With regards to the unverified circuits I recommend isolating them as you never know if the cable is not terminated and loose behind a bed or something. Disconnect and tell customer if they find something not working give me a call.
13:25 That is quite scary in that you don't need licenses nor do you have a 3rd party to followup on what was done, its all self certified. Here in the US, which each state is a bit different, most have requirements of how long you have to be in each step before you can be a master electrician. Then every job that requires permits here, you will have inspections by the local jurisdiction authority to make sure that your work is up to code/regulations. Here are the steps required in Texas for example to be able to start your own business as a master electrician. These are all licensees that the state will issue. Apprentice Electrician: With an apprentice license, you just have to submit the right form and be over the age of 16 years old. Residential Wireman: To become a residential wireman, you must get 4,000 hours of experience under a master electrician. This experience must be documented and signed by your supervisor. Journeyman Electrician: If you want to get a journeyman license, you must complete 8,000 hours of work as an apprentice under a master electrician. Afterward, you need to apply for a journeyman license and take the journeyman certification test. If you pass, you will officially become a journeyman electrician. Master Electrician: To become a master electrician, you must complete 12,000 hours of work under a master electrician. You must also have a journeyman license for at least two years before you apply. Once you meet these requirements, you can apply for your license and take the master test. The once you are a master electrician you can open your own business. If you think the 12,000 hours that is at least 300 weeks at 40 hour per week or about 6 years minimum to be able to go out on your own.
IT has always been full of plastic MCSE and CCNA. I remember back in in the 90s a MCSE added a user to the domain admins group because they wanted to be able to install software on their local pc. Or another one who racked rack mount servers on a shelf and then stacked more servers on top of each other because the rack kits didn’t fit in the rack. He didn’t think to unbolt and move the vertical supports in towards each other. He couldn’t wire a plug either.
Really interesting to hear you talk about the industry in such a way. I've had the exact same experience doing my degree but really eye opening to see it cross over into areas like being a electrician. There are people I know who have graduated with computer science degrees who don't even know what a class is which can be very aptly compared to wagos and it literally just does not make sense how someone could not know such a thing exists. Genuinely makes me concerned how it seems everything these days is all about getting people qualified without the proper skills or knowledge. These people, whether they are electricians or in the computer world, will effectively have people's lives in their hand and it's just gonna be a complete disaster.
Hi Tom , i totally agree on the training aspect of the industry, my apprentice has just completed her level 3 at college and passed with merit, but when she did her testing part of her level 3 she was told she didnt need to do safe isolation as they knew the board was dead, she was given a tester that was due for recalibration in 2020, she thought it was part of the test, it wasnt they hadnt check it, and they didnt do any live testing as most of them hadnt done any, and now they can go into the real world to do there level 3 nvq, i was always taught if you fit it you test it and thats the way ive taught her, she is more than cabable of doing all testing including live, but i worry there are people going out there that have never tested properly or live, I love this industry most days but the training and the cps schemes need a good shake up
@@m.bmaintenance7834 Hold on, so it was test / training board? But isn't the whole purpose of training is to learn to perform safe isolation and pretend that the board is hard wired to main supply? 🤔🤔
@@alsanova so did we, luckly enough she has been proving dead since she started and testing live with us but there are people out there that will now go on to do there nvq, who havent
The industry needs a huge shake up, in my opinion it’s the trade schools are mainly to blame for producing subpar so called electricians. Such as trade skills 4 U, when they advertise things like become an electrician in 6 days. I have worked with guys who have done these short courses and they are just terrible.
I taught in local colleges Testing & Inspection for many years. Unfortunately it's all about bums on seats and money for the training providers regardless of the 'entry level' of candidates. I often voiced my concerns but they were ignored. So sad. Glad I'm now retired!
As an ex Refrigeration/ Aircon engineer I can feel the heat in that area. It was my pet hate working on outdoor units sited indoors with poor airflow. The customers always wonder why the units go out on overload in the summer.
Hi Tom, Great video. You really need to get the Brother label printer, makes your C/U looks much nicer. I drilled into one of my customers water pipes once, I was so annoyed with myself, but the customer was really cool about it, even came to work as an Apprentice for me! I would never ask for someone's phone number like that, totally unprofessional mate(please don't be offended, that's just my opinion). Cheers Tom
We have come a long way from my SIX years apprenticeship which included armature rewinding, replacing motor bearings, brazing, lubrication etc. ( Steel works ) Attended day release at Warrington Technical College, City & Guilds Electrical Installation Work
Just stumbled over this channel - brilliant! I love how you setup your company and seem to have the people that are actually doing the work as much in the center of your attention as the work itself. This really is where it's at. Because if it's a pain to get out of bed each day, what are we doing this for anyways? Keep it up mate, exactly like that, and success will follow you wherever you go!
Did you run an auxiliary supply to the generator to power the coolant heater & battery charger for the generator?? What size of generator was it 40 kva?
Hi Tom, I’m a apprentice on my second year of training to be a electrician and on my first year of training i was sent home nearly everyday, and when there were teachers to teach us it was all health and safety, and the teachers didn’t have any experience in the industry. (Bare in mind this is a college) So I ended up getting a apprenticeship to learn from my dad who is a electrician and he couldn’t believe how people are being trained at colleges. So other students would message me as I was the only one with a apprenticeship in my class and ended up having to teach other students as majority of the Time they would turn up to college and be sent home for the 3rd time this week, after the teacher telling us to come in. And for me to get to college is a hour and 45 mins to get there and to get back is 3 hours depending if the buses are running.
I had the same issue with college. 3 hour lessons were always a quick 30 min health and safety rubbish. Spent hard earned money to learn, only to learn nothing.
Hint: You can make a repair to a split nail like that with layers of kitchen roll and araldite, effectively making a false nail on top. The kitchen roll (cotton cloth works too) forms like a shell.
DMX advice, it has no error detection, so any glitches will cause the lights to mess about, please make sure each DMX circuit is terminated, if the drivers don't have built in terminators you can enable then put a 120 ohm 0.5W resistor across data positive and negative at the end of the circuit.
