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Hi John,It's been an interesting discussion, not the least because of the differing views expressed.
Yes, I think the principle of CPD (aka "keeping abreast of new developments") is non contentious. However, where I think we differ is in whether a product like MK Echo, one that has been in the catalogue of one of the major suppliers of switch plates &C for around a decade, is something your average active domestic electrician should have heard of. To me, they should. Whether it is in common use is not the right measure. CPD - and being knowledgeable about how a field is evolving - is not about being reactive to what your customers are asking for. It's about proactively understanding what is possible. In this case, the proactivity required is minimal. Open the MK catalogue and there the product is. I would demand no more than, given it has been in the catalogue of a major supplier in this area for about a decade, that your average active domestic electrician would at least have lodged in their brains that it exists. I am, again, not requesting in depth expertise of how it works, a GCSE in actually having used it 100 times, or anything else. Just a basic knowledge that the product exists and enough to know what sort of scenarios might warrant further investigation.
In my line of work Cisco is a major supplier. We don't use them - not ideological, my employer ran an RFP and they lost. However, you can bet your bottom dollar that I occasionally dip into the Cisco product catalogue, join Webex conferences, ... to make sure I am competently aware of the products they have (and the 'spin' they're applying to the market).
You are right that my objection has crossed wireless switching in general and MK Echo in particular.
My general objection arises from the electricians who came round to quote for our rewire. I found some who knew about the potential for wireless switching, but an alarming number who really didn't, thought it was magic and were so averse to finding out they spent time trying to convince me that they could either drill up behind two feet of Lincrusta to run the cables or that they could fix it afterwards with Polyfilla.
My specific objection stands for the reasons given above.
Anyway, long thread and I sense we've all now stated our positions so it's time to say thanks for the responses and to wander off for a nice cup of tea.