sparks
ELECTRICAL NEWS
february
2014
THE Skil 0550AA Detector fromBosch
Power Tools detects live electric
wires andmetal structures or
pipes in walls where work
needs to take place. It also
shows the locations of hid-
den wooden joists and
substructures.
“The Skil 0550AA
Detector has a maximum
scanning depth of 80mm
in ferrous metals, a depth of 60mm in non-ferrous
metals (such as copper), a maximum scanning depth
of 50mmwith live copper conductors, and a depth
of 20mm for wooden substructures,”explains Bosch
senior brandmanager Juergen Lauer.“The device
will automatically switch off after five minutes, sav-
ing battery power. It has a focus function allowing
for precise location of objects, with acoustic and red/
green LED feedback. The acoustic feedback can be
switched on and off as required, and the feedback
indicates any progress in detection, whether or not
anything has in fact been found.”
The 0550AA Detector features a lowbattery
indicator and automatic calibration and comes with
a belt bag with aVelcro attachment. It also has a
convenient marking hole for easymarking of hidden
objects. The large LCD display shows what kind of
material has been detected.“The Detector includes
magnetic or non-magnetic metal indication, and the
live wire detectionmode is always active, allowing
for maximumworking safety,”says Lauer, adding that
the 0550AA Detector is quick and easy to use.“All the
operator has to do is select the requiredmode (metal
or wood) and thenmove the instrument over the
working area.”
Enquiries: (011) 651-9860
8
contractors’ corner
Training and development by Nick du Plessis
Procrastination, the grave in which opportunity is buried
Finding live electric
wires in walls is easy
PROCRASTINATION is defined as“the act of put-
ting off or delaying an action to a later time’. To be
honest, I findmyself in this position quite often but
I have learned to always find the time to do the
things that need to be done.
Alongwith NewYear’s resolutions, the beginning
of a year is when our thoughts turn to careers and
studying further. And, like NewYear’s resolutions,
those good intentions of studying further soon
fade… I can count on two hands the number of
people I spoke to last year who said,“I can’t do any
training nowbut later in the year I will have the
time to do it.” Howmany of us are guilty of putting
off or delaying an action to a later time?We start off
with good intentions to do something for ourselves
and improve our lives but then, somehow, life gets
in the way…Andwhen we next wipe our eyes, it
is already the end of the year andwe are lying with
our feet in the pool or the ocean and, once again,
we have to admit that we never got around to do-
ing the things we saidwe would do.
This month, I would like to suggest that you
consider yourself (or someone you care about) and
make a decision on what you would like to do for
yourself (or them) to upgrade your education or
enhance your employment opportunities.
Here’s a list to get you going:
• Get your Department of Labour registration.
• Enrol someone on a programme or course that
will change his or her life.
• Do your trade test.
• Go on a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
program.
• Upgrade your knowledge on the Codes of Prac-
tice or legislation pertaining to the low voltage
electrical industry.
When you procrastinate and delay doing the things
that would improve your life, and indeed your atti-
tude to life, you aremissing out on valuable experi-
ences that could even change your destiny.
Don’t become like some of the people who phone
me and their first words are:“I’m 55 (or 62) years old
and life got in the way. I amnow considering what
I need to do because my pension days are drawing
closer. I never listened tomy father when he toldme
to finishmy studies. Now I need to get my Depart-
ment of Labour registration (wireman’s licence).
Please tell me what I need to do…”
Usually, after I have explained the criteria, I hear,“But
I am too old to go to college.”
My advice is: Instead of just thinking about study-
ing, start planning and doing something about it.
Make the time to get that qualification or to improve
your knowledge and skills. That way you will get to
the front of the pack that you are currently chasing.
And you won’t have any regrets.
Keep inmind a quote fromWill Rogers, a wiseman
who once said:“Even if you’re on the right track –
you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
There are some people who want to improve their
skills but find themselves‘in the dark’because they
are BBC (Born Before Computers). If you are a BBC and
you don’t understand how to search the Internet for
possible career development opportunities, ask for
help! Find a willing youngster to guide you and let
them show you how it’s done. Remember that when
you do find the course or programme that you would
like to do, make sure that the programme is registered
with the correct authorities and that the course you
embark on will support your career.
So, if you have parked your‘list of things to do’in a
parking lot and you’ve forgotten where you’ve parked
it, remember these quotes: The first one is from
anonymous:“Procrastination is the grave in which
opportunity is buried”; and fromEdwardYoung:
“Procrastination is the thief of time”and a final one
fromMartin Luther King Jnr,“You don’t have to see
the whole staircase, just take the first step.”
And then go do it!
