[Question] How do I become an electrical contractor?

[paulbloggs]

How do I become an electrical contractor? Do I have to be an artisan?

I have developed a keen interest in Solar PV and would like to become involved in installing systems.
I have a T4 (heavy current ) from Vaal Triangle Technikon plus many years experience in the energy management field. For the past 14 years I have worked at an electrical engineering company that manufactures and sells industrial instrumentation.

Problem is I am 54yo and have a family to support.

Regards
Paul

[Karel Kriel]

Hi Pual I might be wrong but as far as I know anybody can register as an electrical contractor.The problem comes with the installation you have to be an installation electrician or have one in full time employ Like I said I might be wrong

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[DieterT]

Good day Paul.

I am not the DoL or for that matter any authorised person doing training, but what I can do is advise and share my own experience and what I have come to learn.
In our recent training with the Electrical Inspector around Solar PV alot of concerns where mentioned and a lot of unhappy faces since a lot of the installers where well trained and good at what they do, but did not meet the requirements in accordance to standards. Mostly electrical / electronic engineers.

What I have come to know is that if you have a degree such as T4, the road to becoming a IE or MIE is much quicker and easier than starting from scratch.
SEE PAGE 5 OPTION 3 2.3.1 of the OHSA link attached

I will try and find the DoL gazette document which indicates the requirements and post it here, but here is a link that should work. http://www.labour.gov.za/DOL/downloa...lation2014.pdf

From what I remember and that also having advised my father-in-law who is and electrical power system protection engineer ECSA registered as professional who is now in his mid 50s that he would have to get his degrees / experience "mitigated" by SAQA http://www.saqa.org.za/ in order for it to stand in level with what DoL require. Other than that is the Paper 1 & 2 Installation rules (which is very easy) and the unit standards (which is a coarse that is done at an approved provider where a portfolio of evidence is created and sent to EWSETA)

All of this can be done part time. The coarse is the only thing that will require a few days away from work and some degree of frustration cause as I understand from new persons doing their portfolio of evidence, you are required to do a single phase and 3phase CoC with an registered person which can be a bit daunting.

Good luck to you

[paulbloggs]

Dieter, Karel,

Thanks for the information. It seems there might be a light at the end of the tunnel for me. Is there a place where I can get the definitive story - maybe the ECA or ECBSA?

Is this a lucrative career change? I have always believed that these high tech IT-type jobs where people are afraid to get their hands dirty will come and go but the jobs where some manual skills will always be there. People will always need plumbing or electrical stuff repaired.

And I like the idea of saving the planet a little bit as well as love the idea of getting free energy!

Regards
Paul

[SilverNodashi]

/subscribing

[paulbloggs]

Dieter,

Man - the EWSETA website is confusing. It only seems to tell me how wonderful they are.
Can you tell me where or how I can do Paper 1 and 2? And the unit standards.
Just a link will be great

Thank you
Paul

[skatingsparks]

Can you tell me where or how I can do Paper 1 and 2? And the unit standards.
l

The ECA in Joburg runs the course a couple of times a year, it runs over 8 weeks, 2 days a week I think. Used to be weekends. The exam is sat at kempton park college when I did it. (think you can approach Kemton park college if you just want to sit the exam, not sure)

Also P and T (http://pandttechnology.co.za/courses/) do it as well I think. They can also help with the unit standards as well.

Hope it helps

[DieterT]

As skatingsparks said, PnT Tech will be the better option. I am doing my Unit Standards for hazardous locations with them this week.
For paper 1 and 2, most technical colleges would offer this. I did my specialized codes through Technicol SA. Installation codes I went straight to Tshwane South College and ran classes twice a week from 4pm to 6pm. My recommendation would be to go do a crash course (if you have somewhat knowledge on electrical installations and regulatory requirements) as this will save you the time of going to classes every week and also the headache of standing in queues for registration of exams.

