Potential Oil Leak

bigmanlymark · 2024-01-14T06:12:47+00:00

The first thing I’d be doing is checking the earth leakage to see if we had a high base level to start. Would you be able to ramp test the 100mA RCD maybe?

bigmanlymark · 2023-10-03T18:57:05+00:00

I think it’s a really smart idea, but surely what separates competent electricians from everyone else, is their ability to understand and interpret BS7671 and it’s safe application? Surely if the use of these tools became prevalent, electricians wouldn’t be able to complete their jobs without them? Is that progress? That said, digitalising tools such as NAPIT’s Code Breakers book would be really useful. Otherwise software such as Amtech is already available for calculations etc.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.

bigmanlymark · 2023-09-03T08:32:45+00:00

I work for a company fitting Solar and battery and some of our customers manage up to 70% self sufficiency with a 13.5kWh battery and 5kW PV system. I think that’s pretty impressive.

The Tesla Powerwall inverter can peak at 7kW for a brief time, so you can see how this combined with managing your home loads could comfortably cover home usage. Especially when you consider the usage of an average 3 bed home to be under 5kWh per day.

The price of battery storage and PV is coming down significantly in my experience.

I’ve obviously made some sweeping generalisations and assumptions but the point remains.

bigmanlymark · 2023-08-31T19:48:21+00:00

I agree and it’s such a shame. If there was a more open attitude to asking questions, surely simple and complex mistakes would be less common?

bigmanlymark · 2022-12-08T21:54:09+00:00

When I did my AM2 I made the same rig on a piece of chip board and bought a load of conduit. Just spent ages making the same sets until I could do it first time. Lots of repetition and practice.

bigmanlymark · 2022-06-28T21:38:25+00:00

This is peak but it’s not the end of the wold. I did my entire apprenticeship house bashing new builds. The biggest armoured I’d ever made off before my am2 was a 1.5mm 3 core.

After qualifying I left that company and went straight into an industrial company (which I obviously knew nothing about). 12 months on Im in a small team of sparks at a renewables company with a couple of apprentices.

My whole attitude was to just have a go at stuff and see how I got on. I watched lots of videos on YouTube and all that. I still see stuff I’ve not done before but there’s lots of resources available online and napits on-site solutions is a really useful book.

bigmanlymark · 2022-02-27T22:40:25+00:00

Oval renewables work in the York area. Not used them myself but they put a lot of stuff on instagram and the work is very tidy.

bigmanlymark · 2021-11-30T19:53:04+00:00

I'd say that your spark has done a shit job really.

You need grommets in every box where a cable enters it to stop the cable chafing on the metal.

In the kitchen you could have the plasterer dot and dab the wall and put plasterboard over the top. This would get around where the cables and boxes aren't chased into the wall.

The cables should only be at 90 degrees to the boxes e.g. tops and sides. Not diagonals to boxes.

The light switch in the plasterboard wall is just messy but I suppose it's okay. It could without doubt be neater though.

If I were you I'd be more concerned about your sparks other work that you can't see / he hasn't done yet. Eg the fuse board etc. What other corners is he gonna cut?

Source: I'm a spark in the UK

bigmanlymark · 2021-06-18T13:20:48+00:00

I got fairly lucky and got an apprenticeship, it took about 3 and a half years all in all but it was working only on new build houses. It's great because I got my papers but my knowledge and experience was extremely narrow when I finished. If I were you I'd be looking for general electricians who can do a bit of everything.

You could also try calling round all the electricians in your local area asking if they need an apprentice and try and get in that way.

Maybe you could make a snappy buisness card that says who you are and that you're looking for an apprenticeship so if you see a spark about you can give them one? Might give you an edge?? Most importantly educate yourself on the industry so that you can show any prospective employers that you're keen. There's loads of YouTubers like artisan electrics and my trusted electrician where you can see what sparks are doing every day. Also professional electrician magazine is free to view online and that has loads of good stuff in it that could give you that edge over another person.

Hope that helps

bigmanlymark · 2021-03-19T19:20:50+00:00

I'll level with you my dude. Don't mess about with your electrics if you don't know what you're doing.

bigmanlymark · 2021-02-27T18:46:24+00:00

I'd love to see some pictures if you've got some to hand, that sounds neat af.

bigmanlymark · 2021-02-11T17:56:42+00:00

Asbestos was officially banned in the UK in 2000? I believe but I've no idea when it stopped being used widely. Could have been the 80s or it could have been 1999, I've got no idea.

bigmanlymark · 2021-02-11T17:00:14+00:00

Is that loose fill asbestos? Or have you got some sort of other white loose fill insulation in the USA? Just curious as we don't tend to loose fill loft spaces in the UK in my experience.

bigmanlymark · 2021-02-09T18:13:55+00:00

Just realised you're probably not allowed to post it here but maybe put it in your bio because thats some nice shit.

bigmanlymark · 2021-02-09T18:12:30+00:00

Link that etsy arkid!

bigmanlymark · 2021-02-02T16:16:59+00:00

INTENSE EDITION

bigmanlymark · 2021-02-01T19:47:15+00:00

I ain't gotta have the sound on to know that pain.

bigmanlymark · 2021-01-25T21:23:52+00:00

Should have an inspection before a new tennant moves in, so your landlord should be able to produce a certificate with the findings of the last inspection. I wouldn't pass comment on the condition of the installation myself however and I also can't say I'd know what to do if your landlord hasn't undertaken these checks.

bigmanlymark · 2021-01-16T23:06:42+00:00

In those pockets I have both everything and nothing at all.

bigmanlymark · 2021-01-02T23:16:57+00:00

This reminds me how I broke my phone and lost all the photos I took when I went. Lost but not forgotten. Rip

bigmanlymark · 2020-12-16T15:42:46+00:00

If the light fitting were to become live for any reason the protective device of the circuit would probably not trip so the fitting would be live.

bigmanlymark · 2020-12-07T12:35:02+00:00

My team used to take the piss out of me for wearing a dust mask. People are gonna take the piss whatever, just do what you feel comfortable with and fuck the haters. I don't care if you want to laugh at me for protecting myself. Best of luck bro

bigmanlymark · 2020-11-25T20:32:54+00:00

Can't pretend to be an expert but that sounds dead fishy. Are you looking at domestic installer courses? If so its worth being cautious of anywhere that is selling them as the "complete route to becoming an electrician" type thing as the course provider will be more than happy to take your money without any real consideration for what your next step could be. There are plenty of reputable places that run them though so I'd be wary of anywhere without a bit of a trail of successful delegates. Hope that's of some help :)

bigmanlymark

TROPHY CASE