Ideas for training board content.

[Tiny Spark]

As I said a while back I am in the process of building a training board for the apprentices.
This is one of them as and when I get 5 mins kind of jobs so its rather slow LOL

Anyways Thus far I have a large chip board wall with a 3 phase dist board powered from a 16A 3ph n&e commando plug that plugs into a 30ma RCD protected socket outlet (would of liked a 100ma for this but its all I had...)

So now I want to to add some circuits, My plan is to have a few pre built circuits with faults and anomalies built in to them for them to find while testing for instance wires terminated in wrong terminals and spurs off ring mains via 0.1 ohm resistors.

I also want them to be able to add circuits and take them down Lighting, sockets, armoured cables, DOL starters that sort of thing obviously all low powered stuff.

Anyways just thought I would see if you guys had any good ideas for circuits, faults or other things I should try to include?

Obviously this is for training them in a safe and controlled industrial environment but I think its good to get overall experience.

Any thoughts or ideas appreciated.

 

[Adam W]

It may be worth concentrating on faults which are specific or relevant to your workplace - they can learn the more generic stuff on the rigs at college.

 

[Tiny Spark]

It may be worth concentrating on faults which are specific or relevant to your workplace - they can learn the more generic stuff on the rigs at college.

We dont really have any specific faults, well not ones that can be replicated as we try to make sure everything is done safe and right first time LOL
I have acquired a FUBAR'd motor for them to practice testing on though which is about the most common thing that cocks up around the place.

Other than that its for a combination of teaching them how to use and install/wire circuits around the site.

The company has changed the way they educate the apprentices via college these days so most of them have 0 electrical experience when they come to me as they are typically taking them on and sending them straight on their ONC one day a week, where as I had to do my ONC and NVQ3 at the same time but as well as that had to complete a NVQ 2 at a training center before I started which taught me all the basics.

So instead of them cutting their teeth on the shop floor I can get them to learn in a controlled way where by if they cock up its less serious.

So basically ive got one of the normal dist boards that we use on site ( 3 phase Schneider Iso Bar) and things like the motor, Floury lights, 13A sockets, comando sockets etc.
Then we have the containments galv and plastic tubes, trunking, etc.

Wanting to acquire things like tranys and DOL starters etc as well but ile have to wait on them as I have no budget LOL

 

[Tiny Spark]

Thought I would update with my progress.

So the board is mounted and fed from my 16A commando plug, Ive also mounted a old FCU motor which has some shorted phases and a few other problems.
Then theres my socket circuit which ime really quite proud of!

Basically its a ring main with 1 spur which is connected with 1 ohm resistors.
The 3 switches in the middle put faults onto the circuit, The first one breaks the CPC, the second does a live-neutral reversal on one of the sockets and the 3rd switch puts a 40ohm resistance on the neutral.

Its a good start I think anyways

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

http://www.dcw******************/?gclid=CPr_uoSfoboCFdMQtAodVGgAMw

this was linked from your pictures page. Hope that's not you ;-)

 

[Tiny Spark]

can you PM me that link spinks as i have no idea what its meant to be?

 

[jedisparks]

How about rigging up some central heating controls for them to connect up. they can practice s plans and y plans etc. without blowing up any of your clients' boiler PCBs:smiley2:

 

[Tiny Spark]

If I can get some thats a damn good idea lol
Thanks.

I have a budget of zero so ime scrounging what I can.
Ive just acquired a large 3 phase contactor that one of the lads blew up the other day so ile put that to use and a lighting contactor I found earlier

The board got its first real use today with one of the apprentices learning how to install lighting circuits.

 

[markc123]

Get some band 1 cables in there somewhere.

Be able to teach the apprentices about segregation then?

You could stick some cat 5 in, piece of pi$$ to terminate but if you're never shown how nor shown the tool to use it could be abit of a WTF moment when out in the big bad world. And like my earlier point, it'll be able to demonstrate segregation.

 

[Tiny Spark]

Thats a good idea mark.
We do alot of punching down around here and have plenty of bits so might as well add that in to lol.

Heres the lad just wired his first 3 way intermediate circuit...

