Category: Electrician

The Difference Between an Electrician and Electrical Engineer

Technology today means that electricity really is keeping the world running. Whether that is from the electrical needs of a domestic home, or technology that keeps our country running. What is the difference between an electrician and electrical engineer?

Electrical engineers are the brilliant minds behind many of today’s designs and innovations. The systems they create keep things running smoothly, from the tiniest microchips in our telephones and tablets, to technology on the power grid. Whereas, an electrician is responsible for wired installations and connections inside a property. Such as a business place or your home.

What Does an Electrician Do?

In the simplest terms, they maintain and install all electrical and power systems. This can be in your home, your business or at a factory. An electricians job is to install and maintain the wiring, as well as the equipment, that electricity travels through in your home.

As well as this, electricians also install and maintain the electrics at business premises and factories. Ensuring that the people at the business are kept safe at all times from any electrical issues.

Installing Electrics and Maintaining Them

When it comes to what electricians focus on, they will either focus on construction (installing electrics) or the maintenance of the electrics. Some companies will do both. It all depends on the qualifications of the electrician and what they are able to do.

An electrician that specialises in installing electrics will focus on installing the electric or wiring systems. They can be installed in factories, places of work and homes. Both new and old homes will require a new electric system at some point. Electrics wear down over time, as do most things with constant use. This means that you may have to have your electrical system replaced in an older house at some point.

On the other hand, electricians that specialise in the maintenance of the electrics will focus on repairing and upgrading any current electrical systems and equipment.

If you are ever in need of a repair to your electrical system or need a new one installed, we can help. IPF Electrical has many years of experience in the electrical industry.

Fill out our contact form and a member of the team will be in touch with you shortly.

Fields of an Electrician

  • Domestic Electrical Installers
  • Installation Electrician
  • Maintenance Electrician
  • Electrotechnical Panel Builder
  • Instrumentation Electrician
  • Electrical Machine Repairer & Rewinder
  • Highway Electrical Systems Electrician

Electricians at IPF Electrical

IPF Electrical has a team of electricians. We proudly serve Peterborough and the surrounding areas, to help people with any electrical issues they have. From a fixed wire test to thermal imaging, we can help.

The list of our services are:

What Does an Electrical Engineer Do?

In the simplest terms, it’s a person who designs and develops a new electrical system or solves problems that arise from testing equipment. There are so many different types of electrical engineer, whether that be to do with Telecommunications, Power Engineering, Satellite Engineering, Space Systems Engineering, and many many more. 

It is such a broad and creative profession. Electrical Engineers see a project from start to finish. They are involved at every stage, from the research right down to the development and manufacturing. 

With the way the world of technology is changing every day, there is always something new to be learned, something new to be discovered or designed, and always a way of making something even better than it is now. Almost everything we do these days integrates electrical engineering because of the way technology has taken over the world.

Fields of an Electrical Engineer

  • Aerospace
  • Automotive
  • Construction
  • Defense
  • Electronics
  • Fast-Moving Consumer goods
  • Marine
  • Materials & Metals
  • Oil & Gas
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Power Generation
  • Rail
  • Utilities

To Conclude: The Difference Between an Electrician and Electrical Engineer

With technology developing every single day, our reliance on electricity is more prominent than ever. New electrical devices are invented every day, on a small and large scale. By the time something is invented or developed, it’ll be out of date by the next day, things move so quickly. New ideas for improvement and further innovation are always needed, and being part of the next pioneering piece of technology can be exciting. 

People are always needing electrics to be fixed in their home. And are always looking for the next electrical improvement. Electrical engineers improve and create new electrics. And electricians install these in your home. We need both of them to help improve and keep our electrics working in our home or place of work.

Electrical engineers work on the electrics you have installed. Whereas an electrician installs the electrics into your property. You are only going to be hiring an electrician to improve the electrics in your home.

Electricians at IPF Electrical

At IPF Electrical we have a team of electricians that will be able to help you with your electrical needs. And if you need electrical work doing at your property, feel free to get in touch with us.

You can find all of our services and read about them here. And you can contact us using our form on our website.

How Much Does An Electrician Cost?

If you own a home and you’re looking at saving money, it may be tempting to carry out electrical work, particularly the smaller jobs. However, electrical work can be dangerous. That’s why it’s important to hire an electrician who is a trained expert. An electrician will make sure the work is legally compliant and will help to keep your family safe. But how much does an electrician cost?

