Hi AllI am not far off from qualifying as an electrician (with New Career Skills Ltd if anyone is interested) and will seek domestic work as a self employed individual. I need to start thinking about a vehicle and what essential stock I should always be carrying.
Does anyone have a stock list of goods that they carry on board and are willing to share with me and others in a similar position?
Also any recommendations for a van to get?
Finally, I will need to pack the stock into the van, so do you have a photo of your van's layout that you are willing to share?
Many thanks
Have you ever done any electrical work for anyone in the past where you have had to plan a job then drive to their property before you can actually connect anything up?
Reading your post I get the impression not? (maybe wrong)
Anyhow to answer your question we really would need a bit more information as this is another of those areas that a lot of people doing fast-track courses end up falling flat on their faces.....
because they haven't got a clue about actually running a business...
They have some paper certificates stating they have a basic minimum understanding of the regs....
but no idea of the physics and science behind many of the essential electrical calulations...
no idea about how to properly design a job...
no idea about how to plan what materials and tools are needed to complete that task...
and no idea about what practical everyday hands on electrical work involves...
and minimal ability to discuss and establish the most cost effective solution for a customers requirements...
Anyhow.... you need to be thinking of:-
1/ What geographical area do you want to cover? how many square miles on the map do you envisage as your work patch?
2/ From (1) How many wholesalers and outlets are there in your work patch? What hours are they open?
3/ If your proposed work area is 400miles2 (20x20) and the nearest wholesaler is 15 miles away and only open Mon-Fri.. you need a bigger van with more stuff...
4/ If your proposed work area is 25miles2 (5x5) and there are 4 wholesaler each within a mile, open 7 days a week.. you need sod all! cuz as davetheglitz quite rightly says... Most successful industries nowadays work on just-in-time stock levels..
5/ Excluding ladders, the average electricians tools for typical domestic work would fit in the back of a ford fiesta.. maybe a vauxhall corsa!!
6/ Materials are dependent upon the work.. Commercial and industrial work will be more likely to be using heavy gauge materials larger cable sizes, trays conduits etc.. Whereas domestic would typically be a smaller stuff.. few coils of T&E do not take up much room.. e.g. compare 100m of 2.5mm T&E and 100m of 4core 16mm SWA! look at the size of a box of cable clips for flat T&E compare it to cable glands and cleats for SWA... (Its not rocket science!!!)
7/ What sort of domestic work are you thinking of???? Council rented properties... dive in.. dive out quick fix surface trunking surface accessories... or private homes.. longer job, more care neater work concealing cables, flush fittings? can make a big difference on what common items you will be using?
8/ How fast a response do you seriously think you will need to do.. customer calls.. you are there working within same day? or customer calls you do quote/estimate visit to suss the job out, give a price do the work a week later? Anything where you have a day or two before commencing work normally gives plenty of time to organise and collect any materials you need.
9/ Golden rule for start-up businesses.. KEEP OVERHEADS LOW... so the answer to your question is Minimum kit possible, A selection of screws fixings, tape, straps, connectors etc... But accessories why carry stuff that can be damaged that you are not going to convert back into profit within a week?
10/ Where is the vehicle going to be stored? if its not in a locked garage.. you will probably have to empty it every night!
More gear = PITA.. less gear = easy! Tools insurance will probably not be covered if left in a vehicle overnight!
TBH any person who has ever done the odd job (for profit or a favour) for someone a few miles away will soon suss out what they need to keep with them and what is just clutter!
Guinness
:Blushing 
