Is there a course in 12v electronics?

[Mick-Kelly]

So i have a query. For a while now i have been interested in electrical technician type projects in the 12v world. I was thinking about doing a tafe course or similar to educate myself part time. I have had a scout around the interwebs for tafe courses but unless you want to be a hair dresser or graphic designer then tafe is not for you. Does anyone have any ideas on further areas i could search out. I am mainly interested in the world of automotive electronics and solar etc.

[drivesafe]

Hi Mick and there is actually lots of different trades and fields you have covered.

Is there a specific field you are interested in?

[Blknight.aus]

if you only want to do 12V electrics for solar then you want auto electrical.

over that and you're into sparkies world (I think the cut voltage is anything over 32V)

[Mick-Kelly]

Thanks guys, yep just interested in vehicle / camping electronic stuff. THe more i move into this area the more i find it interesting and the more projects i find myself thinking about. I love problem solving as well. I also dabble with 12v electronics for astronomy (scope control etc.). I am not into it enough to pursue any sort of sparkie trade quals but i do want to get some education in the 12v field to help with trouble shooting, planning etc. No one seems to offer a course like this that i can find with google.

[Blknight.aus]

hang about....

did you want to develop modules or learn how to plug modules in?

can you give a specific example of what you want to be able to do?

I think you're no longer treading in spark throwing world but electronics engineer.

[clubagreenie]

Electronic Engineer (at uni at least) is all about chip design and function plus circuit design. Not the electrical engineering and subject matter it was decribed to me as. Really not my cup of tea.

I'd also rather be doing electrical type stuff (more practical application) and kind of proved I was capable when I was rebuilding their mechatronic projects as they fell apart (high torque elec motors in MDF "chassis" nailed together!), real uni quality stuff.

[bee utey]

First get some books, a suggestion is to start here:

Jaycar Electronics - Search results (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productResults.asp?MID=11&SSUBID=607&SUBCATID=963&keyform=CAT2#11)

[Mick-Kelly]

Just simple stuff like re-wire a car. Wire multiple battery systems. Set up decent car audio gear and lighting, wire camper trailers for power and charging, connecting solar panels to charging/power systems. Mainly hobby level stuff. A sort of course like those 'get more out of your photography' things that tafe used to run at night.

[drivesafe]

Hi again Mick and I don’t think TAFE would actually be in a position to run courses like those you are needing.

I was a part time lecturer at TAFE in NSW a good few years back and it wasn’t because I was any form of expert, it was a case that they were so desperate to get someone with any experience, they took anybody. Hence why I was there.

You have actually hit on a good idea because there is a real need for non biased training in the fields you have mentioned especially those directly relating to the RV industry.

While things have slowed down a bit in the RV industry of late, it will continue to be a major industry but there is little to no training in many of the fields relating to the RV industry, particularly with regards to the electrical areas, both dc and ac.

While I can’t be of any assistance to you, it will be interesting to see how you go.

[Blknight.aus]

you need the automotive electrical modules of the vehicle mechanic trade.

[rufusking]

There are plenty of on-line serources to get a handle on the basics. Have a look at:

Studying Electronics (http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/study.htm)

and pick out the relavent bits.

[drivesafe]

Any luck yet Mick?

[VladTepes]

A year later... any luck yet Mick ?

[turps]

They electrical section on the myswag forum has some good tips with pictures on how to do wiring. Like all forums you have to sort thru the BS and whats worth taking note on.
But in the stickies in the elec section there is a poster there that has some great info on joining wires and soldering.

[wrinklearthur]

They electrical section on the myswag forum has some good tips with pictures on how to do wiring. Like all forums you have to sort thru the BS and whats worth taking note on.
But in the stickies in the elec section there is a poster there that has some great info on joining wires and soldering.

My path into Electronics was via Land Rover wiring, CB radio, Amateur radio, Television and Video servicing, Satellite Reception and VSAT.

For most of the time, I was ahead of the game and formal training was not available.
e.g. When it came to repair of Compact Disk players, I was given the job of and successfully repaired, the first of these units that were sold in Hobart.
My guide then, was some very heavy information supplied by another manufacturer.

With Satellite Dishes, I started off using recycled microwave dishes, once used on telephone analogue broadband links, fitting my own Low Noise Receiver and Amplifier ( now referred to as a LNB ), I would glean information from where ever I could find it.

The Amateur radio licence I achieved, took some 500 hours of study to pass my full call theory exam, this is a excellent way to introduce yourself to all aspects of electronics.

.

.

[shane_vor]

Certificate III Electronics and Communications covers much of what you want and then more. Not nearly as in depth as the engineering courses though. All the DC stuff is covered in the first year so you'd probably not need to do all the modules. I did it in my forties and the other students were mostly 16 year old school leavers. Maybe have a look at that?

(Though I get the impression there's a few on this forum who know everything so why bother with formal training??? ;))

[wrinklearthur]

Though I get the impression there's a few on this forum who know everything so why bother with formal training?

Why bother with formal training?

Well just try and get a job as say, a Telstra Technical Officer without any qualifications!

If you can, grab the opportunity to attend a course that can leave you with the training that will see you through your working life.

If you come across a project that hasn't a course available, then you must become self taught but later try and pickup the qualifications for that field.
.

[shane_vor]

I was being a bit sarcastic, the intended tone was lost in the written word. Sorry.:D

[wrinklearthur]

That's OK Shane, I am partly to blame here, as I didn't want to bore everyone with my achievements ( nor failures for that matter ) with a list of the courses that I have completed.

If someone wants to have a go at getting ahead in life, my point was that study of any kind will get you there, whether it's a formal education or being self taught.
.

[andy_d110]

When I was doing my Auto Sparkie apprenticeship (10 years ago), there was a second bunch of funny looking blokes who were completing an "Electrical Accessory Fitting course". It only went for 6 months instead of the full 4 year apprenticeship.

These guys had jibs at stereo Shops, four wheel drive shops and the like. This would most likely cover what you are interested in.