Decided To Go For It - Career Change Imminent!! ?

[tictag]

Just completed my enrolment on my first course and paid my fees. No turning back now! Course starts on Mon 14 Sep 2020 and my first day in college is the following Mon 21 Sep 2020. Very excited - my plans are becoming reality! ?

And, believe it or not, by pure coincidence, I met and had a few beers with a chap on the campsite I live on last night, turns out he's an electrician and has offered me a job! Just basically as a labourer, I'll probably be spending my days unravelling cable, but it's a foot in the door, a foot in the industry.

 

[ArthurEld]

Good luck on the new job Tictag. I hope you get your degree and enjoy your new career.

 

[upnorthandpersonal]

I'll probably be spending my days unravelling cable

After wiring my place and doing just that, I realize I miss this type of work. I like what I'm doing now, sure, but sometimes I long for the 'simpler' times.

 

[tictag]

Had my first day at college on Mon, and the second today. Week one summary:

1. Transformers (step-up, step-down, isolation, current) and the (UK) electrical distribution system.
2. Power factor and the AC 'Ohm's law'.
3. Calculating inductive reactance and combined impedance in transformers.

My brain hurts.

 

[upnorthandpersonal]

Here you go

 

[svetz]

How's the new job going?

...Transformers (step-up, step-down, isolation, current) ...

Saw a circuit yesterday where the authors wanted to drive an ultrasonic transducer. If I understand it (which is questionable), they started with 120V AC, cleaned it up, then used a transformer to get it down to 13V, all that just to remove the noise? It was a portable device, so not like the 120V AC could have been a convenient starting place. But if so, another use for transformers... noise reduction.

I definitely get my brain hurts. ?

 

[Supervstech]

How's the new job going?


Saw a circuit yesterday where the authors wanted to drive an ultrasonic transducer. If I understand it (which is questionable), they started with 120V AC, cleaned it up, then used a transformer to get it down to 13V, all that just to remove the noise? It was a portable device, so not like the 120V AC could have been a convenient starting place. But if so, another use for transformers... noise reduction.

I definitely get my brain hurts. ?

The transformer isn’t removing noise... the “cleaned it up” part removes the noise... the transformer, isolated the current, and altered the voltage.

 

[svetz]

The transformer isn’t removing noise... the “cleaned it up” part removes the noise... the transformer, isolated the current, and altered the voltage.

Yeah, @BiduleOhm was just correcting me on it. My brain really hurts now...

 

[BiduleOhm]

The transformer isn’t removing noise...

Actually they do. One use is to remove common mode noise (used mainly in coms), they also acts like an inductor (because they are one ^^) so they do low-pass filtering (which is why bench PSUs using a good old transformer can have a very low noise level even if the mains feeding them is polluted with HF noise from brushed motors, SMPS, etc...).

 

[tictag]

Here you go

Mummy, make the bad man stop...

 

[tictag]

How's the new job going?

Not started that yet. The 'job offer' turned into more of a 'I'll put in a good word for you' type deal, which is fine, we were both very (very) drunk at the time! I've contacted the contracts manager at the company (AC Electrical, UK) but heard nothing back as yet. Don't want to come across as pushy so leaving it a few days before politely chasing. I also wanted to include details of the college course, give them some evidence of my seriousness (is that a word?) / commitment.

 

[Hedges]

An employer will probably appreciate hands-on experience and horse sense.

Heard of a guy who completed an expensive HVAC training program. Contractor had him run wires. He brought 10 awg to the thermostat and 26 awg to the furnace.

To many people just taught with books.

 

[erik.calco]

My options are called lakes. Which lake will it be today that I fish at? At least that's that plan.

LOL my first thought was -- it's been 6 weeks, is it still true?

 

[tictag]

Thank you to all that have been so very supportive in this thread, it is truly humbling ... but I have withdrawn from my course.

What!?! ?

I know. The course was going really well, learning was challenging but very satisfying. The problem was COVID-19. We had two people on the course test positive in two separate incidents meaning that I had to self-isolate for 14 days in each case (UK COVID-19 infection control rules), which caused many problems in my personal life but also degraded the learning. But for me it was the level of personal risk I was willing to accept for something I could easily do next year. In the UK, 4,854 men in my age group have already died from this disease and I have underlying health problems that put me in a high risk category for complications.

If I've got maybe 30+ years of life left, is it worthwhile running the risk of dying this year? For a qualification?

I decided it wasn't.

The vaccine comes out early next year in the UK and the next presentation of the course is Sep 2021, so I'm thinking if all goes well, I'll re-start it then.

I won't be able to apply the knowledge I had planned to acquire here and now, but I feel that I can still contribute to this forum, in my small way.

 

[Hedges]

Good luck ...
in the mean time maybe you could work as an electrician's helper. Plenty to learn hands-on.

I am pro-vaccine, but anti-adjuvant. Read up on the side effects.
I would wait for a vaccine that has been tested on the masses, and which does not contain adjuvants.

 

[HRTKD]

Bummer on the class. Remote learning wasn't offered? I work for a university and most of the courses are doing remote learning. The lab work is a different matter.

 

[learning all the time]

Really sucks TigTag. This covid business has really sucked for all of us! Hopefully you can continue at a later time if you choose.

 

[Solarfun4jim]

Thank you to all that have been so very supportive in this thread, it is truly humbling ... but I have withdrawn from my course.

What!?! ?

I know. The course was going really well, learning was challenging but very satisfying. The problem was COVID-19. We had two people on the course test positive in two separate incidents meaning that I had to self-isolate for 14 days in each case (UK COVID-19 infection control rules), which caused many problems in my personal life but also degraded the learning. But for me it was the level of personal risk I was willing to accept for something I could easily do next year. In the UK, 4,854 men in my age group have already died from this disease and I have underlying health problems that put me in a high risk category for complications.

If I've got maybe 30+ years of life left, is it worthwhile running the risk of dying this year? For a qualification?

I decided it wasn't.

The vaccine comes out early next year in the UK and the next presentation of the course is Sep 2021, so I'm thinking if all goes well, I'll re-start it then.

I won't be able to apply the knowledge I had planned to acquire here and now, but I feel that I can still contribute to this forum, in my small way.

Like you say...the course will still be there next year....good decision, far better to make sure you are too.

 

[Nobodybusiness]

So I've been umm'ing and ahh'ing about if for a while but I finally decided to embark on a new career - I'm going to re-train as an electrician.

I've worked out all the courses and 'ologies I need and have enrolled on my first course starting 13 Sep 2020: City & Guilds [2365-3] Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (Buildings and Services). I'll be doing it part time so it's going to take around a year. I eventually want to achieve my ECS 'Gold Card' (Electrotechnical Certification Scheme).

I've always been interested in the industry and I like the idea of being a tradesman leading into retirement (yes, I am that old!). I am hoping that my previous careers (Class 1 Avionics Technician, Technical Project Manager) will help me to differentiate myself.

I hope that, with my additional training, I can help more on this forum as time goes by!

I was considering the same move.
I will be retiring in 5 years from a Network Engineering career.

 

[EmilioVega]

It's great that you are ready for a new career! I made this decision 2 years ago when the whole world was in the grip of a pandemic. I was in high school then, and I was sure I would later study as a lawyer. My father gave me important advice to choose a profession where I can realize my potential. HVAC certificate at public community colleges cost about $4,868. It's great news because I intend to become an HVAC technician. A busy year awaits you. I'm sure that you will become a professional in your field! What would we do without electricians? Now there is a shortage of good specialists.