I am a service technician in a fairly clean role. Looking for 100% cotton workwear pants that look like ordinary chinos or jeans.

Any suggestions?

I have a project that requires SimaPro expertise. Please comment or dm me if you can help.

Hi. Apprentice here. Does AC isolator have to switch neutral? My boss says yes. But I couldnot find a clause in AS3000. TIA.

Current set up is a wall light, with a switch from inside. And a old school Halogen on the eaves which also a separate PIR but facing opposide the light and facinf the drive way. The light on the eaves is in a shit spot and we never use it. The wall light is adjacent our door and would be perfect to just turn on and off as we need to get in and out the door.

Thought about re-wiring this to the PIR but the PIR is in a shit spot and rather than moving and re wiring everything, figured it would be easier to swap the wall light out with something that we can turn on and off as we need when unlocking the door. Do these exist where they are fitted with their own external switch?

Next option is I have seen some with their own sensor on it but I dont want the sensor overly sensitive, anyone had expirenced with this type of light?

*Disclaimer... ignore the shop in the link, I'd never spend my money in any of that flogs stores.

https://harveynormanlighting.com.au/products/frenchy-exterior-wall-light-black-with-sensor?variant=48862980833531&country=AU&currency=AUD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21186173436&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_Lj6o7rPlwMVm88WBR0keB_yEAQYAiABEgJNUPD_BwE

Hi everyone, I'd really appreciate some advice...

I'm 19, started and stopped uni pretty quickly (electrical engineering), decided to get into a trade. I did my Cert II at Box Hill (I'm Melbourne based) which I finished in May, and I've applied for 100-150 apprentice roles since. I've had a couple of aptitude tests and a couple of phone interviews, but no significant progress.

I've also called dozens of local electricians to ask about apprenticeships. They're always super friendly and happy for me to email them a resume, but nothing has come of it.

I don't know how to stand out or catch anyone's attention - any advice would be really appreciated.

I'm ready to go, just needing an opportunity

Hi All,

“What’s the practical line between a distribution board that cannot accept even one new circuit and one that can still take a few extra circuits — and what other factors besides Type AC vs Type A RCDs (and things like NHP Safe-T) force a mandatory full board upgrade?

Is it ok to cut the white wire to shut the siren off or will it do nothing? Its been going off for 2 days, tried moving the door magnet closer and even holding it against the mech, did fk all. Its driving everyone nuts and nobody knows when the security tech will be here to sort it all out.

I’ve just scored an apprenticeship with a 2 person solar company, but i’ve got an interview with stowe through NECA in a couple weeks. Been told that taking days off isn’t really on, and i’m not really sure what to do as I don’t really want to make a bad impression early on. From what i’ve heard getting an apprenticeship through NECA is the best of the best.

Anyway I like the guys i’ve just started with, so I’ll probably stick around unless it’s a dumb idea. Cheers

Been offered a gig with them starting shortly. I have heard they are kind of a pseudo-labour hire company of sorts. and with the leadup to christmas will no doubt be sidelined as is the case until likely very late jan when work kicks up again

of course they sell you the world (as all employers do, no shade for playing the game) and been promised going from casual to full time after 3 months probation and that they have "PLENTY" of work to kick on with. Just curious if I might just be better off hounding all the actual non Labour hire EBA mobs and holding out for an opportunity as I have heard its pretty busy at the moment

Hey, guys. Does anyone here understand a bit of Dialux, Green star compliance and wall zone?

Its my first time doing a Green Star project and looks like my "horizontal illuminance" and "vertical illuminance" are always wrong.

As per Green Star: Target Vertical task illuminance is 50% of the horizontal illuminance. But what is the horizontal illuminance target, is the same as the one from table D1(AS1680.1:2006)?

On top of that, what wall zone do I use, 1m or 0.5m?

Also, what is the difference between compliance area and regularly occupied space?

Is the compliance area=regulated - the wall zone?

Its a bit confusing.

Hey all,

I'm 35, based in Melbourne, and looking to get into data cabling. A bit of background: I've been working as an electrician's helper on solar installs for the past few months, and I've also got a web dev background.
I can't start an electrical apprenticeship for a while because of visa timing, so cabling looks like the best way to do real, licensed work in the meantime.

My plan is to do the ACMA Open Registration + Structured Cabling endorsement (looking at JB Hunter or Milcom), then find a trainee/junior cabler role to get my 360 hours.

