synaptica's electrics

Simple jobs are never so

2010-03-03T16:13:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a disability bathroom in Berkhamstead this week. A simple enough job, but why are the simple jobs the ones that give you the problems. Like, hardly any room to put the fan grille in soffit; plastic spurs on the grille needed removing wih a Stanley knife, which takes off my fingertips too; and a mouse nibbling through the live conductor of the ring main circuit running in the loft, meaning remedial work and testing before reinstatement. It was oh-so-simple when I turned up, but it turned into a 2 day job upon completion.

Last week I attended a Raychem underfloor heating installer course. They have very sexy technology for such systems, with self regulating cables derived from trace heating technology in the petrochemical industry. I'm now a certified pro installer for the system.

I PASSED!!

2010-03-01T14:06:00.000-08:00

Title says it all really. It's always a big relief to pass the inspection, even when you know you are doing things right.

Annual NICEIC Inspection

2010-02-28T16:15:00.001-08:00

I've got my annual NICEIC inspection tomorrow. Should be fine (but I've got everything crossed that I can cross!). It's a lot of beaurocracy and work, but worth it; my livelihood depends on it so I have to make sure everything goes as well as possible. It keeps the cowboys at bay (although how some people manage to pass given the state of some electrical installations I've seen is beyond me) and I've prepared my customers and arranged my office (i.e. the dining room table) with all the necessary required bumpf with the necessary documentation. Fingers crossed!

Manic for Synaptica

2010-02-27T15:05:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I posted.
It's been manic for Synaptica. The stair lift power installations are keeping me and my subcontractors really busy, as well as all the other work. I mustn't complain though. Too much work is infinitely preferable to too little.
As I thought, the lady electricians (Ina & Clare) have been fantastic; I don't know how I'd cope without them.
On friday we all attended a course by Raychem, the underfloor heating giant. We're now Certified Pro installers for their underfloor heating products!

Good for Synaptica, but bad for my competition...

2010-01-30T15:36:00.001-08:00

Well, both lady electricians performed EXACTLY as I expected them to: diligently, enthusiastically, punctually, professionally. Both were excellent with the customers and were a pleasure to work with.

What I can't believe is how they've been treated by both previous employers and tradesmen in the 21st Century, just for being female tradespersons. It's really made my blood boil. Let me list what they've had to endure (as told to me by Ina and Clare, completely independently of each other):

forced ejection from site
sexual harrassment (way beyond the accepted limits of site banter (whatever they are...)
personal insult & abuse in front of baying colleagues ("get on your knees and fit that back box, you f**k**g b***ch")
being spat at
being spat on
physical abuse and ABH

From their performance today, these women could buy and sell more than 90% of some of the sparks I have had the misfortune to work alongside. I can't wait to take on more lady electricians; it'll only be good for Synaptica, and bad for my competition!

Building The Synaptica Team

2010-01-27T15:17:00.000-08:00

Very exciting times (for me & Synaptic at least)!

I have found 2 lady electricians to whom I can confidently subcontract work. They are both highly skilled, experienced, diligent, and reliable.

Can't wait to see the faces of the lads in the wholesalers on both sides of the counter when Ina & Clare come in to collect materials!

Sticky (not) Mini Trunking

2010-01-20T14:08:00.000-08:00

Just had a call from a customer that the sticky minitrunking I had run the 2.5mm T&E in for the stair lift supply had come away from the wall. Im going back first thing tomorrow to Hemel Hempstead to fix it back to the wall with screws. Next time the SOP for the bloody stuff will be to screw in place. It'll take a little longer, but at least it won't fall off the wall!

I hope that it won't seriously affect my rep in the customer's eyes. I hope that as I'm attending to it immediately, any "issues" should be minimised. That's unless the screw pop out too!

Stair lift power supply installations in Herts & environs

2010-01-19T16:25:00.000-08:00

Been installing stair lift electrical supplies for elderly and infirm residents of Herts and North London. Really get a buzz out of doing them, as it really makes a difference to their lives.

A Cheese Sandwich in Stevenage

2010-01-16T14:01:00.001-08:00

I am knackered!!

I worked until 2030 in Luton yesterday, completing an architect's studio and offices. I then moved on to view a another customer's house in Stevenage, finally getting home at 2245. They kindly provided me with tea and cheese sandwich since they felt sorry for me.

I was wrestling with 3 core 16mm steel wire armoured cable in Luton that had been curled up outside in the snow. It doesn't want to bend at the best of times, but after 10 days at Arctic temperatures, it's an impossible beast. I won in the end though! There'e nothing like the sweet feeling of victory when you beat an inanimate object in submission and make it do what you want. I've got the cuts and bruises to prove it!

