I've Seen The Light (brainwave?)

[total-recoil]

I was talking to this guy yesterday for ages. He was an ex submarine diver and owns a boat he now owns for his retirement. It became clear to me he is a wealthy person and he showed me his boat (which is far better than my own). Anyway to get to the point. This guy has been totally at a loss to deal with issues that concern electrics on his boat. He had a totally flat battery bank that resulted from a charging problem. He has spent a small fortune hiring marine electricians and the majority of these were either out of their league or cowboys. Finally he did find someone who seems to me to be perfectly O.K. but what really interested me was (no1) the free-for-all basis and lack of regulations on marine electrical installation and (no2) the shortage of specialists. I can only guess that what has happened is less people can afford to study marine electrics as a speciality and the majority either do auto-electrics or domestic installation (which is highly regulated licence-wise).
So, I think I finally hit on a choice of career. Actually I should point out marine electrics is a totally different ball game to domestic or auto electrics, For example, household cable isn't technically legal on a yacht and often a boat is limited to a maximum of 3 Kilowatts and supplied by a shoreline cable. Maybe the reason marine electrics is less regulated is because mostly 12 volt systems are used although personally I believe a badly wired boat can be a dangerous environment. Anyway, electricians working on yachts basically need a damned good knowledge of battery banks, charging systems, solar energy, circuit breaker ratings, A.C. electrics and generators and also corrosion issues resulting from stray current.
Theoretically I'm maybe just over half way there but lack actual experience. Anyway, one thing I could see for certain is my friend's problem was basically an overcomplex system with way too many guages and monitors that still inevitably led to a battery bank of dead, sulfated batteries. There is clearly a decent living to be had from sorting out such electrical issues brought about by electrical systems on boats that all too often haven't been logically planned.

 

[Rex]

Skilled labor force is diminishing..

 

[total-recoil]

Skilled labor force is diminishing..

This is quite true and I think I can see why. Firstly, this recent idea of basing society on the notion skills only have economic value to the skilled person in particular is a totally misguided conclusion. What I mean by this is there is no longer free education so the concept is the individual pays large sums of money for his or her skills and then reaps any "reward" by a higher salary.
The result of this is becoming clear. People are carefully choosing a skill, trade or academic subject only on the basis of being a financial investment. So, minority skills are bypassed and you get a shortage. The other night I was trying with limited success to explain to my family that standard domestic electrical installation courses are almost useless when applied to, say, a yacht. On a yacht, you need to understand why a bank of 4 batteries, for example, isn't getting a sufficient charge and why an existing electrical system could be flawed from the outset. I just worked out the other night that the guy I spoke to has a total battery amp hour rating of 540 amp hours so needs an alternator (or two) that can supply an incredible 160 amps about 30 per cent. His problem, of course, is he can only get household electricians or maybe an auto electrician (although you don't live, eat and watch T.V. in a car 8 hours or so a day). Of course, at some point I hope to do a marine based electrical certificate of some kind but suppose most of these places are in coastal areas.
Anyway, my point is I think it's a good idea for aspies to try and get skilled in areas where they can escape pecking order scenarios and earn money on basis of the skill, not on whether or not some boss or co-workers like you or not. I keep going back to Columbo who despite being scruffy and absent minded is so good at his job he makes a living. I doubt Columbo would survive in a corporation which is probably the whole point of the series.

 

[total-recoil]

I should add for some time I've been doing electronics at fairly basic level as electronics today gets more and more advanced. In some ways, boat electrics is easier as much of the work involved is hands-on practical. Wiring up engines, testing regulators, improving charging systems and so on. It's more about supply and demand of electricity at a safe level.
Scariest thing I hear about in yachts is the frequent grounding of A.C. earth to the 12 volt battery negative terminal of the D.C. system.

 

[Warwick C]

Your line of work sounds interesting. I would also think it can be just as hazardous as other electrical work if you get it wrong.

I have an interest in multihulls and will from time to time follow the single handed races.