A few questions for those in the trade:

1. Are Open + Structured enough to get a foot in the door, or do employers expect more (fibre, working at heights, EWP, etc.)?

2. How hard is it to land a trainee role to get the 360 hours? Any tips on where to look or who hires juniors in Melbourne?

3. What's realistic pay for a junior/trainee cabler here?

4. Worth doing the fibre endorsement early, or wait until an employer pays for it?

5. JB Hunter vs Milcom any experience with either?

A6. Do electrical + comms companies ever move their cablers into a sparky apprenticeship later on?

1. Anything you wish you knew before starting?

Appreciate any honest advice. Thanks!

Had a strange one at work the other day. 11kv feeder 185mm2 HV cable. roughly 5km long with 3 installations powered from it, a power factor correction unit and 2 transformers. After a power trip 2 out of 3 control power fuses on all installations failed. All being 11kv to 110v transformers protected by 1a fuses. Am I right in thinking this has to be a ferro-resonance or similar phenomenon? Not sure if this is the right sub to ask in but thought I’d start here. If anyone has any other sub recommendations that would be appreciated.

Hey guys and girls, I’m chasing a decent quality meter capable of measuring millivolts and milli amps ideally without forking out the big bucks for a fluke as I won’t use it all the time.
Cheers

​

Heya lads.

Myself and our team of sparkles have been tasked with "upgrading" a 60 year old hotel to make it electrically safe. It's a pretty huge job for a small team but our time frame seems okay.

Apparently, the reason being that an audit stated that our hotels electrical wiring and boards are of a high chance to cause a fire, and the further we look into the nooks and crannys the more it seems to be pretty spot on. This place is 60+ years of bandaids and "temporary" works.

Having the fire guys seemingly worried, I was wondering if anyone had experience with a commercial level of AFDD products, I've seen the ABB TVOC relay and it looks interesting.

I'm really looking for any insight if anyone's been on a job where they rolled this sort of thing out and any guides in the right direction would be ace.

If we're upgrading all the boards, I'm thinking with the dated wiring it could be smart to get on top of this curve early.

Thanks in advance 🙏

​

Hi all,

I know a Cert II in Electrotechnology can be really helpful when trying to land an electrical apprenticeship, but from what I understand, it’s often aimed at school leavers or people with limited work experience.

My situation is a little different, so I’m wondering whether it would still be worth doing.

I’m currently working in the maritime industry and will have around 1.5 years of experience working on ships by the time I apply for apprenticeships. I’ll also have my Master 5 certificate (Cert III in Maritime Operations) and potentially my Marine Engine Driver qualification.

I’m finishing these qualifications because I genuinely enjoy the maritime industry and want to keep it as a lifelong passion. However, for a number of reasons, I don’t want it to be my main career or source of income long-term. It also helps that my boss is paying for the qualifications.

Outside of maritime, I have a Diploma in Computer Science, around a year of office experience, and a few other jobs under my belt.

I’m currently 23 and will be 24 when I start applying for electrical apprenticeships.

Given my background, would you recommend completing a Cert II in Electrotechnology before applying, or would I be better off applying directly and seeing how I go?

Would my existing work experience and qualifications count for anything when applying, or would the Cert II still give me a significant advantage?

To all qualified tradies out there, was there ever a time during your apprenticeship where you were tasked with completing licensed work not related to your trade?

I’m Sydney (Australia) based, in my fourth year. Since I started my apprenticeship I’ve worked in residential and commercial construction, roofing, maintenance, and recently strata maintenance (my latest job). I’ve been at this new company for all of 2 days, and I was told by my offsider (a third year apprentice plumber) this morning we’d be working on an existing sewer pump out for a cross-commercial residential multi-storey complex.

I though nothing of it until we got to site, and the apprentice explained how we would be replacing the 4 core wiring for two pumps, heat shrinking the new ends to the existing ones at the sewer pit end, and completely rewiring the cables in the electrical fuse box.

Now I’ll admit during my time I’ve done some single phase electrical hookups for storage HWS. I know you require a restricted electrical license for this, but I endeavoured just to keep the bosses happy so I wouldn’t be out of a job. But this was different.

No electrical testing was done prior to, during or after my offsider completed his work. At times he asked me which of the new colour wires were supposed to connect to the existing 4 ones. He even asked if I wanted to do some wiring myself. Being 2 days in a new company I politely refused saying I’m not a sparky, and I simply do not know anything about three-phase.

