest of what I do is I&T, fault finding & repair, but, a LOT of it is stupid risk in comparison to domestic.
Last Monday about 500k's worth of machine, then another over £100k.
Tuesday a cheap one circa £30k, then another of about the same value, then another the same.
Wed, a cheap one only about £12k
Thursday, playing with bits off a £30k machine which needs to be running by Wednesday, else client will be in trouble, and IF I mucked it up replacements are circa 16 weeks away.
Friday, a really cheap day only playing with bits of about £3k.
The rest of what I do is I&T, fault finding & repair, but, a LOT of it is stupid risk in comparison to domestic.
Last Monday about 500k's worth of machine, then another over £100k.
Tuesday a cheap one circa £30k, then another of about the same value, then another the same.
Wed, a cheap one only about £12k
Thursday, playing with bits off a £30k machine which needs to be running by Wednesday, else client will be in trouble, and IF I mucked it up replacements are circa 16 weeks away.
Friday, a really cheap day only playing with bits of about £3k.
Manator
©Honorary Essex Boy™
Now you're scaring him Sidey
Yes Mc Maintenance Electrician is basically a seperate discipline . I started in Maintenance and switched to installation .
The noise was enough , with 1000 ton cold extrusion presses and drop hammers forging crank shafts for engines . Basically couldn't face turning up there for the rest of my life .
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mcaan, tell me this. Suppose you could just do 2nd fix, / maintenance how will you know what does what? what goes where how this works, what does that do?
In the real world, to be good, you have to start at the bottom and work your way up, no matter what the job is you can not suddenly one day wake up and think "Today I am (for example) a pilot, but yesterday I couldn't even fly a paper aeroplane, let alone a real plane."
When you start at the bottom its so that you can learn how things are done When you know how things are done it gives you a better understanding of how things work, and therefore what is wrong. I work with a few people who did what you want to do, (start at the top) give them any real problem and they do not have a clue, simply because they do not understand how it works.
Welcome to the real world.
In the real world, to be good, you have to start at the bottom and work your way up, no matter what the job is you can not suddenly one day wake up and think "Today I am (for example) a pilot, but yesterday I couldn't even fly a paper aeroplane, let alone a real plane."
When you start at the bottom its so that you can learn how things are done When you know how things are done it gives you a better understanding of how things work, and therefore what is wrong. I work with a few people who did what you want to do, (start at the top) give them any real problem and they do not have a clue, simply because they do not understand how it works.
Welcome to the real world.
Welcome to my world Deke, the rewards can be higher, the donkey work can be less, but, the risks and hassle factors are definitely way higher!
I went to a job on Tuesday last week, the magic smoke was escaping, took the first bit out of the machine and warned the client it would not be cheap or quick.
Repairs circa 21 days, costs over £5k, on my say so, IF I've got it wrong, then how to you explain that!...
I went to a job on Tuesday last week, the magic smoke was escaping, took the first bit out of the machine and warned the client it would not be cheap or quick.
Repairs circa 21 days, costs over £5k, on my say so, IF I've got it wrong, then how to you explain that!...
Sharpend
"It Just Is"
Could just be a plumber instead, there's plenty of work fixing leaks, probably would never do any first fix if you played the cards right, that's all after your learning period of course!
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Just remember a maintenance spark has its less than glamerous jobs, for example spending days just taking every spec of dust of bus bars and insulators, or finding out why the sewage pump is not working in the sewage pit, or out in howling wind and rain trying to get some lighting etc on. I am sure most jobs have their plus sides as well as their negatives.
Yep, positives, like not having to lay in the back of a CNC VMC in a bed of swarf, like my job today!
Pete10001
Well-known member
Hi I'm not in the least boasting or bragging, but started on housing sites bashing in 1st and 2nd fixes, then commercial and Industrial, managed to get a maintenance job on a RAF base doing everything from airfield lighting, boiler controls, PA, ID, went from there to lower management, back on the tools now, albeit on a part time basis, I guess what I'm trying to get over to you is that you have to earn your spurs, so to speak, you have to know how its installed before you can maintain it, any way good luck
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