I can believe how old DMX is, its SCSI In needing a termination plug?? I'm personally in 2 minds about using DMX vs using newer standards based on Data/PoE++
Also, DMX should have a 0V (ground) connection between each fitting (separate to earth!). You might get away without it for short runs but you’ll have random flashes and all sorts of trouble if you omit it. Use Cat 5 or 6 and use one twisted pair for data + and -, and another whole pair for 0V.
hi Tom, I'm no electrician, I'm interested and know plug wiring etc, I know what a wago & ideals are but I'm struggling to find any Wallace to go with the grommets (joke off jimbo before he left)
I work in the events industry and we use DMX for all our lighting, it is so reliable, usually uses 5 pin or 3 pin (cheaper fixtures) XLR connectors to connect to one another but have also seen many fixtures with bare ends to wire your own plugs
Ofc now with so many fixtures having pixel mapping abilities the channel count is going higher and higher, many just have rj45 artnet inputs as well as 5 pin, cuz otherwise you'd need a cable run for every 4 washes
@@leon-p9f7i very true or depending on the stage they often run an artnet node and run couple of dmx cables up to each trussing section so your not running tonnes of dmx cable from the console
@@Eternionel yeah, if it's more than like 3 universes, and the console is FOH rather than side of stage then an artnet node makes a lot of sense, and if you need really long range, like for festival mainstage, can run on fibre as well, altho that's overkill most the time 😂. Good to see there's a couple stage techs/nerds watching Tom's videos 😂
Single insulated on show didn't used to be a fail..., old meter tails were VIR braided, and bell transformers were always mounted on a little board with the single insulated feeds pigtailed neatly into the terminals. With that MI, I'd have been tempted to remove the incoming from the meter (I know) and oversleeve with 5 or 6mm blue and brown, that way it's double ins
You are not required to hold AM2 or NVQ 3 to do your inspection and testing, I think thats the main problem. You are allowed to do your Inspection and Testing with just having 18edition, which is pretty easy to obtain (buy it).
@@timballam3675 I've done my one while working on site as a mate/improver. There are providers that offer NVQ3 via a "Mature candidate" route. Check XS training for their courses.
Each week on the training course consisted of 2 to 3 days in classroom, highlighting what topics are likely to come up on the multiple choice exam, 1 afternoon going through the practical steps. 1 day doing the practical. Afternoon doing the exam. The Friday either redoing an exam or finishing the practical. I only went in on the Friday to make sure I'd passed everything and my paperwork was complete.
As a Qualified electrician who completed his apprenticeship through the JTL route and received a shiny Gold ECS card. Then moving and becoming licensed in Australia as an Electrician and instrumentation tech over 10 years ago, The training and legalities in the UK are woeful. Firstly, have it mandatory for time served electricians to become licensed. Secondly, no one other than a licensed electrician can undertake work in their homes. If found to do so can void home insurances. Thirdly, respect the trade. No undercutting. Forth, encourage progression and training for example some states here have prerequisites which you need to complete to obtain your license for example an up to date CPR/LVR which has to be completed every 12 months.
Advice on pickups, would avoid Nissan purely because they used to have an issue with the chassis rotting, not sure if they still have that issue but worth looking into! Family members have stuck with Ford rangers since a neighbour had an issue with a 6 month old Nissan X trail back in 2017 that was scrapped after 8 months ownership!
The thing is there's not just ONE qual to be 'an electrician' in the UK, it's so confusing to a lot of people, do your T&I, NVQ 3, AM2 if you want to.... stuff like that. I was in maintenance for 20 yrs with BTEC lev 3 from the early 90s Best thing i ever did for the EICRs on flats was get a set of FB keys (and watch LPL, as you showed with the combination lock a couple of years back)
That industrial plant room install looked good Tom, but it would of looked the Dog's whatsits if the conduit bends had all been the same on the top of that board on the right (your left) 😐
I hear you on the working nights and days. Just before COVID was doing nights at a shopping centre and days with everything else. A few 18 hour shifts and you know you've done them!
13:20 -- My opinion here is that the organisation or agency that is running the training course could either fully or partially government funded and these people have been tasked with getting more electricians out into the wild so that the industry can _'level up'_ But rather than do it in the best possible job they can, the people running the training course have chose to half arse it either to meet government targets so they get more money or they are genuinely running away with peoples money by not running them through almost everything they'll encounter while on the job as an electrician.
Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. You need two wires that aren't earthed or shorted, at least for mine, so if the loose end is somehow connected the tone tracer won't work. The affordable ones don't penetrate too deeply either, 50 mm maybe. That also means you can follow a cable but you can't just wave the wand round a room trying to find a cable that could be just about anywhere. I love mine dearly but I know its limitations.
i have the same inverter running my cabin, its been working continuously for over a year, seems to be a good brand scratch that.. it blew up today... maybe try another brand
Sadly Tom the years of doing an apprenticeship have gone and the tradesman my age all retired. 40 years ago a bloke I had working with me, spent months showing him the ropes but he was so bad they had to let him go. He ended up in a local college telling people how to do the trade. He stayed there a very long time so how many went through taking in all he said as gospel. You'll find they start doing jobs cheap and everyone wants a cheap job... until it goes wrong and they call in a real tradesman to put it right. Been there and got the tshirt, it's a shame it's all about certificates these days and not about practical experience. Love your videos 👍🏴
if its unknown , dont leave in on, leave it off and eventually someone will say this or that wont work , you then will know. plus if you meggar the cable and is ok like you said , that is worse as it could be a cable floating somewhere with no accessory on the end
Hi Tom totally agree I am a heating engineer. I recently sat my Acs assessment witch we have to do every 5 years 🙄and in the assessment place it’s the same people in there don’t even know how to use a gas analyser.
Well, my last apprentice got "fired" because he didnt show curiosity to learn electricity. 9 months in school that my boss pays him to go and he didnt "liked it", but He wanted that check at the end of the month. well I just said to him, If you dont want to learn, you will stay at the low level of electricity, aiding people passing cable and doing labor work. that is required a low level of knowledge of electricity, I had none electricians coming through the company where they did better work than some young kid doing a apprentice to get a job..... they just want a job. People dont understand that you need a bit more than that. Knowledge of the work is insane good for you for your portfolio, later you will say thanks to people who guided to you to study more
Dmx is a brilliant system for universal, simple, reliable control of so many lighting systems. Super easy to implement and is what nearly all stage lighting uses. Ofc these kinds of systems with all the different drivers, and dedicated controllers are much more complex and hard to set up than the standard plugging in power and 5 pin xlr. But there have been so many advances into outputting dmx from cheap controllers, or concert level software on a laptop using a cheap usb dongle. Really cool for install lighting where you want lots of customisation but don't have a massive budget, or a whole room to put a controller
@@maxking3 knx is nice, standardised. But manufacturers are still using their own ecosystems especially for wireless stuff. Look at the LTT smart-switches thing with jasco. Knx makes sense for smart home stuff. Granted one problem with dmx (assuming RDM is not being used)is that the controller and the fixtures are in a kind of one way relationship, where the controller has to be told what it is connected to/what data to send, it cannot detect what fixtures are connected to it and determine it itself. At the same time the fixtures don't know that the controller is talking to it specifically, it just gets told a set of addresses to listen to. Similar to listening to a specific radio frequency. These things makes troubleshooting on initial setup very difficult, especially with lots of fixtures, as if one is addressed wrong it has to be changed manually on the fixture, and the problem cannot be detected or fixed by the controller. This also helps make the system very reliable however, as it reduces the complexity of the data sent down the line.