I do not know how PnT Technologies are with the installation codes, but as far as I could find they are very well known for the unit standards and best priced.
EWSETA is useless, don't even bother with them (just like any other government instatution...) Give it time and the will also be taken apart.

http://pandttechnology.co.za/portfolio-items/installation-rules-paper-1/

http://pandttechnology.co.za/portfolio-items/installation-rules-paper-2/

http://pandttechnology.co.za/portfolio-items/unit-standards-for-installation-electrician-three-phase-industrialcommercial/

http://www.technicolsa.co.za/cp/12900/installation-rules

Dieter,

Man - the EWSETA website is confusing. It only seems to tell me how wonderful they are.
Can you tell me where or how I can do Paper 1 and 2? And the unit standards.
Just a link will be great

Thank you
Paul

[paulbloggs]

Thanks guys -
Is it possible to only write the exams or do I have to do a course?

I see on the PnT website it says I have to buy the study material elsewhere:

Note these codes and standards do not form part of the course cost and must be purchased prior to participation on the program.

Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993
SANS 10142-1 2008
SANS 10198-1:2004
SANS 10198-2:2004
SANS 10292:2001
SANS 1973-3:2008

Do I need all of those?
Do I buy them from the SABS or is there a shop in the Sandton, Jhb area?

Thanks
Paul

[kosmonooit]

I did the classes with P&T, could have gone solo but it was good to have chats and network a bit if you are not in the industry. You still have to put in a lot of time on your own. The emphasis is on memorising the codes. Easier for some than others. Also marking apparently is an issue, some want to see answers given verbatim.

You can just register for the exams at various centres, contact SAJ in Germiston, I went via them. http://www.saj.co.za

[skatingsparks]

The paper 1 and 2 were quite tricky. When I sat the exam 138 people went in and 2 passed..... Some say it's easy, I found quite hard to be honest, mostly because there is a lot of stuff in there that most electricians won't ever use (IT earthing systems, never seen one in 20 years). Also Kosmonooit is right they want some of the answers word for word as is written in SANS 10142. The other books were about HV cable and lightning protection which there was a question or 2 and there was quite a bit from OHS act which is weird considering the crazy dangerous ways a lot of people work. Machine regulations etc..... The course will highlight the bits you are expected to memorise, most of which you will never use again.

[thomasj]

A test where 2 out of 138 pass does not sound easy to me - wow!

[kosmonooit]

We were told that the national pass rate for Papers 1 and 2 is 5%

I don't think the exams really test your understanding of the codes.

[DieterT]

It sounds to me like someone is influencing you guys very negative for these exams...
If that is true that there is only a 5% pass rate then it seems the learners ain't doing it right or the teachers don't know how to teach.

You are right you might never use some of the information in the SANS10142 part 1, but there is always the possibility you might and even later on if you would move on and to get your MIE or even more your GCOC (Government ticket) you would require knowledge on the different earthing systems used and other information contained in the SANS10142 part 1 which you might not use right now. Is that not how most exams / subjects are? Some you use, some you don't and some is supporting information for the next step??

If you I can give you my advice (therefore saying "take it or leave it...") get the past exam papers and learn them off by heart (repetition)
This is the way most N subjects are offered, even now with having done my specialized codes paper 1 and 2 it was exactly the same as when I wrote my installation codes paper 1 and 2. The exam was a repetition of previous exams and also asking one of the moderators about this I was told that this is the way it is prescribed and therefore they have to adhere (even though they would like to create new, more difficult exam papers)

I just finished now with the unit standards for specialized installations and I must say that PnT Tech is well worth the their weight in gold. It is hard work and a pressure cooker of an exam also there is a lot of work to do with the POE, but the knowledge gained from the course is well worth it.
If anyone is considering doing their trade prep/wireman's or masters I would recommend doing it through PnT Technologies.

I also see that PnT provides you with all the documentation required for the installation unit standards as they have also done when I did the specialized unit standards.
Another recommendation would be to get it done as soon as possible since with the PV regs being introduced into the SANS 10142 part 1 it will most probably cause the exam papers to be adopted for this. Which is a good thing, but will obviously make the exam more difficult being that it will be new questions with no past exam papers to reference too. An on the other side of this they will remove medical locations from the SANS 10142 part 1, since it is a specialized environment thus being a MIE responsibility and therefore only forming part of the specialized codes...

[kosmonooit]

That number of 5% Pass Rate came from P&T

Sure they are do-able, but you are going to need more that a few days off work to crack them.