First Post Welcome

[Freezer-Geezer]

Hey Guys,

It's my first post, so first of all I would like to say Congratulations on an awesome website and forum! I have literally sat here for the last two days transfixed with the amount of data and good will that everyone shows on here.

So Hi! Got a massive database of questions now after filtering through all the threads; but first off I'm not actually a qualified RE as of yet. I'm currently serving my time in the Army (13 Years so far).
But at the current climax of situations it looks like I would like to persue a challenging and fullfilling career in Refridgeration. But have some doubts and queries which I would be reluctent to hear about.

1. Do you think persuing a new career at 31 is logical?

2. Do I have to or would it benefit me to be Electrician qualified before doing RE course? As in doing C&G/ NVQ stuff?

3. From personal experiances, where would the best place to start?

Thanks in advance for your help.

:D

[Josip]

Hi, Freezer-Geeze :)


Hey Guys,

It's my first post, so first of all I would like to say Congratulations on an awesome website and forum! I have literally sat here for the last two days transfixed with the amount of data and good will that everyone shows on here.

So Hi! Got a massive database of questions now after filtering through all the threads; but first off I'm not actually a qualified RE as of yet. I'm currently serving my time in the Army (13 Years so far).
But at the current climax of situations it looks like I would like to persue a challenging and fullfilling career in Refridgeration. But have some doubts and queries which I would be reluctent to hear about.

1. Do you think persuing a new career at 31 is logical?

2. Do I have to or would it benefit me to be Electrician qualified before doing RE course? As in doing C&G/ NVQ stuff?

3. From personal experiances, where would the best place to start?

Thanks in advance for your help.

:D

Welcome to RE forums...

Only a few words to tell/advice you ....

it is never too late, especially at 31 like you are, to learn something new and change the job .... this is good field if you like to learn and work....

it is very good to be qualified electrician and then do the RE course ... it will be easier for you to understood refrigeration matter ...

where to start, I'm not able to advice you, but I believe some members from England can advice....

Good luck;)

Best regards, Josip :)

[monkey spanners]

Hi Freezer-Geezer,

Welcome to the RE forum :)

A good friend of mine left the army after a similar time and is now specialising in chillers and doing very well at it, so its certainly possible.

Having a good understanding of electrics and electrical circuits is very usefull, i don't know what they teach at sparky school but if its just lighting and power circuits it may not be as much use as you'd think when you are working on motor and control circuits.

What sort of job did you do in the army?

Jon :)

[chemi-cool]

Not that i have something against being RE [I am for 30 years], but, what about plumbing?? I've heard they make better money then us:cool:

[Freezer-Geezer]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the welcome guys!

Jon, for the first 11 years I was a Petroleum Operator, which I loved and was a very technical trade and was quite a challening job. Then it went downhill and so I bailed ship, were I now sit in a trade that does not stimulate me what so ever. i'm in the stores! :D

Josip, Thanks for the vote of confidence, I have alot of eagerness to learn and love learning new things and studying I hope I can make a good shot at this elusive trade

:D

[mikeref]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the welcome guys!

Jon, for the first 11 years I was a Petroleum Operator, which I loved and was a very technical trade and was quite a challening job. Then it went downhill and so I bailed ship, were I now sit in a trade that does not stimulate me what so ever. i'm in the stores! :D

Josip, Thanks for the vote of confidence, I have alot of eagerness to learn and love learning new things and studying I hope I can make a good shot at this elusive trade

:DYou are still a spring chicken so learning the trade should not be a problem. Start by checking out which area interests you the most and spend some time with qualified person who is willing to have you along for the ride as it may not be all as it seems right now. When i started, they had me washing filters, sweeping plantroom floors, washing parts and cutting frieking gaskets. This tool is for that and side cutters are not to be used as a hammer. It does eventually get better.. Mike.

[Freezer-Geezer]

@Chemi-cool, why would I wanna be a plumber when my true ambitions stand with Electrical Mechanics? Its like going onto a McDonalds website and asking to be a politician! :D

@Mikeref, thanks bud. I know 31 aint old but it aint fresh of the market either! So going from a £31kpa job to being a tea boy again is gonna be interesting! Ha Ha, But I gotta follow my passion.

[Tayters]

I did it at 32. Auto-Electrician on £11 an hour to trainee ay £5 an hour. Luckily plenty of overtime. Now I'm living the dream!
Love it or hate it, you'll need to get qualified so NVQ 1 and 2 Refrigeration and AC. NVQ 1 a complete waste of time but you've got to go through the motions. NVQ 2 a bit better but by no means would it produced the finished article.
As the time passes more stuff crops up that I never knew or thought of which suits me - never done learning.
I did 1 and 2 at evening class at Eastleigh if that's near you.

Wouldn't bother getting qualified electrically just yet. Certainly get a grip with motor starting principles, star/delta, power supplies etc as that will help lots and isn't covered that well at college. Do your fridge stuff then if you fancy Electrics then tally-ho. Most firms need qualified electricians but only to run mains supplies to units. The rest they sort out or balls it up.

I think Chem-cool was just being ironic.

Good Luck,

Andy.

PS - First rule of refrigeration - There's no d in it.;)

[Freezer-Geezer]

I did it at 32. Auto-Electrician on £11 an hour to trainee ay £5 an hour. Luckily plenty of overtime. Now I'm living the dream!
Love it or hate it, you'll need to get qualified so NVQ 1 and 2 Refrigeration and AC. NVQ 1 a complete waste of time but you've got to go through the motions. NVQ 2 a bit better but by no means would it produced the finished article.
As the time passes more stuff crops up that I never knew or thought of which suits me - never done learning.
I did 1 and 2 at evening class at Eastleigh if that's near you.

Wouldn't bother getting qualified electrically just yet. Certainly get a grip with motor starting principles, star/delta, power supplies etc as that will help lots and isn't covered that well at college. Do your fridge stuff then if you fancy Electrics then tally-ho. Most firms need qualified electricians but only to run mains supplies to units. The rest they sort out or balls it up.

I think Chem-cool was just being ironic.

Good Luck,

Andy.

PS - First rule of refrigeration - There's no d in it.;)

Heya Andy,

Thanks alot for the inspiring reply. I really appreciate it. As it aint easy to jump ship from a good pay to next to nothing and no where to live. But its really inspiring to hear people's story and that they put the graft in they get the good rewards out!

Do you guys think that the RE buisness is going well at the moment? I see alot of firms advertising online for recruitment, so I hope getting into a firm won't be to hard to find. Then getting as much overtime in as I can.
As i'm still a serving memeber of the armed forces (and stuck out in Falklands) I think that getting my quals shouldn't be too hard as my resettlment should help me through re training. Any ex squaddies on here been through the same thing?

Thanks for your time and anmswers guys really appreciate it!

Baz

[Freezer-Geezer]

Ahhhh, spelling mistakes but can't edit my post. Damn you bratty fingers!!!!!

:D