@@leon-p9f7i I think it is the other way round. With KNX RF we now have a vendor independent standard for wireless devices that is 100% compatible and set-up from within the ETS software. 3 thoughts: 1) My KNX house has 20 Dimmers, 40 Switches, 16 heating circuits and 20 blinds. All set-up in 2006. I bought an Alexa-Gateway 4y ago, and within minutes I had every single function voice controlled. Last year I got a Homekit-Gateway and the same happened. All devices immediately getting Apple-compatibility 15y after deployment. Now I am waiting for Thread & Matter to gain critical mass and who knows, in a few years I’ll have perfect matter compatibility. 2) My PV system can connect to KNX via Modbus. Now I can set the outdoor lighting depending on the charging of the PV battery. The current production can be displayed on my 2006 KNX Touchscreen. And I can switch on a little green LED at in the utility room’s light switch, so you can see whether the solar production is good enough to start the machine. (Once it breaks down, I might get a smart one with Auto-Start) 3) A friend of mine just bought a house with KNX blinds and heating. The seller gave him a USB stick with the “.pr2” file from 1997. It took 20 seconds for the conversion if the file into the current ETS6 and use it 25 years later and change parameters… What other technology could do this?
A long time back I was picking up 🚑 pager messages on my PC.. One came through that someone got cherry pickered into a forecourt roof in his area. 🏋️♂️ I did wonder as he'd bought one around the time and hadn't posted for a bit, but they soon resumed.
Another good video mate have to be honest fell asleep watching last night and had to finish it this morning….. no idea how you guys can change shift patterns so easy 🥵
Excellent video guys. I’m so pleased that you may have a unit in the pipeline! Any plans to bring back the Friday videos if you get a unit? Have a great week mate.
How can you complete your level 2 and 3 and not know what a waygo is? We used connector blocks and waygos on my level 2 course. Do you not need your AM2 to go on an inspection and testing course?
Hey all! So, regarding about that training centre thing. I have recently signed up to do the complete NVQ lv2 & 3, along side EV & PV addon training. However, with my centre they said in their own words: "To be part of the course, you MUST be from a Trade to be on the course", saying that I am a fully "Qauilfied" Bench Joiner but looking at some of the people in my Group... Non of them look like they came from any trade at all, giving me the same feeling of "Most Skilled person there" yet I have only basic knowledge for elterical work (learning from my old man). So... I have mixed feelings and see what you're saying Nagy.
Hi Tom, I totally agree with you on the training aspect in my opinion you shouldn't be allowed to do the Testing & Inspection Exam unless you have the NVQ Level 3 Diploma & AM2 accreditation, i know of guys being started by a hygiene/testing company running around testing schools & businesses with no electrical apprenticeship, qualifications or site experience, i'll not name them but if added an i to the company name and rearranged a few letters it would be if you went for a pee. One of them was asked to a wholesaler and get 32amp type c breaker and came back with a 320mm sds shank crank chisel bit, it's total madness for someone with that kind of knowledge to tie their name to a report for 5 years when they don't know what dangers to look out for😐
@@paulteasdale7112 that address is his accountants address...most companies use their accountants as their registered business address on companies house
@@madgebishop5409 Well, in that case his accountant has a 10ft square rent an address in Cricklewood then! His reg office address changes more than is healthy for a proper business IMHO. But then I think he flies by the seat of his pants now sadly. No social media presence, bit off far more than was healthy with the office/warehouse and staff. Genuinely worried though.
I am from New Zealand and a lot of time we have to sign wavers to say that your not responsible for the damage and it should be accepted that damage could happen for you to do your required inspection.
thomas if you don't like fire sealant why not use intumescent bags these are just as good but allow you to add circuits if required as the expand and seal in a fire i have used them for data cables between rooms you can get different sizes different prices. just a thought great vid good comments on training.
My friend done the quick qualification he passed and asked me to check a consumer unit he had fitted I was amazed whe I had a quick look their were conductors showing on top of every rcbo when he saw me reconnecting them he asked me why I explained the no conductor should be showing . He told me at college that if conductor was not showing he would fail the course ,words fail me what sort of training had the lecturer had ?
Hey I was watching your video that you can’t remove the residue from the van after removing the sign ,you can use little bit of petrol on cloth and will be removed 😅
It’s true. He’s doing secret undercover lightbulb changing for mi5 so can’t film it. He now drives a blacked out monster truck so he can escape quickly if the Russians clock him.
I agree mate, i do EICRS everyday, and some people don’t even know how to fault find. Its scary coming across some sparks that have such little knowledge.
@@timballam3675 sadly yes. I think that's partly because it's such a soul destroying job that most electricians don't want to touch it with somebody else's 10 ft barge pole. On the rare occasions when I have to do PAT I do it properly and charge accordingly. But I tend to run a mile
Avid DIYer here, got a company in to fit solar, the guys on the roof had finished and the “sparks” fished the DC lines down… stripped one end and was twisting the strands with his bare hand while the other one was just dangling by his legs! I warned him it’s going to be around 350V DC at 10A and he still didn’t seem too bothered until I literally shouted at him! Unbelievable. Their installation will need tidying up anyway, it was a bit rough!
Aww thank goodness you watched a youtube video or read a book and became not only a diyer but an AVID diyer 😂😂😂what a wetwipe its so easy to advise when it’s your own property do it day in day out different houses flats barns anything but im sure you will head to b&q collect the required’tidy up’ gear and rectify there work as your avid about it
In regard to the training. On my EV course we had someone not come in the day after because he didn’t know a thing. The lecturers said they have it all the time. You name it taxi drivers, the lot. All think yep, we can jump on this bandwagon and rake it in. The reality is far from that dream.
