Which Exam

So, having spent some of yesterday evening reading over and comparing 2382-10 and 2382-20 it's clear that I need to do the 10 version. The main difference being the 20 version is for people with prior exams, and so they only do a 1 hour exam covering about half the content required for the 2 hour 10 version.

The course content looks interesting and might help me solve one or two issues in my house. I'm particularly interested in these earth loop currents. The next thing I am wondering is whether the IEE 17th edition BS 7671_2008 will be detailed enough to learn from. Okay, if one looked hard enough on isohunt.com you never know what you might find. I'm not saying I did that, but if one did, I expect you might find a scanned copy. Other documents are mentioned in the C&G course guide, one of them is an Exam Success book. I think that must be a good resource. I know that some home learning packages offer a program exam simulator. That would be useful.

I'll start reading through the BS 7671 tomorrow. I think anything I don't understand I can learn from other sources. Some stuff I might get hold of the bits from the UK over the summer if I need to, for building here in Thailand.

British Standards

So, in order to work on 2382-10 I need access to the British Standard BS 7671:2008
Requirements for electrical installations. IEE Wiring Regulations. Seventeenth edition from

http://www.standardsuk.com/products/BS-7671-2008.php

for 105 quid! I thought something like a standard that the industry has to follow would be free, for the good of the people. I thought it would be a government provided set of rules that mightbe made available for everyone to follow. I will see if I can get this from another source. The details are:

BSi code: BS 7671:2008
ISBN number: 978 0 86341 844
Product code: 30155604
Publication Date: 31st Jan 2008

Maybe I can pick one up off eBay or find one loitering on some corner of the Internet...

Qualifications Needed

Gone midnight again but achieved a lot. A search of a jobs database for electrician jobs showed that most ask for two main qualifications:

1. 2382 (17th edition) - I think this replaces the 2381, which is based in a 16th edition of some kind of wiring rules or something. It isn't exactly clear what the pre-requisites are for this course. On the one hand it says anyone can take this and on the other is says centers will be penalised for entering people who do not have the old 2381 or some other qualification. I am going to have to look closer at this. There seems to be two versions also, the 2382-10 (or 100) and the 2382-20 (200). Not sure what that is about yet.

2. 2391 - Inspection and testing. This one seems understandable and clear and is a progression from the one above.

3. Solar, CSCS and NICIEC qualifications - No idea what these are but they seem suitable for renewable electrical work, something I am interested in given the reduction in world oil.

City & Guilds UK have all the info about the courses above. They also run an online system to help students called SmartScreen (smartscreen.co.uk) which have these courses, reasonably priced also. These courses are going to come under some new scheme called QCF, which seems to be a standardisation for loads of qualifications. It might be possible to do an online exam perhaps, although I think this would be at a Center. The next question is, what does it take to become a center as my nearest one is in Singapore. I did a search and found I do have some down the road from my parents house in the UK.

I need to:
1. Check to see if I am supposed to do a qualification before the 2382
2. Figure out what the two variations are i.e. 2382-10 and 2382-20
3. See what it takes/costs to set up a centre, maybe offering qualifications (ICT) at school. Since I have set up a couple of ICDL test centers before I don't think this would be too bad - apart from a) Selling the idea to the school and b) The cost to the school
4. Sorting out the resources for learning 2382
5. See what resources I can get off the Internet for free

Also, I've remembered that I have an aunt who's dad installed alarms and designed them. He may be a good contact in the UK for help and resources.

Not a bad nights works. Loads downloaded to read tomorrow.

Template changed

Changed the template from Mr. Moto to Simple II since it gives more words across the screen, saving time wasted scrolling down. Also, should look better if I need to print it.
Next posting will be the initial research done on finding out the qualifications I need.

The Start - The Plan

Just took a look at this blog. The text width is a bit small. Maybe I can change the template to increase the number of words on a line.

I need a plan. I need to find out:

1. What qualifications I need in order to become qualified? [1 week]
   
2. Which qualifications allow me to earn the most money? [1 week]
   
3. Who is the qualification awarding body - which is the best if there is more than one? [1 week]
   
4. Where to download the syllabi from
   
5. Research for resources to learn from - got to be the most relevant and up to date [1 month]
   
6. Study - learn [1 year]
   
7. Take sample tests / exams [2 months]
   
8. Pass real exams [2 weeks]
   
9. Make loads of money and retire early! [Rest of life]

I am not going to be posting my studies and notes on this blog, but rather I might use Google Docs for this. I will post links and observations here. I see this blog as a record of my goals and the problems I face as I work towards my objectives.

Next stop, Google docs. I figure I might need a spreadsheet or two so it makes sense to try Google docs. I have to think more on this one as it means I will need to be online every time I want to work.

My advantages and disadvantages

In trying to meet my objectives I have some strengths and weaknesses. If I think about them now, I can start thinking about solutions to the weaknesses.

Advantages

1. I am a trained and experienced teacher which means I know how the education system works. Namely I know that I will need syllabus guides, curriculum notes, past exam papers, test papers, worksheets etc.
2. I know how to search the Internet and where to look for things.
   