Obviously this depends on the type and size of the job and the amount of time it requires. Furthermore, it’s worth bearing in mind that most electrical work must be carried out by a fully qualified electrician by law.

What Is An Electrician?

We all rely on the electrics working properly in our home or workplace. Moreover, it’s important to know that your electrics are safe and that they are performing the way they should be. That’s where an expert comes in .

An electrician is a tradesperson who is qualified to carry out the work on your electrics.

Electricians are responsible for designing, installing, maintaining and repairing electrical systems. The appliances and systems can be in your property or place of work. An electrician works in homes as well as commercial and industrial buildings, both inside and outside.

In particular, they may help to fix appliances in your home including computers, cookers, lights, toasters, your fridge, and the television for example.

When to Get An Electrician

Of course, there may be some jobs in the home that you can do if you’re good at DIY. Firstly, you might be able to replace the fuse. But you’ll need to keep replacement fuses on hand for when you need them.

Secondly, you may want to install lighting controls such as dimmers. These are a great way to save energy and easy to install.

If you’re doing any work on outlets, it’s essential that you have some knowledge about how electrical circuits work. In addition to this, how to turn off the power in your entire home. However, if you’re planning on adding a big ceiling fan for example, it’s probably best to call an electrician to do it properly.

Even so, there is electrical work that you definitely should not try by yourself. This includes rewiring the entire house. Or replacing control panels, as this requires knowledge of code regulations and professional installation. Additionally, if you want to put in a light fixture where there isn’t any sign of one, you need to figure out where the existing wiring is and how to run it to where it’s needed.

Notwithstanding your best efforts, it’s important for safety and often legal compliance that you ask an electrician to do the work.

The Work You Need

At IPF Electrical, we are a team of experienced electrical professionals with a focus on delivering honest, professional and premium service to all our customers. Our main focus is to ensure that your commercial space, business or home are safe.

Our range of skills is varied and covers all of the items below.

Fixed Wire Test

A fixed wire test is part of the electrical installation condition report (EICR) along with the actual inspection. The test will assess the condition and compliance of your existing wiring within your premises.

PAT Testing

PAT stands for portable appliance testing. It’s the process of testing electrical appliances which are used within the work space or commercial buildings. Having a PAT test carried out is with a view to limiting any accidents that may occur.

Thermal Imaging

Thermal imaging is a great way to get a better understanding of what is going on behind the systems in which we are working. Using specific equipment, we can test any ‘overheating’ which can decrease the risk of failure or fire.

Electric Heating

We have vast experience in installing electric heating systems. We have worked closely with domestic clients and housing associations installing Dimplex Quantum storage heaters, Dimplex QRAD panel heaters, Hive thermostats, NEST thermostats and more.

Emergency Lighting Test

We can ensure that lighting is working correctly and enables you to be compliant with specific regulations. This is used in a variety of business and commercial settings.

Consumer Unit Upgrades

The consumer unit is also known as the fuse box. It’s used to distribute the power throughout your property. Ensuring that it works well is important as it acts as a safety device if there is a power surge.

Remedial Works

Remedial works are closely linked to a Fixed Wire Test as they are focused on the issues raised by the EICR. Our engineers can take your assessment and make any adjustments or repairs to ensure full compliance.

How Much Will it Cost?

In conclusion, most professional electricians charge by the hour for their work. The hourly rate depends on where you live in the UK. It can range from between £50 to £120 per hour.

And then of course, the cost will depend on the nature and complexity of your project. Obviously, an electrical report will take less time than a full re-wiring for example. Furthermore, a full report on a 1 bedroom flat will cost less than a 5 bedroom house.

In the event that you call out an electrician outside of working hours, especially for emergencies, the price can go up significantly.

To Conclude: How Much Does An Electrician Cost?

At IPF Electrical, part of our ethos is to work with transparency. This enables us to build long-standing relationships with our customers. For us, it is important to be upfront and honest with our customers about the work and how long it will take.

We understand that with any electrical test, it can be worrying what the electrician might find, and also how much it will cost to fix the situation.

Therefore, we have a schedule of rates so customers can have a list of fixed prices. This list has been built around the most common problematic areas that we have come across in our experience. However, it may not fit every situation.

To sum up, we hope that the fixed price list gives us the chance to provide complete transparency during the quotation stage.

Call us now at IPF Electrical to see how we can help you.

How Can I Check an Electrician is Qualified?