The courses are scary, but this does vary by the training provider so I'm told. The one I done was full of experianced individuals who did not have the required qualifications for CPS schemes. They would have not have passed the exams if they were incompetent.
Problem with test and inspect is you can't possibly learn everything you need to learn on that course. I'm doing my apprenticeship and spent most of my time so far on a dedicated t&i team. When I think about determining the age of an install - you've got possible imperial cables (how many will not even realise its imperial or know what to write?), 1mm cpcs on 2.5 (how many realise this exists?) and then there's the approx dates these things were used. 3871 mcbs - many just write 60898. 5419 main switches. Then there's the reference methods! How many just put C? Or 100 for everything? It's just awful.
I would say the problems with the test and inspection are self inflicted by the industry. I was looking at getting qualified at 40yo by doing 1 day a week at coledge and was told you have no chance as you need to be an apprentice, get a test and inspection and inspect your own work!
Yep from what I can see there's no route for someone in an unrelated job to become a spark or a mechanic without quitting full time job and going to college
I worked for a commercial vehicle rental company. We had 2500x Hilux’s and 1200x various other manufacturers, we had many times more problems with all the other manufacturers combined than with Toyota. The Hilux will def last longer with far less problems.
My company manufactures marine electronic systems. We took on a trainee tech under the Covid Kickstarter scheme. He’s a great lad, switched on and reasonably keen. I’ve been trying to put together a full training scheme for him now he’s full time and it is so hard to find relevant courses that are worthwhile. He’s based in our Ayrshire office, local college isn’t very local and has nothing on offer for electronics. Online courses seem very hot and cold. I’ve got him on an online introduction course at the moment to keep ball rolling but I really want an HNC level course. I would prefer at least semi in person but it looks like full online is only choice at moment and I’m finding it really hard to verify anything about the providers other than their own marketing.
Ah your in Liverpool that will be the reason i sway you in Middlewich the other day, near harvester. Thought it was a bit out of the way for you. but yet again i was on my way to Stratford for a weekend festival gig which i had to supply FOH and tech for.
Regarding training, that is shocking tbh! 😳 It remind me of my cousin finishing off uni graphic design course and needed business card and mini zine for the exhibition. He did not know how to prep artwork files for printing such as bleed, cutting guides, etc!! I helped him out and was so shocked and baffled as that's the most basic thing, which should be taught..... I had to TEACH him instead!! 😯🤯
20:41 Every HVAC guy is going OMG nooooo. You can't do that. The condensers need fresh air to work correctly! 😂🤦♂ For my one unit it need at least 4000 CFM of free air, and that is just one unit. You won't see that when its in a hole with a small hole in the top!
Going through an I&T course won't provide required qualification to perform EIC or EICR's. Would also, need passing NVQ and industry approved membership for that, which could take another 2 years getting proper work experience.
Nagy weekly should now be called Nagy once in a blue moon.
Wonder what excuse it will be this time….
@@michaelneill8428 been so long could he have just quit youtube for an easier life
Maybe Tom starts doing a xmas special like Mrs. Brown Boys once a year missing the content:)
@@porterdays Mrs. Browns boys would have better content than the 🤡 spark.
Just unsubscribe from this, used to be a really nice channel too bad it went to trash, plus a lots of others with spark content a quality, cya nerds
More videos please Mr Nagy. You are missed!!
clear nail varnish, Tom. Protects the nail while it heals and pulls the nail plate together, and keeps the nail bed and plate from infection.
So glad you’re back making content! A massive breath of fresh air! Too many EV charger channels these days
With regards to the unverified circuits I recommend isolating them as you never know if the cable is not terminated and loose behind a bed or something. Disconnect and tell customer if they find something not working give me a call.
I did that once, 3 days later the customer called to say raw sewage was coming out out the grass, did i know why
So glad to have you all back. Really missed the videos. I am a self employed spark working on my own and these videos are good company.
13:25 That is quite scary in that you don't need licenses nor do you have a 3rd party to followup on what was done, its all self certified. Here in the US, which each state is a bit different, most have requirements of how long you have to be in each step before you can be a master electrician. Then every job that requires permits here, you will have inspections by the local jurisdiction authority to make sure that your work is up to code/regulations. Here are the steps required in Texas for example to be able to start your own business as a master electrician. These are all licensees that the state will issue.
Apprentice Electrician: With an apprentice license, you just have to submit the right form and be over the age of 16 years old.
Residential Wireman: To become a residential wireman, you must get 4,000 hours of experience under a master electrician. This experience must be documented and signed by your supervisor.
Journeyman Electrician: If you want to get a journeyman license, you must complete 8,000 hours of work as an apprentice under a master electrician. Afterward, you need to apply for a journeyman license and take the journeyman certification test. If you pass, you will officially become a journeyman electrician.
Master Electrician: To become a master electrician, you must complete 12,000 hours of work under a master electrician. You must also have a journeyman license for at least two years before you apply. Once you meet these requirements, you can apply for your license and take the master test.
The once you are a master electrician you can open your own business. If you think the 12,000 hours that is at least 300 weeks at 40 hour per week or about 6 years minimum to be able to go out on your own.
I like the new one video a year format of this channel, its refreshing
He’s doing time !
@@jasonantigua6825 i heard Betty Crocker got him sent down for copyright infringment
@@madgebishop5409 I think he got done for receiving swollen goods!
Its the same in IT , we see people with a full CCNA who cannot even put a switch in a rack .
IT has always been full of plastic MCSE and CCNA. I remember back in in the 90s a MCSE added a user to the domain admins group because they wanted to be able to install software on their local pc. Or another one who racked rack mount servers on a shelf and then stacked more servers on top of each other because the rack kits didn’t fit in the rack. He didn’t think to unbolt and move the vertical supports in towards each other. He couldn’t wire a plug either.
I saw him down Hammersmith the other day. He works in Halfords now changing headlamp bulbs.
Really interesting to hear you talk about the industry in such a way. I've had the exact same experience doing my degree but really eye opening to see it cross over into areas like being a electrician.
There are people I know who have graduated with computer science degrees who don't even know what a class is which can be very aptly compared to wagos and it literally just does not make sense how someone could not know such a thing exists.
