Whats the point of electrics forum?

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Can the powers that be take the electrics uk section off this site as it is pointless as I can answer every question as well as everyone else (IE get an electrician in!)
 
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Not everything involves getting an electrician in however where there are legal and competency issues then it is a better choice.
 
Can the powers that be take the electrics uk section off this site as it is pointless as I can answer every question as well as everyone else (IE get an electrician in!)

That being the very same section of DIYnot that you have "thanked" people for advice 7 times in 4 weeks.

Or were they "pointless" thanks :rolleyes:
 
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The point of this section is for people to come on and ask technical questions about DIY'ing electrics then to be told that they are incompetent (based on a few word post) and without access to test equipment etc and that they should really get an electrician in.

Oh, then there is the need for those that are judged by the courses they have been on to be competent to be able to argue with each other and bitch about DIY'rs. :)

If this section was removed then they would descend upon the plumbing forums and no one would get to know how to plumb in their dishwasher!
 
water can't kill you accidentally in your house but gas can, that's why you plumbers don't give out advice on gas fitting and why you say it's illegal to fit your own boilers etc.. ( I know I can't point out that it's not because it's against forum rules )..
Electricity is far more dangerous than gas since it can't be detected with the 5 senses other than touch which is potentially deadly anyway..
there's also the risk of fire from incorrectly installed cables etc but we're expected to tell every tom dick or harry how to install a cooker and what cables to run etc when they come in here in the first place asking why the terminals are so big when they're only using a spare bit of flex from an old table lamp to connect it with..
 
Re Chri5,
I thanked them for their replies rather than their advice, as not thanking them would have just been ignorant.
 
You're not 'expected' to do anything. Participation in the forum is purely voluntary and if the consensus is that having to ask is indication of incompentence in the task then I wonder why you all spend your lives on here. I think you all just like moaning, which is a shame for the forum.
 
I've got a modest 250 odd thanks. They are in response to questions asked and my knowledge given.

That knowledge was why the op's have thanked me, very few were simple politeness. They were given because I've saved someone from doing something wrong, or helped steer them towards knowing how to do something in the safest, least cost, and legal way.

There will always be some op's that post a question that clearly indicates they are not up to doing the job. When any of the contributors notice such we are thinking safety 1st.
Do you think it would be right to give someone without the skills the knowledge to attempt something that could cause harm to them or their family?
 
Can the powers that be take the electrics uk section off this site as it is pointless as I can answer every question as well as everyone else (IE get an electrician in!)

Surely that's not always the case. The people on the forum obviously say this from time to time when it is evident that the job/fix requires a little more than some basic skills and knowledge.

I personally have witnessed scenarios where the op has expressed thanks for this type of advice.

The forum clearly has it's limitations depending on the problem and the skills/knowledge of the op.
 
Would you like some help collecting the toys you threw from your pram?

The answers you got in the 2 other threads were good answers generally, and advice was offered - other than just 'get an electrician'.
 
I notice that in your previous thread you said

...I am getting an electrician to do final connections but just want to do donkey work myself to keep costs down.

And people advised you to consult the electrician about certain points, because the process doesn't work the way you seemed to think.

If the electrician you mention really exists (I have no way of knowing) what's wrong with people giving you the correct advice?


In an earlier thread you asked
... I have a 63amp 3 way consumer unit which is powered by a spur from the household socket ring which is from a 30 amp fuse in an old fuse box.
Firstly is this ok..?
and from this people could reasonably deduce that you did not have the faintest idea of what you were doing.
 
i agree.

Must be the most unhelpfully section on here.

With the most arrogant members.

Sorry

However there are a few pro's that are very helpfully.

Why no just make a "professionals section only"

Look at the neon light switch thread. That sums the whole attitude to this section. Yes a simple task. the guy could have been given more help. Instead he had to go and research and find out the info he needed elsewere.
 
Must be the most unhelpfully section on here. With the most arrogant members.

However there are a few pro's that are very helpfully.
Better than none, then.

Look at the neon light switch thread. That sums the whole attitude to this section.
It was not possible to do what he wanted with what was there.

With hindsight the response could have been "You will need to completely rewire it".

Yes a simple task.
Depends what you mean by simple but not really.

I think most posters would not accept "You will need to completely rewire it" as being helpful and even if they did would not want to do it.

the guy could have been given more help.
Would "You will need to completely rewire it" have been considered 'helpful'?

Instead he had to go and research and find out the info he needed elsewere.
And now he actually knows what to do.

I have said before the trouble with electrics is that it 'can' be done with just a screwdriver and a pair of scissors and that is all most people have
but it is dangerous if you don't know what you are doing and
asking what are actually silly questions indicates a lack of knowledge even if the questioner doesn't realise this.


Some may think joining and posting for the first time to complain is slightly odd.

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