Another 5star review for Synaptica

2010-01-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

This is a review I've just received from a client (I rewired their house) in Stevenage, Hertfordshire:

"Andy was the only electrician we spoke to who explained all the regulations to us using government publications to illustrate his point. He was the only one who offered us a free full survey, and established that the rewiring work was not as extensive as the others would have us believe. Through out the work he consulted us on every point and explained what was required. He was punctual and together with his assistant proved to be an approachable and cheerful person to have around. Andy provided us with a written quotation listing the work to be done and stuck to it. We are due to have a new kitchen fitted and as part of the work he is coming back to ensure the electrical work is up to his high standards. We highly recomend Synaptica!"

Overall rating: 5.0 Stars

Working on a sunday

2010-01-10T12:31:00.000-08:00

Today I finished the first electrical fix on a garage-to-playroom conversion I'm working on in Bishops Stortford, Herts.

I worked today (a sunday) since the weathermen said that there would be blizzards, icy winds from the Russian Steppes, etc. to contend with on monday. Instead it's started to thaw, and the meteorological office has downgraded its forecast. Great; I've worked on a sunday in order to avoid something that's now unlikely to occur.

Beef Ghoulash

2010-01-08T15:15:00.000-08:00

Been working on a garage conversion ( to a play room) in Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire. Rewiring the garage, adding sockets and lights (amongst other things), and moving the bonding. I replaced the consumer unit last year for the customer, so they (being happy with my work, naturally) called me back to do some more.

Simple job but...I HATE CELOTEX! Why?..here are my reasons why:
1. The dust when you cut it. I'm sure it's going to be the asbestos for the 21st Century.
2. It won't go back in place after you've clipped your cables. You have to channel it out, which creates more dust.
3. The dust! It gets in your hair, your tools (even when they're at the opposite end of the room), your sandwiches, your tea.
4. The smell when you cut it!
5. Did I mention the dust and the smell.

Apart from that, the job was straghtforward. It was also round the corner from my house, and the customer was very happy with my labours also. Best bit was discovering that Dorringtons the bakers (which was next door to site) did a soup and a sandwich for 2.99. Piping hot beef ghoulash, just what you need on a cold, winter's day. It tasted marvelous, especially with celotex dust mixed in with it!

MyLocalElectrician

2010-01-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

I've just joined MyLocalElectrician.co.uk! Got a free listing and seems like an excellent networking site for the trade.

SNOW!!!!!

2010-01-06T07:57:00.001-08:00

Attempted to get to Luton today for work but had to turn back having gone 2 miles! I'm working on an architect's home offices and studio, installing all the usual things (lighting, consumer unit, etc.) It's a bit of a hack but worth it, since his business is very exciting.

My BNI chapter meeting is cancelled tomorrow...weather again.

I've been developing the business installing power for stair lifts in the home counties. Very exciting, and profitable work.

The children are arguing, it's snowing outside, and I've abandoned my van! What joy.

I've been quiet

2010-01-04T17:31:00.000-08:00

I've been developing my website, populating my Linked In page, and developing the Synaptica business, so I've been neglecting my blog. I'll be getting back on the case forthwith!

Busy

2009-10-19T16:01:00.000-07:00

Have been doing lots of little jobs and waiting for the big ones to come in. I have a number of estimates out there; it's just a matter of getting the go-ahead (or not!).

I've got a busy week this week. I'm doing bathroom electrics tomorrow, then changing a consumer unit and installing the earth bonding and a shower circuit on wednesday through to friday.

A couple of electricians I know have very little work, so I'm lucky that I have work most days. The phone won't ring by itself. It's a matter of getting out there and finding the jobs. The BNI and Rated People.com have been very good for me in this regard. I'm still developing my website, but this has brought in work too and, hopefully, a potentially major client.

Consumer unit, RCD, & RCBOs

2009-10-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

Worked on a consumer unit in a house in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, just round the corner from wher I live; I walked to work for a change.

Changed over a 100mA time delayed RCD as the main switch to a standard 2P 100A main switch, requiring the replacement of the socket outlet MCBs with RCBOs. Straight forward job, and the installation is now the safest in the street. Sometimes RCBOS are too big for the older consumer units, but these fitted perfectly.

2009-10-06T13:24:00.000-07:00

Performed electrical testing on a 4 bedroom house today of a BNI chapter colleague (BNI Blaze, Hitchin). The installation is unsafe in a number of ways, namely it lacks any 30mA RCD protection of its circuits and has no main equipotential bonding of its gas and water supply. The consumer unit is also obsoletem being of the 1361 fuse holder type. Needs replacing with a nice Hager 17th Edition dual RCD board.

I also joined Twitter and Twellow today.

1st October 2009

2009-10-01T16:06:00.000-07:00

Today I went to B NI Blaze in Hitchin. No bloody cooked beakfast! And I got up at 0515 to get there for 0630. Not happy.

I was called to remodel and modify the electrics for a new kitchen in a local home for people woth special needs and learning disabilities.