Genuinely makes me concerned how it seems everything these days is all about getting people qualified without the proper skills or knowledge.
These people, whether they are electricians or in the computer world, will effectively have people's lives in their hand and it's just gonna be a complete disaster.
Hi Tom , i totally agree on the training aspect of the industry, my apprentice has just completed her level 3 at college and passed with merit, but when she did her testing part of her level 3 she was told she didnt need to do safe isolation as they knew the board was dead, she was given a tester that was due for recalibration in 2020, she thought it was part of the test, it wasnt they hadnt check it, and they didnt do any live testing as most of them hadnt done any, and now they can go into the real world to do there level 3 nvq, i was always taught if you fit it you test it and thats the way ive taught her, she is more than cabable of doing all testing including live, but i worry there are people going out there that have never tested properly or live, I love this industry most days but the training and the cps schemes need a good shake up
😳😳 Sorry, what?! She doesn't have to perform safe isolation?! 🥴
They say as the board is on a plug top, they know its dead as its unpluged and it saves time
@@m.bmaintenance7834 Hold on, so it was test / training board? But isn't the whole purpose of training is to learn to perform safe isolation and pretend that the board is hard wired to main supply? 🤔🤔
@@alsanova so did we, luckly enough she has been proving dead since she started and testing live with us but there are people out there that will now go on to do there nvq, who havent
The industry needs a huge shake up, in my opinion it’s the trade schools are mainly to blame for producing subpar so called electricians. Such as trade skills 4 U, when they advertise things like become an electrician in 6 days.
I have worked with guys who have done these short courses and they are just terrible.
I taught in local colleges Testing & Inspection for many years. Unfortunately it's all about bums on seats and money for the training providers regardless of the 'entry level' of candidates. I often voiced my concerns but they were ignored. So sad. Glad I'm now retired!
Plant room tubing looks lovely. Be nice to see a “Doing it with Tom” on uniform tube bending
Coming soon!
Agreed. Pipe work looks mint. I wear gloves on every job now. Your hands take a kicking. Was surprised at powering up an unknown circuit. Lim?
He's gone bust again hasn't he. I saw him working the door in B&M bargains in Ealing. Still had his high Viz keks on too.
who ?
Is that the B&M in Yeading, near B&Q?🤔😆
He's just been live on the gram. Its true. Hes jacked in the sparking and is delivering Avon
now you see him now you dont (for fucking ages )
ladies and gents mr thomas nagy
Just saw your people working in Southend Central Station with the Hoist and small van! Very small world!
As an ex Refrigeration/ Aircon engineer I can feel the heat in that area. It was my pet hate working on outdoor units sited indoors with poor airflow. The customers always wonder why the units go out on overload in the summer.
Nagy back on the TH-cam payroll makes Mondays worth waiting for great start to the week
Glad to hear it!
Lasted 5 mins though 🙁
Hi Tom,
Great video.
You really need to get the Brother label printer, makes your C/U looks much nicer.
I drilled into one of my customers water pipes once, I was so annoyed with myself, but the customer was really cool about it, even came to work as an Apprentice for me!
I would never ask for someone's phone number like that, totally unprofessional mate(please don't be offended, that's just my opinion).
Cheers Tom
I’m sure he won’t be offended by “ Doctor Electric “ 🙄
We have come a long way from my SIX years apprenticeship which included armature rewinding, replacing motor bearings, brazing, lubrication etc. ( Steel works ) Attended day release at Warrington Technical College, City & Guilds Electrical Installation Work
Sweet Jesus! I started watching the video then spent the rest of it in sheer shock after seeing what you did to your nail!!!
Just stumbled over this channel - brilliant! I love how you setup your company and seem to have the people that are actually doing the work as much in the center of your attention as the work itself. This really is where it's at. Because if it's a pain to get out of bed each day, what are we doing this for anyways? Keep it up mate, exactly like that, and success will follow you wherever you go!
It is but he must have passed. Radio slience
@@vincentwilkes9611 he still does the fix radio show
For the back of boards you can use intumescent sheet rather than fire foam - much cleaner & neater plus makes it easier for the next person.
Did you run an auxiliary supply to the generator to power the coolant heater & battery charger for the generator?? What size of generator was it 40 kva?
Hi Tom,
I’m a apprentice on my second year of training to be a electrician and on my first year of training i was sent home nearly everyday, and when there were teachers to teach us it was all health and safety, and the teachers didn’t have any experience in the industry. (Bare in mind this is a college) So I ended up getting a apprenticeship to learn from my dad who is a electrician and he couldn’t believe how people are being trained at colleges. So other students would message me as I was the only one with a apprenticeship in my class and ended up having to teach other students as majority of the Time they would turn up to college and be sent home for the 3rd time this week, after the teacher telling us to come in. And for me to get to college is a hour and 45 mins to get there and to get back is 3 hours depending if the buses are running.
I had the same issue with college. 3 hour lessons were always a quick 30 min health and safety rubbish. Spent hard earned money to learn, only to learn nothing.
Hint: You can make a repair to a split nail like that with layers of kitchen roll and araldite, effectively making a false nail on top. The kitchen roll (cotton cloth works too) forms like a shell.
DMX advice, it has no error detection, so any glitches will cause the lights to mess about, please make sure each DMX circuit is terminated, if the drivers don't have built in terminators you can enable then put a 120 ohm 0.5W resistor across data positive and negative at the end of the circuit.
+ make sure you use proper shielded cables rated for DMX/data.
I can believe how old DMX is, its SCSI In needing a termination plug??
I'm personally in 2 minds about using DMX vs using newer standards based on Data/PoE++
Also, DMX should have a 0V (ground) connection between each fitting (separate to earth!). You might get away without it for short runs but you’ll have random flashes and all sorts of trouble if you omit it. Use Cat 5 or 6 and use one twisted pair for data + and -, and another whole pair for 0V.
