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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Default Electrical Short Course

    Hi,

    Does anyone know of an electrical short course being held in Greater Sydney next year?

    Macquaire Community College ran a course previously on Wednesday nights for 6 weeks (if I'm remembering right) but they don't anymore. That's the sort of thing I'm looking at, or maybe a TAFE short course if one's available.

    I'm looking for something that is more aimed at home hobbyist type thing.

    Regards Ben.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    Default

    Hello Ben,

    If you have anything in particular that you want to know, ask me ! If I can help then I will.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
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    Alexandra Vic
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    654

    Default

    Ben, what sort of things do you want to learn, just basic electronics, basic electrics like low voltage DC etc. I suspect that there is not going to be much on offer in one session a week type short courses due to the sheer volume of info that you might be taught, and no real guarantee that such a course would include the things you want to know at the time. Plus, a huge part of it is doing something practical under close supervision to ensure that you don't hurt yourself, someone else, or cause damage. That's why sparkies do a 4 year apprenticeship, or engineers do a 4 year degree.

    I'm not trying to put poop on you for wanting to learn something, just pointing out that there is so much to learn that trying to get a good usable and safe background in a short course is almost impossible. If you want to learn about a single topic, I am willing to help out along the way by PM or email, but I cannot offer personal supervision etc if you want to get into mains electrics etc due to location differences, and supervised prac work is as important as theory to my mind.
    I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Sydney, NSW
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    Default

    Hi,

    There used to be a community college course run that covered basic electronics (like fixing basic items like vacuum cleaners et.c, soldering et.c) that went for a few months. It hasn't been run for many years.

    I'll look at doing a TAFE short course next year or maybe a connect/disconnect course - my work my even put me on one.

    Cheers Ben.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
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    Default

    Hi Ben,

    A quick tip ! 90% of all electrical failures are mechanical.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Adelaide
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    574

    Default

    I would think that these days most community type colleges like WEA would steer clear of that type of course as being too risky and seen as encouraging non licensed people to touch electrical gear, best leave it to licensed trades people.
    While our new house was being built we lived in and renovated our rental property, wife took a WEA course on renovating - while painting I pulled the light switches out of the architraves to paint behind them as you do to get a decent finish - wife warned of dire consequences - WEA renovating course advised only licensed electricians can remove fixed wiring components. One of the wires broke when I went to put the switch back - an easy fix you think, not so - it almost caused a marriage breakup, wife said if you touch the wires you will be electrocuted and house will burn down, you have to call an electrician, not being in a mood to humour her or pay for a call out fee I went ahead and fixed the issue - we didn't speak for a week while waiting for the house to burn down.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
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    Alexandra Vic
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    69
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    Quote Originally Posted by familyguy View Post
    One of the wires broke when I went to put the switch back - an easy fix you think, not so - it almost caused a marriage breakup, wife said if you touch the wires you will be electrocuted and house will burn down, you have to call an electrician, not being in a mood to humour her or pay for a call out fee I went ahead and fixed the issue - we didn't speak for a week while waiting for the house to burn down.
    Sounds a bit familiar to me, that bit about being electrocuted. As a youngster we lived way off grid till my sister was hospitalised with rheumatic fever. While she was in hospital for treatment and having follow up recuperation at an aunts place, my father purchased a second lighting plant and wired up the house so we had some 240V lighting and a few powerpoints around the house, usable when the plant was going.

    As a curious 5yo boy, I was warned about not touching cable, powerpoints etc as I might be electrocuted, and I definitely was not allowed in the lighting plant shed. A few weeks after mum and sister returned home, I obviously tried my mothers patience a bit too much one day, and bolted out the back door to avoid the clip over the ear that I knew was about to be applied. Problem was my mum followed me, and had grabbed an offcut of 2 core and earth a couple of metres long with the outer casing stripped back probably 20cm or so, and began a game of chasey swinging the cord at me while I tried to get away howling 'Now I'll be electrocuted' every time she made contact. Father was not amused when he heard about it that night, I was in trouble for whatever I had done, and mother was in the bad books for having undone fathers patient training for me to be scared of and stay away from electricity.
    I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by familyguy View Post
    I would think that these days most community type colleges like WEA would steer clear of that type of course as being too risky and seen as encouraging non licensed people to touch electrical gear, best leave it to licensed trades people.
    While our new house was being built we lived in and renovated our rental property, wife took a WEA course on renovating - while painting I pulled the light switches out of the architraves to paint behind them as you do to get a decent finish - wife warned of dire consequences - WEA renovating course advised only licensed electricians can remove fixed wiring components. One of the wires broke when I went to put the switch back - an easy fix you think, not so - it almost caused a marriage breakup, wife said if you touch the wires you will be electrocuted and house will burn down, you have to call an electrician, not being in a mood to humour her or pay for a call out fee I went ahead and fixed the issue - we didn't speak for a week while waiting for the house to burn down.
    Based on some of the work that I have seen from licenced sparkles, you would be safer doing it yourself!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Frankston south
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    102

    Default

    A test and tag course is all you'll find these days.

  10. #10
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    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
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    57
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    2,651

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    A disconnect/reconnect course looks like it would be a good starting point - particularly if you can get your work to put you on one.

    Steve

  11. #11
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    Oct 2011
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    Default

    Hi,

    Both of those courses are on the cards.

    Ben.

  12. #12
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    Dec 2019
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    Quote Originally Posted by BaronJ View Post
    Hi Ben,

    A quick tip ! 90% of all electrical failures are mechanical.
    ... and from an aircraft maintenance perspective 90% of ALL failures are electrical.

    Like most things - it depends on your perspective.

  13. #13
    jatt's Avatar
    jatt is offline Always within 10 paces from nearest stubby holder
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    Back in early 2000s here in Vic you needed something written from your employer stating your need to do Disconn/ Reconn.

    Back then there were 9 separate catagories to choose from. Had to put down which one/s you wanted. Naturally it had to be seen to align with your present employment. Eg Plumbers were getting them so they could "like for like" changeover of electric hottys.

    Of course cant vouch for what hurdles you may encounter here in 2020, but would expect you to have to jump though a few hoops.
    Frisky wife, happy life. ​Then I woke up. Oh well it was fun while it lasted.
    From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".

  14. #14
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    Aug 2011
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    Perth, Western Australia
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    Quote Originally Posted by BaronJ View Post
    Hi Ben,

    A quick tip ! 90% of all electrical failures are mechanical.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ted Hobson View Post
    ... and from an aircraft maintenance perspective 90% of ALL failures are electrical.

    Like most things - it depends on your perspective.
    My brother works in the mines, Fitter. Quick inspection of the crusher they could not find anything wrong. Called the electrician down to check things. He said "there is nothing wrong as no warning lights were on" and left. A further 1 hr after checking the mechanical side they could find nothing wrong. Called the big boss sparky in, he at least opened the cabinet to check things.
    Faulty warning light just cost them 1 million.
    The first sparky has been sent to bowls of hell until he gets his act together.

  15. #15
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    Nov 2007
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    Near Rockhampton
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    270

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    Quote Originally Posted by bts View Post
    My brother works in the mines, Fitter. Quick inspection of the crusher they could not find anything wrong. Called the electrician down to check things. He said "there is nothing wrong as no warning lights were on" and left. A further 1 hr after checking the mechanical side they could find nothing wrong. Called the big boss sparky in, he at least opened the cabinet to check things.
    Faulty warning light just cost them 1 million.
    The first sparky has been sent to bowls of hell until he gets his act together.
    Totally not PC or to be viewed by those offended by language.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GIvGlEoTzs

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