Retraining advice please

[OnTheRopes]

Hi
First post here so hope this is in the right place

Back in the seventies and eighties I was a jobbing Spark on mainly industrial installation work.
I did a full apprenticeship and hold a C&G Electricians Cert and the college Quals I did at the time. I havent worked as a spark for 20 years then by accident I kind of fell back into it. I have a CompEx cert which I have been using more recently.

I have ended up working as a Spark again in CompEx inspections and some industrial lighting installations. However although I can work safely I have forgotten so much it could be embarrassing so I am looking for the best way to get up to speed on the theory.
I am thinking of taking an online 17th ed and then exam, but will that alone be enough, is there more I can do?

Best suggestions appreciated

 

[OnTheRopes]

So, nobody can advise here?

 

[Fast&Rough]

I would speak to your local college mate

 

[Brightspark2]

Doing the 17th edition wont really bring you back up to speed with theory and practical. This will just update you with current regulations.

There's books that will bring the thoery back to you, practical will come back as you do it I suspose, just know your limits...

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Hi
First post here so hope this is in the right place

Back in the seventies and eighties I was a jobbing Spark on mainly industrial installation work.
I did a full apprenticeship and hold a C&G Electricians Cert and the college Quals I did at the time. I havent worked as a spark for 20 years then by accident I kind of fell back into it. I have a CompEx cert which I have been using more recently.

I have ended up working as a Spark again in CompEx inspections and some industrial lighting installations. However although I can work safely I have forgotten so much it could be embarrassing so I am looking for the best way to get up to speed on the theory.
I am thinking of taking an online 17th ed and then exam, but will that alone be enough, is there more I can do?

Best suggestions appreciated

Hey up mate,

Its a bit like riding a bike, you never forget, you just get a bit out of practice, and as things change, you lose touch a bit.
I wouldn't be too concerned with remembering the theory, electric is still the same as it was 20 years ago, nothing has changed, V over I x R etc.

You have done your apprenticeship, so my advice would be to enrol on a 4 day 17th edition course, don't bother with a distance learning course, you will benefit from the input from other course delegates, and your tutor.

There has been some very significant changes to the 17th update, and my guess is that it was 15th or 16th last time you worked as a spark.

The 17th will bring you into the new age, that and your apprenticeship and past experience, would in my opinion suffice for now, but you may want to consider the 2394/2395 Insp and test courses once you are back up to speed.

Cheers...............Howard

 

[OnTheRopes]

Fast&Rough - At 54 cant see me going back to college to be honest and studying with a load of teenagers.

Brightspark - I do know my limits - fortunately so i wll always be safe, I work in rope access so I tend to supervise sparkies on the ropes, but it is advantageous if I can help out when there is no rope work. I always tell the other sparks where I stand so there is no BS and I feel OK to ask if in doubt. Its mainly Ex Inspection work which I am OK with and the odd installation work, but I would like to improve, so books I guess but what about the online or DVD courses?

 

[OnTheRopes]

Thanks Howard
What you say is true but things do change, cable colours for instance, protection, bonding regs etc
And yeh it was the 15th LOL
I would consider a 4 day but what about something like this Electricians Courses and Training from ElectaCourse the advanced course?

 

[OnTheRopes]

Sir Kitbreaker
I take your point ( and 15th ed LOL) but things do change. Cable colours, protection, bonding regs etc.
I was thinking of doing something like this Electricians Courses and Training from ElectaCourse not sure if anyone has tried one of these?

 

[Fast&Rough]

I wouldn't recommend online courses ,and the 17th was a mixed group when I sat it so you'll be fine

 

[OnTheRopes]

I wouldn't recommend online courses ,and the 17th was a mixed group when I sat it so you'll be fine

Seeing as my replies are having to go through a mod they may be out of sequence.
F&R - sorry I thought you meant a full time course, no worries with 17th I can handle a few days even with teens

 

[Marvo]

Hi Ontheropes,

Sorry about the delay with your last post, it ended up in the moderation queue because of the link in it. I've approved your post as it seems like a genuine inquiry as opposed to an advert.... hopefully this is the case.

 

[OnTheRopes]

Hi Ontheropes,

Sorry about the delay with your last post, it ended up in the moderation queue because of the link in it. I've approved your post as it seems like a genuine inquiry as opposed to an advert.... hopefully this is the case.

Hi Marvo

Wasn't sure what was going on for a few minutes there, certainly not advertising, but I was looking at the course on that link and wondered if it was any good, feel free to remove if you wish

 

[Brendan976]

I have sent you a private message
Ben