@@bigjd2k good idea. Thanks
Glad to see your making videos again, thought your company went under or something lol no content for 8 months
Where are you Thomas? 🤔
hi Tom, I'm no electrician, I'm interested and know plug wiring etc, I know what a wago & ideals are but I'm struggling to find any Wallace to go with the grommets (joke off jimbo before he left)
I work in the events industry and we use DMX for all our lighting, it is so reliable, usually uses 5 pin or 3 pin (cheaper fixtures) XLR connectors to connect to one another but have also seen many fixtures with bare ends to wire your own plugs
Ofc now with so many fixtures having pixel mapping abilities the channel count is going higher and higher, many just have rj45 artnet inputs as well as 5 pin, cuz otherwise you'd need a cable run for every 4 washes
@@leon-p9f7i very true or depending on the stage they often run an artnet node and run couple of dmx cables up to each trussing section so your not running tonnes of dmx cable from the console
@@Eternionel yeah, if it's more than like 3 universes, and the console is FOH rather than side of stage then an artnet node makes a lot of sense, and if you need really long range, like for festival mainstage, can run on fibre as well, altho that's overkill most the time 😂. Good to see there's a couple stage techs/nerds watching Tom's videos 😂
1 way streaming protocol (mostly), dali is far superior for commercial lighting where detailed feedback and decentralised control can/is required
Single insulated on show didn't used to be a fail..., old meter tails were VIR braided, and bell transformers were always mounted on a little board with the single insulated feeds pigtailed neatly into the terminals. With that MI, I'd have been tempted to remove the incoming from the meter (I know) and oversleeve with 5 or 6mm blue and brown, that way it's double ins
Good comment.
“Jiggerry pokery “I’m stealing this
Is that in the regs now Tom? Fire foam? Does it apply to industrial and commercial boards?
Gives me something to watch on a boring evening
You are not required to hold AM2 or NVQ 3 to do your inspection and testing, I think thats the main problem. You are allowed to do your Inspection and Testing with just having 18edition, which is pretty easy to obtain (buy it).
Tried getting to do a NVQ3 but no chance unless an apprentice!
@@timballam3675 I've done my one while working on site as a mate/improver. There are providers that offer NVQ3 via a "Mature candidate" route.
Check XS training for their courses.
Do you have details on the lights used and the DMX controller or can point me in the direction for more information to use them as outside light?
Each week on the training course consisted of 2 to 3 days in classroom, highlighting what topics are likely to come up on the multiple choice exam, 1 afternoon going through the practical steps. 1 day doing the practical. Afternoon doing the exam. The Friday either redoing an exam or finishing the practical.
I only went in on the Friday to make sure I'd passed everything and my paperwork was complete.
As a Qualified electrician who completed his apprenticeship through the JTL route and received a shiny Gold ECS card. Then moving and becoming licensed in Australia as an Electrician and instrumentation tech over 10 years ago, The training and legalities in the UK are woeful.
Firstly, have it mandatory for time served electricians to become licensed.
Secondly, no one other than a licensed electrician can undertake work in their homes. If found to do so can void home insurances.
Thirdly, respect the trade. No undercutting.
Forth, encourage progression and training for example some states here have prerequisites which you need to complete to obtain your license for example an up to date CPR/LVR which has to be completed every 12 months.
Advice on pickups, would avoid Nissan purely because they used to have an issue with the chassis rotting, not sure if they still have that issue but worth looking into! Family members have stuck with Ford rangers since a neighbour had an issue with a 6 month old Nissan X trail back in 2017 that was scrapped after 8 months ownership!
The thing is there's not just ONE qual to be 'an electrician' in the UK, it's so confusing to a lot of people, do your T&I, NVQ 3, AM2 if you want to.... stuff like that. I was in maintenance for 20 yrs with BTEC lev 3 from the early 90s
Best thing i ever did for the EICRs on flats was get a set of FB keys (and watch LPL, as you showed with the combination lock a couple of years back)
That industrial plant room install looked good Tom, but it would of looked the Dog's whatsits if the conduit bends had all been the same on the top of that board on the right (your left) 😐
i noticed that lol..
Hi Tom, I think you are a great spark and I wish we had more round the Cleveland area like you keep up the programs. Regards John
I hear you on the working nights and days. Just before COVID was doing nights at a shopping centre and days with everything else. A few 18 hour shifts and you know you've done them!
13:20 -- My opinion here is that the organisation or agency that is running the training course could either fully or partially government funded and these people have been tasked with getting more electricians out into the wild so that the industry can _'level up'_ But rather than do it in the best possible job they can, the people running the training course have chose to half arse it either to meet government targets so they get more money or they are genuinely running away with peoples money by not running them through almost everything they'll encounter while on the job as an electrician.
Would a tone generator only get so far in identifying what a circuit does? I've never used one (and somewhat skeptical) but some people swear by them.
Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. You need two wires that aren't earthed or shorted, at least for mine, so if the loose end is somehow connected the tone tracer won't work. The affordable ones don't penetrate too deeply either, 50 mm maybe. That also means you can follow a cable but you can't just wave the wand round a room trying to find a cable that could be just about anywhere. I love mine dearly but I know its limitations.
i have the same inverter running my cabin, its been working continuously for over a year, seems to be a good brand
scratch that.. it blew up today... maybe try another brand
It is well over a week now... 1 1/2 years... March 2024
Sadly Tom the years of doing an apprenticeship have gone and the tradesman my age all retired. 40 years ago a bloke I had working with me, spent months showing him the ropes but he was so bad they had to let him go. He ended up in a local college telling people how to do the trade. He stayed there a very long time so how many went through taking in all he said as gospel. You'll find they start doing jobs cheap and everyone wants a cheap job... until it goes wrong and they call in a real tradesman to put it right. Been there and got the tshirt, it's a shame it's all about certificates these days and not about practical experience. Love your videos 👍🏴
I'm stealing "crayon muncher", that's excellent! ahah!
Can’t wait for your channel to hit 100K
if its unknown , dont leave in on, leave it off and eventually someone will say this or that wont work , you then will know. plus if you meggar the cable and is ok like you said , that is worse as it could be a cable floating somewhere with no accessory on the end
Need to know more about the 4k inverter in the van !
I'll go into it in more detail for you soon
Hi Tom totally agree I am a heating engineer. I recently sat my Acs assessment witch we have to do every 5 years 🙄and in the assessment place it’s the same people in there don’t even know how to use a gas analyser.
