Radio Servicemen's Examination

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 34, 4 March 1932, Page 6

Radio Servicemen's Examination

Another Test to be Held Men Must Become Qualified to Protect the Public .

BCENTLY examinations for radio service men were held throughout New Zealand. Several hundred candidates presented themselves for the test, which was designed to protect both the public and the service men themselves in their handling of electrical apparatus.: Under. the Electrical Wiring Regulations of 1927, an all-electric radio set becomes, in technical phraseology, a "semi-portable appliance," and can only -be installed legally by qualified men acting with technical knowledge and in compliance with the regulations. The radio trade as an adjunct of the’ electrical industry has grown up without ‘any real basis of technical orgauisation, and a number of men engaged in the trade, while well versed in the practice associated with radio, were not thoroughly familiar with the wiring regulations dealing with the handling of electric power supply. Complaints of Consumers. AS an outcome of this position, certain power authorities received from time to time complaints from consumers as to deficiencies arising out of the installation of radio sets. For instance, a certain electrical supply authority reported that it was receiving a large number of emergency calls to replace fuses "blown" as a direct result of eonnecting radio sets which had been installed by unqualified persons. Investigation in the majority of these cases showed that the flexes used were either defective or had joins in them. Under the wiring regulations the joining of a flexible cord by the soldering method is completely banned. Incidentally, non-recognition of this fact helped to fail over 100 men in the recent examina‘tion. The foregoing incident. together with a number of other cases reported, showed the necessity for the position being controlled. Accordinglygit was arranged between the Public Works Department and the radio section of the Wlectrical Federa-

tion, that an examination should be set, with the object of. enabling radio service men to become qualified practitioners within their trade, and capable of servicing radio sets with safety to themselves and satisfaction to the consumer. Examination Approved. HIS examination received the approval of the Wiremen’s Registration Board, In discussing the matter

with the "Radio Record," Mr. FF. T. M. Kissel, head of the electrical branch of the Public Works Department, said that the Wiremen’s Registration Board

knew of no existing examination in which any particular stress was laid upon the connection of the general power supply to the particular apparatus used in radio reception, but believing that the examination, conducted by the Electrical Federation in the interests of radio service men, did provide specific questions dealing with that conneetion ina way that, as far as Was known Was not done in any other radio exami-

nation, decided to accept that examination in the meantime as an indication of the fitness of candidates for limited registration. The action of the Wiremen’s Registration Board in this connection was endorsed by the Public Works Department. The examination accordingly was held. Many radio service men, while passing on the constructional radio side, failed because of incomplete knowledge of the regulations dealing with the electrical side. As an outcome these men have felt that they had de finitely and permanently lost their position in that they were not qualified to service radio sets in the consumer’s home. In some cases the position is felt so keenly that there is talk of organisation among the men for approaches to be made to the Govenment, to have the position reviewed. This point was strongly emphasized by Mr. B. R. Boucher, the Auckland representative of the Central Hxecutive Comunittee, on his return to Wellington from a comprehensive tour of New Zealand, in which he encountered the feeling of numbers of those affected. In Wellington he conveyed this feeling to the authorities concerned, and, as a result, certain action is being taken. Another Examination. HERD is, however, no necessity for action in that direction. The central executive of the Electrical Federation, on account of the position that has developed, has already decided that another examination will be held, either late in April or early in May, when the men who failed in the first exami-

ss nation will be given a further opportunity of passing. As an aid to that end, every assistance will again be given candidates by the federation to secure the knowledge of the exact text of the regulations that is required of them. To that end copies of the interpretations of the regulations, insofar as they deal with radio, are now being prepared by the radio section of the N.Z. Electrical Federation, and will be distributed to all candidates for their guidance. In addition copies of the full regulations can be obtained from the federation. Regulations are Necessary. HE crux of the position that has obtained is found in the incomplete knowledge of radio service men of the regulations associated with electrical wiring. With the high voltages employed in New Zealand, it is absolutely necessary that electrical apparatus connected with the general power s a ply shall be connected in accords with the regulations designed to seé te the safety of the consumer. Confiderftial information, shown to a representative of the "Radio Record," emphasises the absolute necessity of this. Case after case is known of work being done in i manner hazardous to property, and even to life, under certain conditions. This work has been done in good faith by the service men concerned, but has been hazardous through ignorance of the regulations and their import and necessity. These men, therefore, will be interested in the announcement we make in another column that the "Radio Record" is converting the "N.Z. Radio Log" into a new publication to be called the "N.Z. Radio Times," in which, among other valuable matter, there wll be given monthly up-to-date, and official interpretations of regulations dealing with radio apparatus.