[Closed] 18th Edition Questions - Sparkytrackworld

The Sparky in this house has just gone to bed. She'll probably be able to answer more accurately than me tomorrow, but from what I have picked up from her, I would guess that 18th Edition is only one part of the equation. I guess you would need to be Part P as well.

BIG difference in the cost of courses. Quick Google says £48 for 18th Edition and £500 odds for Part P.

I remember when we rewired our house. She put in all the building notices and was able to actually do the installation but was unable to sign it off because she was not Part P at the time.

I'll point the gently snoring sparky your way in the morning. She probably tell me I'm talkin ballicks and give me a good slap for getting it all wrong. (She still hasn't forgiven me for drilling through the main supply when trying to fit skirting board and that was 10 years ago!)

Hope it works out for you.

Considering it took me 4 year to complete my apprenticeship I wish just a simple course was needed to become a spark as it would have saved me having to go to college and having years of crap wages.

However if I remember rightly, if you completed a NVQ level 2 in electrical installation it allows you to carry out simple electrical connections like installing a 13A fused spur to an existing ring and changing things like luminaires, switches and socket outlets as these only require a minor works certificate (this was what gas boiler installers used to have so they could disconnect and reconnect the electrical supply cable when replacing a gas boiler). However if you install a new circuit or replace a consumer unit you need to complete an installation certificate and you need to be an electrician to do this. Part P is to do with building warrants I think. As I live in Scotland and have been off the tools for a while things might have moved on a bit.

18th is a start. The exam isnt hard, multi-choice, 50/60 questions, ~60% right to pass.
You could answer the questions that are easy, then randomly tick the ones you dont, and still have a good chance of a pass.
The one week 18th course will help a great deal.
You do really need a testing and inspection qualification too, otherwise how can you say the installation is safe?
C&G 2392 is the basic I&T course. Can be done in 2 days, though I'd be more inclined to get a weeks course if it goes more in-depth.
And then experience needed, in large buckets.
I dont believe 'mature' people need a 4 year apprenticeship, but a year would be a minimum I'd say, with at least the 2 courses.

However, having said that, an Electrician isnt a restricted job, anyone can call themselves an electrician. There are some real cowboys out there fitting outside lights etc. It is the detail required to know that what you put is is safe, and many people do not know that.

And to follow up, to be safe, insured and legal, you'll need the following:
C&G 2382 (2383? 18th ed.) £50-500
C&G 2392 £500
Liability Insurance £120
Indemnity Insurance possibly.£100
Regs book. £70
Governing body membership £300
Tester(s) £150+ (2nd hand)
Other guide books £100+

However, having said that, an Electrician isnt a restricted job, anyone can call themselves an electrician. There are some real cowboys out there fitting outside lights etc. It is the detail required to know that what you put is is safe, and many people do not know that.

When I've added anything to my own houses i've just put a fused spur in to protect whatever i've added and calculated the wattage etc to ensure it isn't going to overload.

I've added heaps of lighting to houses no problems and tend to ensure everything is protected and easily isolated. The things I won't know unless i'm on the job is the tricks of the trade, like fishing cables etc etc...

the 18th edition question is more about how I legitamise the business concept without having to do the whole full on sparky thing, as that's not what i'm interested in doing.

Hi there op, you have my sympathies on the work front, I too get (or rather did) work at events (as an electrician)

There's a fair bit of misunderstanding about the 18th edition qualification, it's something you get to show you can read a book! That sounds flippant, but it really is the case, for example it's entirely possible to take and pass the exam with zero electrical knowledge (people have done this to demonstrate this point). So it won't give you any understanding or insight into the trade. Having said that, it is important to have, but think of it more as a box ticking exercise. I'd say more importantly is having the latests regs, and using them (i'll dip in regularly)

C&G 2392 is the basic I&T course. Can be done in 2 days, though I’d be more inclined to get a weeks course if it goes more in-depth.

the 2392 is a really good course and will give you some insight into what is required, suggest if you have no experience of testing you need a week course minimum. Next step is the 2391, this is really several steps above the 2392, you'd need a good amount of experience and lots of testing knowledge before attempting this (pass rate is kept around 40-50% and that's for experienced sparks), but I have found it really helpful, and it opens a lot of doors

When I’ve added anything to my own houses i’ve just put a fused spur in to protect whatever i’ve added and calculated the wattage etc to ensure it isn’t going to overload

That's a start, but there is a question of not realising what you don't know. For example, I was at a job yesterday to sign off a builders work, everything was neat and tidy, and nothing was going to overload, but I knew before getting my tester out there would be issues and sure enough it failed. Back there next week to install a brand new circuit... he thought he could save some cash by just getting someone in to sign-off, that's backfired (and don't get me started on kitchen fitters!)

I am not an expert, I’m a somewhat educated diy’er who happens to be an electronic (not electrical!) engineer.

The big problem here that you need to navigate is part P. The easiest way to do that might be to go on an (expensive) course.
Part P of the building regulations states that certain electrical installations, and modifications to them, require building control. You can go and read part P yourself and try and understand if the work you want to carry out would fall under this legislation (yes it’s law).
Under building control means two options - someone can carry out the work, test it, produce documentation, and have this reviewed by their local building control team and have it signed off. In practice this never happens. The second route is that the work is carried out by a ‘competent person’ who can self certify the works. A competent person is not just any Joe who Reckons he/she knows the job. He/she must be registered under a competent persons scheme, eg nic/eic, pay their subs to that scheme, pass periodic inspections by that scheme provider. That’s what you’d call a ‘proper electrician’. So the important part for you is to work out if you need to be a competent person to carry out your intended business. I can’t help you with the detail. Either Read part P very carefully or speak to a friendly competent person for guidance. Electricians forums may help - screwfix forum is ok - but they can be a bit bitey and defensive of their trade against so called ‘one day wonders’ who They see as people who want to pass a 1 day course and take their jobs.

With the type of work the OP suggests , alot of it may not need Part P notification to building control anyway , as only under 3 instances is this required -  installing a new circuit , installation of a consumer unit , work within the zones of a bathroom.

Smart lighting controls and lighting upgrades , cctv , audio /vis , data networks / telecoms can be done by anyone in a domestic setting without the need to join any competent person scheme.

Theres no harm in doing the regulations course , but on its own it doesnt go far in proving competency , will prob help in getting public liability insurance though.and at least show your familiar with current requirements but thats it to be honest.

Maybe thats all you need from it , but i wouldnt go the whole hog and become a registered installer as suggested by others , its a never ending expense and hassle , a shit load of competition , and unlikey to be a worthy return from the work you want to do until youve build up a customer base / order book to justify it.

I agree with what brownsauce said!
Regs course is basically how to use the book.
Always found the IEE on-site guide quite useful, basically the regs book with all the boring stuff removed!