Well, my last apprentice got "fired" because he didnt show curiosity to learn electricity. 9 months in school that my boss pays him to go and he didnt "liked it", but He wanted that check at the end of the month. well I just said to him, If you dont want to learn, you will stay at the low level of electricity, aiding people passing cable and doing labor work. that is required a low level of knowledge of electricity, I had none electricians coming through the company where they did better work than some young kid doing a apprentice to get a job..... they just want a job. People dont understand that you need a bit more than that. Knowledge of the work is insane good for you for your portfolio, later you will say thanks to people who guided to you to study more
Dmx is a brilliant system for universal, simple, reliable control of so many lighting systems. Super easy to implement and is what nearly all stage lighting uses. Ofc these kinds of systems with all the different drivers, and dedicated controllers are much more complex and hard to set up than the standard plugging in power and 5 pin xlr. But there have been so many advances into outputting dmx from cheap controllers, or concert level software on a laptop using a cheap usb dongle. Really cool for install lighting where you want lots of customisation but don't have a massive budget, or a whole room to put a controller
If you like DMX, you will totally love KNX!
@@maxking3 knx is nice, standardised. But manufacturers are still using their own ecosystems especially for wireless stuff. Look at the LTT smart-switches thing with jasco. Knx makes sense for smart home stuff. Granted one problem with dmx (assuming RDM is not being used)is that the controller and the fixtures are in a kind of one way relationship, where the controller has to be told what it is connected to/what data to send, it cannot detect what fixtures are connected to it and determine it itself. At the same time the fixtures don't know that the controller is talking to it specifically, it just gets told a set of addresses to listen to. Similar to listening to a specific radio frequency. These things makes troubleshooting on initial setup very difficult, especially with lots of fixtures, as if one is addressed wrong it has to be changed manually on the fixture, and the problem cannot be detected or fixed by the controller. This also helps make the system very reliable however, as it reduces the complexity of the data sent down the line.
@@leon-p9f7i I think it is the other way round. With KNX RF we now have a vendor independent standard for wireless devices that is 100% compatible and set-up from within the ETS software.
3 thoughts:
1) My KNX house has 20 Dimmers, 40 Switches, 16 heating circuits and 20 blinds. All set-up in 2006. I bought an Alexa-Gateway 4y ago, and within minutes I had every single function voice controlled. Last year I got a Homekit-Gateway and the same happened. All devices immediately getting Apple-compatibility 15y after deployment. Now I am waiting for Thread & Matter to gain critical mass and who knows, in a few years I’ll have perfect matter compatibility.
2) My PV system can connect to KNX via Modbus. Now I can set the outdoor lighting depending on the charging of the PV battery. The current production can be displayed on my 2006 KNX Touchscreen. And I can switch on a little green LED at in the utility room’s light switch, so you can see whether the solar production is good enough to start the machine. (Once it breaks down, I might get a smart one with Auto-Start)
3) A friend of mine just bought a house with KNX blinds and heating. The seller gave him a USB stick with the “.pr2” file from 1997. It took 20 seconds for the conversion if the file into the current ETS6 and use it 25 years later and change parameters…
What other technology could do this?
First thing I thought when I saw Tom doing that CU was "Mind the spiders, Tom"!
Bet he's stuck up his scissor lift😂
A long time back I was picking up 🚑 pager messages on my PC.. One came through that someone got cherry pickered into a forecourt roof in his area. 🏋️♂️
I did wonder as he'd bought one around the time and hadn't posted for a bit, but they soon resumed.
He's just posted a video on Instagram. There's no videos because he's under an NDA for all work.
Another good video mate have to be honest fell asleep watching last night and had to finish it this morning….. no idea how you guys can change shift patterns so easy 🥵
You guys all crack me up!
Excellent video guys. I’m so pleased that you may have a unit in the pipeline!
Any plans to bring back the Friday videos if you get a unit? Have a great week mate.
How can you complete your level 2 and 3 and not know what a waygo is? We used connector blocks and waygos on my level 2 course. Do you not need your AM2 to go on an inspection and testing course?
WAGO
Hey all! So, regarding about that training centre thing. I have recently signed up to do the complete NVQ lv2 & 3, along side EV & PV addon training. However, with my centre they said in their own words: "To be part of the course, you MUST be from a Trade to be on the course", saying that I am a fully "Qauilfied" Bench Joiner but looking at some of the people in my Group... Non of them look like they came from any trade at all, giving me the same feeling of "Most Skilled person there" yet I have only basic knowledge for elterical work (learning from my old man). So... I have mixed feelings and see what you're saying Nagy.
Hi Tom, I totally agree with you on the training aspect in my opinion you shouldn't be allowed to do the Testing & Inspection Exam unless you have the NVQ Level 3 Diploma & AM2 accreditation, i know of guys being started by a hygiene/testing company running around testing schools & businesses with no electrical apprenticeship, qualifications or site experience, i'll not name them but if added an i to the company name and rearranged a few letters it would be if you went for a pee. One of them was asked to a wholesaler and get 32amp type c breaker and came back with a 320mm sds shank crank chisel bit, it's total madness for someone with that kind of knowledge to tie their name to a report for 5 years when they don't know what dangers to look out for😐
I think he's quit sparking. I just saw him in Poundland working as Santa in a Christma grotto. He didn't look well. Sad really.
Everyone.
If you look on companies house at Thomas Nagy there has been some changes regarding who owns the company. I cant see them unfortunatly
Change of registered office address only. No change of ownership or directorships.
Ooft. From a massive warehouse to a shoebox "rent an office" in Cricklewood. Genuinely worried about Mr N.
@@paulteasdale7112 that address is his accountants address...most companies use their accountants as their registered business address on companies house
@@madgebishop5409 Well, in that case his accountant has a 10ft square rent an address in Cricklewood then! His reg office address changes more than is healthy for a proper business IMHO. But then I think he flies by the seat of his pants now sadly. No social media presence, bit off far more than was healthy with the office/warehouse and staff. Genuinely worried though.
Most of those people on the course are just gonna sign off certs on behalf of a company, they’ll never leave the office 😂
I am from New Zealand and a lot of time we have to sign wavers to say that your not responsible for the damage and it should be accepted that damage could happen for you to do your required inspection.
thomas if you don't like fire sealant why not use intumescent bags these are just as good but allow you to add circuits if required as the expand and seal in a fire i have used them for data cables between rooms you can get different sizes different prices. just a thought great vid good comments on training.
Hey Tom, been awhole hope all is well. Cheers from Mildura Australia
My friend done the quick qualification he passed and asked me to check a consumer unit he had fitted I was amazed whe I had a quick look their were conductors showing on top of every rcbo when he saw me reconnecting them he asked me why I explained the no conductor should be showing .
