Maths does not need to be difficult.
All through school, college and in fact, all through life, we are told that maths is difficult and that you need a brain the size of a planet to understand maths. But it is not true.
Sure, if you want to compute how to send people to Mars and back or you want to fire a missile from a submarine and pop it on some Asian dictator’s head, you have got to do some brain-busting maths, but here in the UK, doing industrial, commercial and domestic electrical installations, it is not that tough.
At Electacourse we have given this a lot of thought and have written a course Maths for Electricians which we think hits the spot. We are not concerned whether you have a left-sided or a right-sided brain and whether one side or another is better for maths. We focus on the place and time you need to know maths most: when you are taking an exam or an assessment.
Of course, you need maths when you are on a job, but mostly in those circumstances, you are using some pretty good instruments which are doing the calculations for you, or you have bought some excellent apps and programs: punch the numbers in and the correct answers come out.
For nearly every qualification you need as an electrician, you can take into the exam the relevant reference books and a calculator. Books such as [amazon_textlink asin=’184919873X’ text=’IET Guidance Note 3′ template=’ProductLink’ store=’electacourse-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’c6d95ad5-d06f-11e7-99db-17fc77f40498′] or [amazon_textlink asin=’184919887X’ text=’IET On Site Guide’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’electacourse-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’253eda5a-d070-11e7-b5d9-ff2b52b5a835′] mostly have the equations you need to pass that exam.
So, our Maths for Electricians course does not spend ages trying to get you to understand the whole range of stuff which is mathematics, we concentrate on just three things:
- Maths basics – types of numbers and how to work with them – for instance: plus, minus, multiply, divide, % etc
- Units – Metres, Amps, Volts, Watts etc and their sizes – for instance millimetres, kilowatts etc
- Equations – this where it all comes together. First we talk about how to change equations, ie from Ohm’s Law you get both A = V/R (Current = Volts divided by Resistance) and R = V/A. Then we talk about how to put numbers and units into the equations to get the answers you need.
Bish, Bosh. Done.
But, here we have to add some stuff which isn’t small print and it is important. This Maths for Electricians course is good for you if you are:
- studying for City & Guilds exams such as 2382-15, 2394/95, 2365, 2357 and 2391-50, 51 and 52. In this course you should find all the maths and equations you need for those exams. And all have them have tons of practice questions.
- an electrician who wants to brush up on their maths and remind yourself you can still do it.
- you are in another trade but have to understand or undertake some electrical work
For those of you who are working in high voltage, electrical installation design or other specialist and advanced areas of electrical work, this course would be considered an introduction. It does not cover the complex and advanced maths which you need and use in your everyday work.
It is not possible to define in a single sentence the scope of BS7671 Wiring Regulations but if the following apply, it is likely to be not covered by BS7671 and specialist knowledge and qualifications are required to undertake work on the installation:
The Wiring Regs is organised into parts, chapters, sections and regulations.
In the next year, the first edition of the British Wiring regulations was published. It was published by the Society of Telegraph Engineers and of Electricians and contained just four pages under the title Rules and Regulations for the Prevention of Fire Risks Arising from Electric Lighting.
It is normal to feel stressed as a big exam loom on the horizon. This can come in both physical and mental forms and whilst stress is normal, you should try to reduce how much it affects you.