My Electricity

July the 15th

2009-07-23T06:47:00.000-07:00

Today we carried on pulling the cable as yesterday we did not manage to finish.Most of the work was done yesterday and the only thing that was left was clenaining of the work area,covering the trench that was digged and removing the barricades and cleaning of tools.

From most of our core modules at the last chapters talked much about cleaning the work area after the task is done.,it talked about recyling of usable materials,disposal of waste material and do not burn chemical substances as they might be dangerous and harmful to both living things and nonliving things also including the environment as part.This proves that indeed it is important to clean the work area and this shows responsibility of a person doing the task.

July the 14th

2009-07-22T04:26:00.000-07:00

Today was what i call 'a busy day' as our task for the day was to pull and install a network cable from piccinini to academy's offices.

This may sound easy but believe me it isn't.Firstly, we started by counting how many meters is required(by rolling th cable), then we tried to pull it throw the network cable pipe that was under ground but the cable could move(was blocked).We then discovered that the pipe along the way was filled with water and some particles of soil causing the cable from passing thru it and for that, a smaller pipe was used to unblock it.Now this bring us back to the fundamental modules we have already done such as maintaining lighting systems and designing electric wire way that a proper planning is required before commencing with any task.What i learned from this modules is that it is not necessary to only plan on the execution of the task but also after the task is been completed for example if a problem occurs after what installing an appliance,how and what should be done thereon,what i am going to need and also to leave a room for unplanned incidents.

However, as we continued to push the cable in,we came across a number of obstacles were one of them was that the cable could not move due to the curving sharply of the network pipe causing the cable not to move.

Furthermore,a trench was digged around the curving area,so that we can cut it and pull the cable from the inside and join the other pieces/half till the head of the cable appears at the end of the network pipe.

July the 13th

2009-07-22T04:17:00.000-07:00

Today was the usual routine(do maintenance around the farm) .
We(group 2) checked/ inspected for faults around the farm,front office and guesthouse area but no faults were discovered.

All our tasks have been completed and we have no other tasks,therefore, we went to the computer room and up-dated our blogs.As an electrician,one must learn to work safely and neatly against time as time is money.

July the 10th

2009-07-22T03:53:00.000-07:00

Its free for friday!!

Today i decided to continue on with the business plan from home and do the operational plan.It was'nt as easy as I imagined because it gave me a little bit of problems.

In the mornings, I started doing free writing on the ideas i had about the operation of it,thereafter tried to arrange the data by editing the existing one we had so that dicky(a member of our company)can send it to Mr Diederick.

Later on,I did a little of research around town finding out what and how our competitors distribute their services and products.

July the 8th

2009-07-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those days were there was'nt much to do in the mornings so we decided to carry on with out project(Business Plan) till we at least tried to finish it and in the after we had classes and carried on with the next chapter(2).

July the 07th

2009-07-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

Classroom day!!.

Today was a weird day because we used to have classes in the morning,now we have them during the day(after lunch).The reason for this was that in most cases, after lunch there isn't much to do as most of the work has already been done.

We started a new module today-U/S ID:9010 &9013:Measure,Estimate and Calculate Physical Quantities and this module is about measuring and calculating the sizes of different diagrams and distinguishing the difference between the different dimensons.

We have started and completed the first Chapter and by understanding it, i got the idea by skim that it covered most of the work that still needs to be done on other coming chapters.

July the 06th

2009-07-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

Today i decided not to come to work and re-visit Modimolle as our trip on friday to Modimolle was'nt a successful.The idea was to go to Modimolle in the morning and do anything thats needs to be done and come back to work at lunch time but because we did not no was the process was,it resulted taking longer than expected as there were assessments to be carried out befero we could do anything.

July the 03rd

2009-07-15T05:15:00.000-07:00

Hoza Friday

Today i decided that i am going to spend the whole day planning and do free writing on our business plan.Well the ideas kept on flowing but the writing kept on freezing as we tried to figure what is going where.We done the planning till lunch time and after it, we decided to visit Modimolle to finally register but we arrived there late as the transport was a bit slower starting from exiting sondela to arriving at Modimolle.

July the 2nd

2009-07-15T02:48:00.000-07:00

Thursday

Today we carried on with installing the last 4 remaining spotlights at the guesthouse.At 10 am, a roll of suffix cable finaly arrived and now we can continue with the task at the guesthouse.

We finished installing the remining spotlights and all of them were connected from a plug point that used a day/night switch as a power source i.e. both lights and plugs cannot work during the day unless one covers the day/night switch with a black plastic to activate it.

Out of all the lights, one(1) light was'nt receiving power due to a broken wire inside the light therefore we opened the wire and joint it then after started to work.