He told me at college that if conductor was not showing he would fail the course ,words fail me what sort of training had the lecturer had ?
If the trainer thinks it's a way of proving you haven't screwed down onto the insulation then he needs training.
I agree, mate. In the past I believe a professional sparky had to take a course lasting several years, I believe. Not anymore, sadly. ☹.
Hey I was watching your video that you can’t remove the residue from the van after removing the sign ,you can use little bit of petrol on cloth and will be removed 😅
It’s true. He’s doing secret undercover lightbulb changing for mi5 so can’t film it. He now drives a blacked out monster truck so he can escape quickly if the Russians clock him.
Haven’t checked in for a while. Nice seeing all well.
I agree mate, i do EICRS everyday, and some people don’t even know how to fault find. Its scary coming across some sparks that have such little knowledge.
Jack, as you do EICRs every day.... question my mate had for me, after this week, type AC rcds.... C3?
Come on have you seen the cowboys that do PAT testing?
@@timballam3675 sadly yes. I think that's partly because it's such a soul destroying job that most electricians don't want to touch it with somebody else's 10 ft barge pole. On the rare occasions when I have to do PAT I do it properly and charge accordingly. But I tend to run a mile
Avid DIYer here, got a company in to fit solar, the guys on the roof had finished and the “sparks” fished the DC lines down… stripped one end and was twisting the strands with his bare hand while the other one was just dangling by his legs! I warned him it’s going to be around 350V DC at 10A and he still didn’t seem too bothered until I literally shouted at him! Unbelievable.
Their installation will need tidying up anyway, it was a bit rough!
Dangling by his legs so he’s not touching ground 🤣
Aww thank goodness you watched a youtube video or read a book and became not only a diyer but an AVID diyer 😂😂😂what a wetwipe its so easy to advise when it’s your own property do it day in day out different houses flats barns anything but im sure you will head to b&q collect the required’tidy up’ gear and rectify there work as your avid about it
What sort of conduit is that with the genny install?
That looks really neatly done.
In regard to the training. On my EV course we had someone not come in the day after because he didn’t know a thing. The lecturers said they have it all the time. You name it taxi drivers, the lot.
All think yep, we can jump on this bandwagon and rake it in. The reality is far from that dream.
On his Podcast he answered why he hasnt uploaded anything, he said he has content in the making.
Ah yes I love those 50 year old Victorian electrics.
He did say probably older lol
Sweet, that makes my old man a Victorian. I’ll tell him that
I have to send you a couple photos of super old service entrances that will blow your mind, lol. Circa 1920’s….
The courses are scary, but this does vary by the training provider so I'm told. The one I done was full of experianced individuals who did not have the required qualifications for CPS schemes. They would have not have passed the exams if they were incompetent.
Problem with test and inspect is you can't possibly learn everything you need to learn on that course. I'm doing my apprenticeship and spent most of my time so far on a dedicated t&i team. When I think about determining the age of an install - you've got possible imperial cables (how many will not even realise its imperial or know what to write?), 1mm cpcs on 2.5 (how many realise this exists?) and then there's the approx dates these things were used. 3871 mcbs - many just write 60898. 5419 main switches. Then there's the reference methods! How many just put C? Or 100 for everything? It's just awful.
I would say the problems with the test and inspection are self inflicted by the industry. I was looking at getting qualified at 40yo by doing 1 day a week at coledge and was told you have no chance as you need to be an apprentice, get a test and inspection and inspect your own work!
You don’t need test & inspect to be qualified. You need 18th/NVQ3/AM2
Yep from what I can see there's no route for someone in an unrelated job to become a spark or a mechanic without quitting full time job and going to college
Pick up truck you want to look at the Toyota Hilux get a good spec like invincible X and you have all the mod cons and comfort
I worked for a commercial vehicle rental company. We had 2500x Hilux’s and 1200x various other manufacturers, we had many times more problems with all the other manufacturers combined than with Toyota. The Hilux will def last longer with far less problems.
@@joepostle3561 they hold a good resale value also. Hi lux my first choice, isuzu d max my second choice.
nice conduit work iare those isolators on the same curcit as you cant pull differnet ones through different enclosures
Do you still have the other admin staff working in the background?
Where does your office staff work when you dont have a unit, from home?
Why does he keep disappearing for weeks?
Because he has a life? A job? Because he isn't under any obligation to upload videos all the time? Stop being weird.
@@Yo-ItsYo sorry, are u his bf or something. it was just a question.
@@Steve-fs4zh it's already 7 month without an update. hope he's doing ok
@@SLRNT probs too busy running his business, shame cos i liked his vids.
My company manufactures marine electronic systems. We took on a trainee tech under the Covid Kickstarter scheme. He’s a great lad, switched on and reasonably keen. I’ve been trying to put together a full training scheme for him now he’s full time and it is so hard to find relevant courses that are worthwhile. He’s based in our Ayrshire office, local college isn’t very local and has nothing on offer for electronics. Online courses seem very hot and cold. I’ve got him on an online introduction course at the moment to keep ball rolling but I really want an HNC level course. I would prefer at least semi in person but it looks like full online is only choice at moment and I’m finding it really hard to verify anything about the providers other than their own marketing.
Ah your in Liverpool that will be the reason i sway you in Middlewich the other day, near harvester. Thought it was a bit out of the way for you. but yet again i was on my way to Stratford for a weekend festival gig which i had to supply FOH and tech for.
Regarding training, that is shocking tbh! 😳 It remind me of my cousin finishing off uni graphic design course and needed business card and mini zine for the exhibition. He did not know how to prep artwork files for printing such as bleed, cutting guides, etc!! I helped him out and was so shocked and baffled as that's the most basic thing, which should be taught..... I had to TEACH him instead!! 😯🤯
20:41 Every HVAC guy is going OMG nooooo. You can't do that. The condensers need fresh air to work correctly! 😂🤦♂ For my one unit it need at least 4000 CFM of free air, and that is just one unit. You won't see that when its in a hole with a small hole in the top!
Over a year later. Still missing you tom
He has stuff cooking.
But on his time his way.
He’s a busy man running a business. But I’m sure he will drop some bits and bobs from time to time.
@@e5Group and we are still waiting
Wonder why he disappeared, was a funny chap great vids.
Going through an I&T course won't provide required qualification to perform EIC or EICR's. Would also, need passing NVQ and industry approved membership for that, which could take another 2 years getting proper work experience.