Thermostat cut-out with a twist

[JohnW2]

The same applies with co-workers, some better than me, and some you do wonder how they passed their exams. ... I remember watching some pipe fitters, working for GEC Large Steam Turbines, working out how to grind 36" pipes so when on the crane they fitted first time. A skill I simply don't have. Then watched another pipe fitted installing a 10 mm pipe on tray work, and thinking oh dear, I am sure he will get the sack.

Indeed, but it's not really 'different', since one man's co-worker is another man's (customer's) tradesman.

However, exams and skills are often/usually two different things, since, in many walks of life, the 'exams' are purely theoretical/'academic and do not test skills (or even 'common sense'!). I would like to think that in relation to a good few trades I have at least as much 'knowledge' (of 'theory', regs etc.) as many/most 'pros' in the filed - but where I am undoubtedly often very deficient is in relation to ('practical') 'skills' - which can often only be acquired during long periods of practical experience.

 

[ericmark]

Indeed, but it's not really 'different', since one man's co-worker is another man's (customer's) tradesman.

However, exams and skills are often/usually two different things, since, in many walks of life, the 'exams' are purely theoretical/'academic and do not test skills (or even 'common sense'!). I would like to think that in relation to a good few trades I have at least as much 'knowledge' (of 'theory', regs etc.) as many/most 'pros' in the filed - but where I am undoubtedly often very deficient is in relation to ('practical') 'skills' - which can often only be acquired during long periods of practical experience.

I often wonder why I had to lean Thevenin’s theorem, don't think I have ever used it at work. But an electrician covers such a huge range and if one has been trained with blinkers on, it is so easy to find one's self out of one's depth. It happened to me in 1980, I moved to a new job in Algeria which required a rather steep learning curve.

The other was around 2000, when I was confronted with PLC control systems. And inverter motor controls.

When I moved into this house, I had PLC's left over from other jobs, and I considered using them. But I thought if my wife survives me, who could fix them? My son could, but not the run-of-the-mill domestic electrician, not even sure they could fix a fault with the off the shelf smart stuff I have in my house.

My son when he started was proud of his house bashing skills, but once he has a taste of industrial electrics with the remuneration he was getting, there was no way he was going to return to house bashing, and this is the problem, keeping good electricians working on domestic when moving over to industrial they are at least doubling their wages.

However, had I stayed with domestic, unlikely my hand would have been recycled. I am an integral part of Heathrow T5.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I often wonder why I had to lean Thevenin’s theorem, don't think I have ever used it at work.

I've sat through it a few times, as well as a few times having made good use of it. Sometimes, without the background, you just don't know, what you don't know.

 

[JohnW2]

I often wonder why I had to lean Thevenin’s theorem ...

It's always struck me as being somewhat of a 'statement of the obvious', given that any network, no matter how complex, can be regarded as a 2-terminal 'black box'.

When I moved into this house, I had PLC's left over from other jobs, and I considered using them. But I thought if my wife survives me, who could fix them? My son could, but not the run-of-the-mill domestic electrician, not even sure they could fix a fault with the off the shelf smart stuff I have in my house.

That is indeed an issue, and one which bernard and myself, and probably many others, have. I have documented things as well as I can, but I still doubt that (m)any 'third parties' would want to try to work on some of the (many) 'unconventional' things in my house. However, for better or worse, I have taken the somewhat selfish attitude that that is (will be) "someone else's problem"

 

[ericmark]

My problem is that someone else, may be my wife, so don't want to install anything which may be more than a local electrician can repair.

 

[JohnW2]

My problem is that someone else, may be my wife, so don't want to install anything which may be more than a local electrician can repair.

Yes, I understand that -which is why I said my approach is a bit selfish. Mind you, in reality, I'm pretty sure that my wife would not attempt to organise any necessary repairs but, rather, would probably turn to our offspring (and/or their partners/spouses) for assistance!