Furthermore, as the 1st task is completed, now the 2nd task was to install 5 infra-red lights at the wild life center in a room were sick animals stay/sleep/being monitored.However,there are lights in the room but the idea of installing infra-red lights was to warm the room a bit without causing smoke or fire along with a heater(board heater) .Plugs were used as light switches for the 5 lights in that room.

As the busy day progressed, another task was assigned to us to install 3 plugs using 2 separete circuits at the mechanical workshop.Firstly, we started with mounting plugs on th wall(1 plug next to the door garage and the other two next to the door of the kitchen.we then aligned the cable and connected it to the plugs.Thereafter we connected the plugs to their circuits and tested them but the other circuit with two plugs kept on triping the earth leakage.Now we found out by tracing the connection that the neutral of the plugs was connected on the supply side where as it should have been connected on the neutral connected through the earth leakage.

However, after this task we met with Diederick to discuss our ideas and the business plan and the way forward to the future.Well the meeting went more than expected as we discussed alot of things and as a results he gave us the direction of were we should start.

In conculsion,this day is one of those good days as we covered alot of tasks in 1 day and i felt less tired than when we were assigned only 1 task.

July the 1st

2009-07-15T00:36:00.000-07:00

At last the assessments are over and now is back tothe usual rotine which is maintenance around the farm.
Tuesday the 30th of june,we got instructions from Diederick that as from today we are goingto be in the workplace till friday i.e. there won't be any classes.("what a nice way to ease the assessment tension")

Maintenance Day

Today two groups was assigned a task to intall 10 spotlights around the garden area at the Guesthouse where as the other team were assigned a task to do maintenance around the farm checking all the burnt out globes, faulty connections and equipments.

We started the task with a bang as w digged a trench for the suffix cable at the guesthouse's main entrance faster than expected, then we installed 3 spotlights there.

Furthermore, as the day progressed, a problem was encounted at the gardens were we had to dig a trench from the inside of the garden were big trees roots and another suffix laying in the surface of the ground,then all the way through the area to the braai area.Because of those tree and grass roots and the suffix laying there in the ground, we had to slower our pace so that we won't damage anything.

However,as we carried on digging and laying(installing) the cable, another problem was encounted were the cable was now finished and short but at least we installed 3 more spotlights giving a total of 6 spotlights installed.

Now the weird part of it was that all this happend before lunch time(12h30) as it usually took us more time.

June the 30th

2009-07-09T11:02:00.001-07:00

After a long night of studying finally we are left 3 more assessments starting the morning with the first U/S ID:10268-Fault find in a domestic appliances.The assessment went exceptionally well as we achieved more than we expected,Finally the dark cloud was finally clearing as high score/marks were finally fyling around the classroom at last showing colours of progress.

This test was the best(maybe because i did some studying) as it was i saw it to much,much easy.
Then we were assessed on the fundamentals modules Unit standard:9013-Investigate real life and work related problems using data and probabilities and on the Unit standard:7456-Use mathematics in finance.

This two assessments were drawn by our fundamental facilitor Ms Heidi and the questions were very clear and straight to the point.

June the 29th

2009-07-09T10:40:00.001-07:00

Assessment day!!

Today our course provider(protech training) were to do assessments.At first,the classroom was full with a lot of anxiety as most of us were wondering if we are going to make it or what,We started with the first unit standard:114406-Electronic theory were we were assessed in a form of test/exams.

The results of the first assessment was very dissapointing as all of as fail ed to meet the competent mark.

However, as the day progressed,they then done another assessments on the U/S ID:141135-Install low voltage cables which was more simpler and understandable than the two electronics module that we were assessed on.I passed this module with fly colours as if i had the module or have been tought about it,but because of practice i had from the field

June the 26th

2009-07-09T06:53:00.000-07:00

Today is maintenance Day!!Our group was assigned a task to do maintenance and that includes checking and replacing burn out globes and fixing any faults we encountered all around the farm.

However,we replaced several globs at the restuarent and the front office area.Later on,we discovered a fault at the horse stables were the fault was,on the other hand, out going live made contact with the switch causing a short circuit and on the one hand,the supply of that switch could not be found.As a result of this , we tried to trace the supply from various DBs that where around the farm starting to the stables to the Electrical classroom to the workshop and found out that the supply was coming from the workshop.Power was switched off taking in to consideration all the safety procedure / steps and then the switch was reconnected again.

Moments later after the previous faults was repaired, another fault was discovered where a circuit Breaker inside the distribution board at the horse stables would always trip.However,we traced the cable and it was for the lights at the horse stables and the cable was faulty also causing a short circuit ,as a result we cuted the cable in to two halves then we joint them properly again using the right procedures.