 

[Knobhead]

Just a comment about the fault switch. How long do think it will take the first apprentice to tell the next what each switch is and where the fault is. We did!
It wants hiding or covering.

Got to admit I admire you for putting the effort in to training. It’s something I enjoyed and I could be a rotten swine at the same time.

The faulty motor is a good idea, we were lucky in that we had a motor repair shop. So there was a constant supply of differing faults to let the lads loose on.

 

[Tiny Spark]

LOL well if they had any sense not long

However our turn over so to speak is quite high.
Theres around 10 apprentices but they are split around the company and continually moved around to get different experiences so its doubtful they would communicate them to the others.

The feedback and use of it has been very positive thus far.
The lads have enjoyed the chance to try some things and learn/try out skills so that leaves me feeling happy that they appreciate the effort I went to.

Sadly they tend to be looked at as cheap labour and mistreated which is something that aggravates me lots as I see much potential thats not being nurtured or encouraged.

As for me I try hard to pass on what I can and teach those willing to learn.
I think a good apprentice is a great asset and can make my life easier but they can only do that if they are armed with the tools to do so.

On the other hand ive had a few total oxygen thief's who I wouldn't help at all.

 

[Kamikaze]

You could put some lights in and swap the switch wire and neutral at one of them so that the lamps dim when one of the switches is used. That will have them baffled for hours.

 

[Tiny Spark]

You could put some lights in and swap the switch wire and neutral at one of them so that the lamps dim when one of the switches is used. That will have them baffled for hours.

Never came across that one myself LOL

 

[Kamikaze]

It’s something punters sometimes do in a domestic situation, when they for example replace the pendant in the lounge for a fancy light fitting, and get confused with the blacks because the switch wire isn’t marked. Obliviously that will end in four possible ways.

1: They strike lucky and get it the right way round. Result = All works fine.
2: They connect the neutral from the supply to the switch wire. Switch the light on. Result = Bit of a bang and kiss goodbye to the switch.
3: They connect the neutral looping to the back end of the circuit to the switch wire. Switch the lounge light on and everything appears fine. Switch another light on in another room and both lights dim. Switch another light on and all three lights dim. And so on it goes. Result = They usually start taking all the other lights apart to see what’s wrong with them.
4: This is by far their most popular choice…lol. They connect all the reds together and all the blacks together. Result = Depending on whether the switch is on or off at the time when they energise the circuit, they will either have a bang immediately or when they come to admire their handy work by switching it on.
　

　
Another possible one is for you to install a maintained emergency light on your practice board and mix up the live feed and switch wire at the fitting. That usually gets them scratching their heads…lol.

 

[Tiny Spark]

Yeah Ive come across the old all red and all blacks before while doing "foreigners" but never that one.
But ile keep that in mind for future cheers!

As for the E light I was thinking of putting a bulk head one up the top of the board next time I take one out.
Maybe swap the polycarb at the front for something a little more fetching though HAHA

 

[Robotstar5]

How about an enclosure for a control panel? containing something like 24VDC power supply, relays, timers, DIN terminal rail etc.

 

[Tiny Spark]

How about an enclosure for a control panel? containing something like 24VDC power supply, relays, timers, DIN terminal rail etc.

Yeah ide like to do something like that, Was also thinking about a small DOL starter and motor.
The one pictured above is fubard lol

I was also thinking about a 3 phase lighting cct with a contactor.

 

[Kamikaze]

Just get them some bits and bobs, and make them build their own star/delta starters. You bound to have some contactors and time delays kicking about.
When I was an apprentice, they made us wire lighting and switch them via one way switches and relays instead of two way switches. And if the wiring harnesses weren't beautifully dressed, we were in for a -------ing. The gaffer used to say; "Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a pro."

 

[Tiny Spark]

Nice quote that Kamikaze.

Mine would probably be "Make sure them connections are tight or you know what happens!"

The reply usualy comes back "Yes!"

For those wondering I teach the way I was taught, For every loose connection found you get smacked around the head with a Large plastic handled screwdriver.

I learnt pretty damn quick as most of the lads do but I had one who was a glutten for punishment!!