It is important for any homeowner to check if an electrician is qualified. Electrical work is possibly the most dangerous task to undertake in a home. If you end up with an electrician who isn’t properly trained, the consequences could be dire. When choosing your electrician, you need someone who will be able to establish an element of trust. If an electrician cannot show you their registration details, then look elsewhere. 

Choosing an Electrician 

Choosing an electrician may seem difficult at first, as there are so many options out there. The industry acronyms and various qualifications can be incredibly confusing if you are not an electrician yourself. However, we have created this guide that will show you how to check if an electrician is qualified. Here are a few different ways you can check your electrician is up to the job: 

Check the Competent Person Electrical Register

Now, there is also a handy website you can use to check that your electrician is qualified. The Registered Competent Person Website is easy to navigate and provides information for people to find a registered and competent electrician in their area. On the website, you can also check to make sure that the company you are planning on using is registered. Only electricians who meet core technical standards defined by the government will be listed on the ‘Competent Person Electrical Register.’ 

Stephen Williams, the Minister for Communities said this about the Electrical Competent Person website: 

“For all the thousands of skilled and reliable electricians there are across the country it’s often the dangerous or dishonest actions of a small minority of rogue electricians that get the attention. I want everyone to be able to get repair and improvement work done safely in their home and this new, single website provides an easy first port of call to find a registered, trustworthy local electrician.” 

Stephen Williams

What Does the Register Tell You?

This website lists all registered electrical firms in England and Wales. Of course, electricians are checked for their competence before they are registered. They are also randomly surveilled to make sure that their work meets safety and quality standards. There are 42,000 registered electricians across England and Wales.

Thankfully, improved technology and higher standards for electricians have resulted in better standards for electrical safety in homes. This is proven with a decrease in the amount of electric shock and electrical fire fatalities per year. The figure has fallen from about 90 in the mid 90s to 55 now. In fact, there were no restrictions on who did electrical work in people’s homes or how it should be done before January 2005. 

If you are looking for complete peace of mind, you can even request that the electrician provide a copy of their City & Guilds 2391 electrical testing and inspection qualification. This is proof that they have been trained to the required standards to carry out the testing and checks. 

Tell Them the Work Required 

When you contact an electrician, you need to be clear about the work you want done. Unless the work is minor, you should obtain three different written quotations. Give your chosen electrician a written summary of work required. This will make the quotation process easier, while also providing you and the electrician with a clear record of what has been agreed. Then the electrician knows exactly what kind of work is required, and they will be aware of any special instructions.

Also, if there is more than one way of getting the work done, the electrician can provide you with multiple options. Once you have agreed on a quote, you can ask the electrician to sign the summary of work required to avoid a dispute. This will ensure everyone is clear on the expectations and agreement. 

Check they are Qualified 

The simplest way to check an electrician is qualified is to simply ask for their NICEIC registration number and ID card. The National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC) is an organisation that regulates the training and work of electricians in the UK.

To be qualified by the NICEIC, contractors must undergo an assessment process that includes a representative sample of their work, their premises, documentation, equipment and the abilities of their supervisory staff. Electricians are also regularly reassessed by the NICEIC to make sure that they are still competent. So you can rest assured that any electrician with NICEIC certification is entirely qualified and fit for the job. 

NICEIC Certification

Most qualified electricians should have their NICEIC certification displayed on their website, van or business card. However, you should always ask for proof of certification just to be sure. If they are unable to provide you with proof, then you can report them to the NICEIC.

If you have any doubt about the qualifications of your electrician, you can double check the NICEIC website to make sure that the company name and number you have been given is registered and matches what you have been provided with. Be careful if the electrician is not listed or the details they have provided are missing or incorrect with the details on the website. You should walk away and choose a different electrician. 

To Conclude: How Can I Check an Electrician is Qualified?

Ultimately, there are several different steps you can take to check if an electrician is qualified. Now that you know about all of the industry standards and qualifications, the process of choosing your electrician should be made easier.

To summarise, make sure that you look on the Registered Competent Person Website. Tell your electrician the work required, and check they are qualified with NICEIC certification. If you have any doubts look up their details on the NICEIC website.

You can also ask an electrician if they have any references from previous customers. This can offer another indication of their level of professionalism and customer service.

Above all else, do not feel as if you need to make a hasty decision, and be wary of any electrician who is pressuring you to choose them quickly. Compare electricians and their quotes before you decide.

Feel free to Contact Us at IPF Electrical if you need more information or assistance on choosing a qualified electrician.