June the 25th

2009-07-07T03:36:00.000-07:00

Today, we carried on with the module and completed the last remain activities and did a little bit of reviewing(all the terms-accumulation,free market systems,inflations , deppreciations ect) and the module as whole.

After lunch we prepared our self to have our first meeting with Diederick were we have to present to him our idea me and my partners are hiving.
However,the meeting went more than excellent as Diederick admired our idea and volunteered to show as the way.

June the 24th

2009-07-07T03:15:00.000-07:00

Wednesday

The morning started with a bang as we had activeties to complete and potfolio of evidence to up-date.however,as the day progressed to lunch time,there was'nt still much to do because we worked hard and completed the activities early.

After lunch we went to the compuetr room and up-dated our blogs and did a little bit of research on the internet about free market systems,tarket markets,investments and examples of drafted budgets.

June the 23rd

2009-07-07T01:23:00.000-07:00

In the Monrning

Today we continued to do the module 2 of U/S ID:7456 :Use Mathematics in finance.We started with calculations-simple and compund interests and how they differ in terms of how money accumulation.
From the Calculation it appeared that when you invest using compound interest,the money accumulates more than when simple interest is selected because for compound-money is compounded eigther qarterly,half yearly or yearly depending on the opions one selected

In the afternoon

We eased food by starting the afternoon by digging a trench at the delivery gate where we digged a distance of approximatly 40 meters and covered a suffix cable coming from the DB to the plug inside the container.It was a nice exercise but tiering.

As the sun sank lower in to the cloudes,another fault was dicovered at the ABET computer practice room where there was no power in the room.
We traced the wires by checking on every DB available,triped circuit breakers and wires that were not connected.As a result,we managed to get cables that were not connected and tested them for continuity to see if they are indeed the supply cable to the room,then after we connected them and tested for power just to make sure if they were the right ones.

June the 16th

2009-06-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

June 16,1976',the day were our brothers and sisters fought for 'their and our' human rights(''soweto upraising''),were students of soweto gathered around to protest for the use of Afrikaans as a language of instructions and for 'Bantu' Education.

As students were marching,the policeman order them to disperse but instead they were singing South Africa's national anthem ''NKOSI SIKELELA'' when police open fired with a shower of live bullets and many people died Hector Peterson Being(12 yr old school boy) one of them on that day ,as stones were flying high in the air at the police.

Now the question to ask is "what is our young brothers and sisters of today doing about it?",what does this day mean to them?.

June the 11th

2009-06-11T05:39:00.001-07:00

It must start raining more often as today i woke up every early and am on top of things.
Today is one of those days were the day was great and all of a suden the mood just changed as the weather became more and more colder.

Heidi(our facilitator) gave us some work to do that kept us busy the whole day-it was a project were we have to plan for a party(can be any type of a party).What must happen is that we have to plan what is needed in terms of items(things) and do research and find their prices on the internet.

June the 9th

2009-06-09T06:38:00.000-07:00

Today the weather was so freezing cold but we managed to survive eventually.

The Class was Interesting today as we learned a lot of thing about budgets.It is crucial for one to learn how to control or have the ability to control budgets.

One would ask why are budgets important?Well from what i know and what i've read budgets are there to help us survive this tough economical situations and not only in businesses but in life in general.

You control what comes in and what goes out but you must have the ability to control it.

June the 02nd

2009-06-02T07:03:00.000-07:00

Today i was introduced to the new fundaments facilator.Her first day actually went excellent, she started with a big bang and she's motivated, looks like she in control and thinks she knows what shes doing.

However,we covered the first chapter of Unit standard:9012(Investigate life and work related problems and Probabilities) and it was ok and easily understandable since we are familiar of it from NQF 2.

The spirit and energy were supposed to have been restore after lunch but because of there was nothing much do so we lacked that vibe.

May the 28th

2009-05-29T05:04:00.000-07:00

I received my tests results we wrote in tuesday and they were good but not good enough, i need to study some more.

However, after lunch we went to the new adventure centre to install new 2 dedicated plugs(Red plugs) for computers, 4-5 other plugs,2 fluorecent light and 2 lever switch.
It was both fun and boring as i am already used to installing plugs and lights but hey, it has to be done!

Monday the 25th

2009-05-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

Today was just one of those days where there is'nt much to do.However, i walked in the farm area checking for faults till knock time.

Friday the 22nd of May 2009

2009-05-22T04:03:00.000-07:00

To day my day was interesting as we digged a lot of trenches to prepar to install a 16mm three phase cable and did a lot of cable joints using the MX- 3 splicing kit. However, it was fun and very tiring but i will get there with time.

My blog is done

2009-05-21T04:40:00.000-07:00

Thanx yol!