Electrical trade

[ians]

Sorry Dave we seem to be on a different page, I am talking about back in the day when there were many skilled educators at the training centres who where offered packages to help then on their way to make space for people from the higher education department.

The railway training centre is still open, just nobody there to teach the skills and only the odd appy or 2.

[ians]

Just looking at this whole thing from somewhere out there, I am starting to wonder if there is not something else at play here. Ever thought that maybe what they are trying to do is get to a point that they need to "bring in" skilled people from "other countries"

When I look at what the government is made up of, the key people (not the top brass...toffee oops I mean trophy person) the presidents right hand man is an......the minister of finance is .......

Just saying the cane cutter where bought in by the ship load back in the day.

[Dave A]

Sorry Dave we seem to be on a different page, I am talking about back in the day when there were many skilled educators at the training centres who where offered packages to help then on their way to make space for people from the higher education department.

Aah - that would be EE - employment equity. And yes you're right, teachers were offered spectacular packages to take early retirement.

Also a Kadar Asmal "bright theory" that backfired horribly.

[Jacques#1]

HA...These guys make me look good, need people like this in the industry . No seriously, some of my client wait literally a month before I can help them if i get very busy, cause they dont trust anyone else, especially having to work with the guys you just described. Blame the training centres. They do a better job of selling than teaching. A lot of the guys who parks outside builders stating they are electricians, have a certificate from these centres, but only level one. Nevertheless, they were sold that they can wire now, and they are electricians, with no preactical experience so they buy it!! Ive got two guys, one said he did his courses at the training centre. I had to teach him EVERYTHING from scratch. But, I prefer this, both my guys knew nothing, and I taught them how to do it MY way, or the High way.....simple

[ELECT 1]

We arent attracting many new people into the industry for a few reasons.
One of them is the remuneration. There is nothing attractive working for peanuts.
In SA there still seems to be a stigma attached to a tradesman. If you arent good enough for academia , then do a trade.
Perceptions are changing, but too slow.

Apart from big business, most small operators don't really know how to run a bossiness or how to employ people.
Their intentions are good, but dealing with an employee in the correct manner, learning how to make a profit, learning customer communication skills, and working with various complicated things, is one of the causes of problems in the industry at this level.

A few years back, cant remember the details, but there was an electrical equipment supplier in Calgary, in the window was a sign, courses available on how to start and run a small electrical business successfully..there were modules to do.
I thought very interesting. It would definitely be in the interest of the wholesaler if you all can run your business well.

[ians]

Welcome elect1, I like the way you think. I have also heard this too many times, the problem in the industry is there is too much talk and too little doing. It starts at the top with laws and rates.

I wasted many an evening listening to all the talk at the ECA meetings and how the contractors where going to up their rates the very next day...and the very next day the quotes where still fit for a monkey, even the shit mechanics earn more than electricians.

[Yuri]

I think the problem is there are to many electricans
If you go look at Olivantsfontein ask them how long it will take to get a date for a electrican trade test...

[ELECT 1]

I think the problem is there are to many electricans
If you go look at Olivantsfontein ask them how long it will take to get a date for a electrician trade test...

Put it this way, they made different categories of electricians so as to appease some one.
So we sit now with 3 types, Installation electrician, Master electrician , single phase tester ( this is just absurd) There are multiples of these, One installation electrician and 10 or so single phase testers what ever this means.

So when a customer phones up for a problem, do we ask if you have a single phase or three phase installation, and the answer will be almost all the same " come again " Huh!

[Yuri]

Thy must remove the single phase tester

[pmbguy]

As a matter of some interest and since I can’t find anything that explains it on my insurance contract, I would like to ask the following question: I have a guy refurbishing the house, both bathrooms and he has sorted out my elec problem with a section of the house that keeps on tripping. I asked him and he is not an electrician, but I am very happy with his work. My concern is that if my house had to burn down and a claim investigator finds out that electrical work was done without a certified electrician would I be in shit? I think I will be in shit, but I am not sure. I am definitely not going to phone my insurance to find out.

[Yuri]

Mybe he just removed the earth or removed the installation from the earth leakage ? That will make it dangers

[ELECT 1]

As a matter of some interest and since I can’t find anything that explains it on my insurance contract, I would like to ask the following question: I have a guy refurbishing the house, both bathrooms and he has sorted out my elec problem with a section of the house that keeps on tripping. I asked him and he is not an electrician, but I am very happy with his work. My concern is that if my house had to burn down and a claim investigator finds out that electrical work was done without a certified electrician would I be in shit? I think I will be in shit, but I am not sure. I am definitely not going to phone my insurance to find out.

How do you know that it is done in accordance with the regulations. At least a registered electrical contractor using a qualified electrician has the prospects of getting most, if not all right.

The law is very clear, the onus is on the home owner to see that he gets his place compliant. If not, the insurance can give you a hard time.
Insurance will always look for a way to not pay out, why give them this.

[Dave A]

So the house burning down would be OK as long as the insurance pays?

[pmbguy]

Shot guys. You see he was busy with the bathrooms when I asked him about the tripping. He said he is not an electrician, but that he will have a look. Where the gate cable runs out the house, that cable was damaged, exposed, that’s why every time it rained it would trip. I tried to find where the cause was but I could not for the life of me find the dam fault. He jumped in and within 10min found the fault and later replaced that section of cable, works perfectly now. I usually call in an electrician for stuff I am too stupid to do, because then I know it’s done properly. I did not do that in this case, it was one of those things where I was gat fol and he was there saying he can sort it out.

How will I know that the cable he replaced is in compliance? It’s just a straight forward replacement and join, what must I look for to know? The new cable itself? the joins?

[pmbguy]

So the house burning down would be OK as long as the insurance pays?

Shit in tins Dave, Hell no. How could I ever replace my priceless collection of Simpson flies? Some of them my grandfather made. But I understand what you are saying. For me at this point it’s more a question of curiosity towards the technicalities of an insurance contact with regards to issues which may arise due to compliance, or lack thereof. I certainly don’t wish to risk the lives of my family or my fishing gear due to kak work, but I guess in this instance I did do just that