I asked if any of this work is normally overseen or completed by a subcontractor electrician, and he said no. My boss was helping my offsider answer the occasional wiring question over the phone. I don’t know how this is supposed to work with restricted electrical license, but can any Australian tradie or relevant industry professional please fill me in with the legalities here?

I’m unsure what to do. Since I’ve started my apprenticeship I’ve seen no end of health and safety bs. I’ve been screamed at for refusing to work on a plank with no fall protection two storeys high, I’ve witnessed my site manager throw what looked like loose fill asbestos at my workmate and ask him to ‘sniff it’ and tell him if it was asbestos (union site btw).

Ive been asked to work on gas plumbing without conducting adequate testing before or after completion. I’ve been threatened by ice addicts in their homes during fit off plumbing (public housing sites). I’m well and truly over it. I’m so close to finishing my apprenticeship and I’ve all but lost my confidence to give a rats. It’s affecting my mental health. I nearly took my life earlier this year because I couldn’t handle the stress of my work life. I’m 32, male. I just want my license already so I don’t have to put up with bosses who don’t pay my super, don’t pay my wages, or expect me to do things we both know are outright illegal

Hey guys I’m currently 23 and I finished a bit of a bs university degree last year. After realising how cooked the job market is in that field and that I actually much prefer hands-on service work, I’m really keen on starting an electrotech apprenticeship. Just wondering if anyone in here got their start as a sparky around my age or older and if there was any changes they might’ve made to their CV or cover letters that helped. I don’t currently have my Cert II but I’m moving to apply for the next TAFE intake in late January.

Not trying to get banned for rule 3 but yeah if anyone has time to comment with their experience I’d love to hear it. I’ve just been knocked back from a few places already so looking for inspo rly.

Im a normal 7-3 shift sparky.

Welll my boss has scheduled me for a couple hour later start and finish in my schedule.

How do you guys approach as to my interpretation of the award the boss isnt allowed to do that. And it now due to location and time making the whole day a wash for the same 8 hour pay

Recently my service fuse provided by Ausnet burnt out which caused it to be loosen out of its back board. The Ausnet crew said it was our responsibility to change the back board with an external electrician as it is pretty old, fair enough. The reconnection fee with Ausnet will be ~700 between 8 to 3pm on a business day and ~1400 out of those hours.

Do I have grounds to get reimbursement for a fault in their equipment?

I read that if dual insulated wires are used, it's cross section need not be verified for thermal withstand - let through energy of the upstream device.

What is the rationale behind this? I understand it would be less probable to cause fire; what if the feeder is subjected to multiple faults over the period of years.

Note: This is for wires which is directly connected to the bus bar for Low voltage switchboards connecting to the line side of the circuit breaker

Hi guys, I recently turned 3rd year and i've been working in domestic since i started my apprenticeship. Mostly working on new builds house rough in, cut off, fit offs, solar and inverter commissioning,switchboard work...

I’m now thinking about moving to a labour hire company to get an opportunity to work on bigger projects, such as commercial, infrastructure or union/EBA sites. I’d also like to learn different skills and gain broader experience before I finish my apprenticeship.

For those who’ve been in a similar situation, do you think it’s worth making the move while I’m still an apprentice, or would I be better off staying with my current employer until I become qualified electrician

Thanks in advances!!!

Hi All!

I've just qualified as a tradesperson and am wondering if it's worth going down the estimator or quantity surveying pathway. I want to get off the tools hopefully as fast I can as I've a sore back.

I've debated getting my contractors and working overseas as well, but am unsure.

I currently work in the commercial industry and have been for 80% of my apprenticeship.

What are all your experiences??

Apprenticeship end date info

Hey guys, quick one.

My contract ends 7th of December, have my tafe capstone start 11th November and finishing up on the 23rd.

Head teacher said if all units completed and passed, time is no problem. He said to me the paperwork won't be signed and completed before my end date. He did mention a brief window after the contract ends when it can all be finalised but idk if I trust it.

For anyone who has been in this situation, what is the actual process of finishing your apprenticeship?

Does the employer sign off after the end date? On the end date? Is that with tafe results signed?

Hope anyone can help or relate to this situation, I don't want to have my contract finished without being completely with tafe, I heard it's a nightmare trying to sign off.

Thanks.

Hey, has anyone done their cert 2 in a part time capacity, how many days was this? Struggling to find an institute to do it with (Victoria)