3. Once I start something I usually finish it
4. I have the resources of the other schools in Bangkok Thailand, from the people I know
5. I have a degree in electronics and computer science and so I should be able to understand everything I need to learn
6. I have most evenings, and school holidays, to study
7. I don't have Cable or Satellite TV, and Thai TV is crap (plus I don't understand it) so less distractions
8. I planned and wired the house that we built in Phuket myself, and read up for that. Also, I have one big construction book with electrical info in it. I hope it will be useful as it cost me about 60 quid when I bought it.
   

Disadvantages

1. I will not be able to get hold of anything electrical from the UK easily
2. I will not be able to gain practical experience (apart from perhaps re-wiring or fixing problems in Thai built and wired homes - always a mess believe me)
3. By studying alone I will miss out on the extras (motivation, information) that working with others always brings
4. I will need a forum for asking questions when I don't understand something
5. I will probably need to return to the UK to sit exams
6. It will be hard to get a job without any "real" / recognised experience.
   

There are probably more of each but that is all I can think of at the moment.

Possible solutions to the Disadvantages

1. Maybe there is a supplier in BKK or Singapore. Maybe I don't need to get hold of physical UK stuff/parts but can find a near equivalent here. Thailand does have standards. For example, even though I have no idea what they are the guy from the electricity company inspected the electrics in our house and passed them okay (and we didn't even need to bribe him).
2. To gain practical experience I could contact the company that built our house and work for free to learn from them. I am going to have to play this one by ear as and when I get to practical sections to see if I can get around them by theory alone.
3. I expect there are loads of chat and help forums out there run by very experienced electricians who will be willing to help/answer my questions. I wonder if any of my relatives have a family friend who is an electrician. I studied for a load of industry networking qualifications on my own so have an ability, and possibly a preference, for studying alone. I know I can do it.
4. I've answered this one in 3 above.
   
5. To cut costs I really need to use the air tickets my school gives me. I will investigate other options or places I could sit the exams. As I mentioned before, it might be possible to find, or even set up a school as a registered exam center if it doesn't cost anything. British Council might be an option. Otherwise exams will have to wait until the next trip to the Uk in 2013.
6. In the end I would rather work for myself since I am fed up with working for someone else and having them dictate to me conditions and salary. This is probably a major reason for taking on this self study and goal. However, later on, given the large number of electrician firms I am sure there must be one out there willing to hire a newly qualified electrician with no formal experience. I will just have to play to my strengths when the time comes. Or failing that, I am not adverse to "cash in hand" work [fully disclosed to the tax man of course]. Given that I don't reside in the UK, I should be able to claim back any tax as my yearly earnings will be so low.
   

Reasons for Blogging

Straight forward really.

1. I wanted somewhere I could keep my notes, links and ideas as I learn that I can access from anywhere.
2. To, hopefully, keep me motivated to the task
3. To allow me to read back and reflect on what I have done in order to plan for the future, in case I stray from the objectives
4. In the slim case that someone else in the world wants to become a UK trained electrician as cheaply as possible.
   

I've got no intention of trying to advertise this blog and to be honest I don't expect anyone to find it. So, this writing to a potential reader may fade away as I get into the research. Of course, other people may be able to help, so maybe I will let people know. Especially if it saves me money!

The Idea

This is my first and I expect only blog , which considering I am an ICT teacher, probably means something. I know that most blogs that are started are soon forgotten. Still, hopefully this will see me through.

The objectives are:
1. To become UK qualified in order to pick up contract electrician work
2. To meet objective 1 in as little cost as possible
3. To get work
4. To achieve this by June 2012

Objectives explained
1. Another skill is always handy and having done a bit of wiring myself I think it is something I should be able to pick up without, hopefully, too much time and effort. I've always enjoyed working with electrical things and wiring, I think I have knack for it. If I can pick up some work, even just 2 weeks worth, when I am back in the UK or use these qualifications to get me some temp work overseas then that will be worth it. Actually, another reason for doing this is I want to learn something new and do something that is outside of my current work (teaching ICT in Thailand).

2. I don't have any spare cash to spend on going to collage, doing courses, home study kits or even buying new books. I am kind of treating it as a challenge to see how cheaply I can become qualified by scouring the web for resources, by getting my school library to purchase any books I need (I'll run an electronics after school activity or something). Ideally, I hope to get everything I need legally off of the Internet. I've even thought of trying to get some sponsorship, you never know.

3. The reasons for this objective is explained in objective 2. An extra source of income during school holidays would be very welcome.

4. The June 2012 date basically gives me a year to study and do whatever I need to do to sit exams in the UK. Although actually, I might not return to the UK until 2013, when my school gives my family and I tickets to return to the UK. I can't see myself funding a trip to the UK in 2012 out of my own pocket just to sit some exams. Maybe I can take them in BKK at the British Embassy or something.

This looks like a long post. Does blogging etiquette say I should end here and start a new page? Guess I will.