New to this site but not the industry. This year will be my 29th, it doesnt seem 5 minutes since I started fitting alarms. My name is Nick Hood and I reside in the Cambridgeshire area. I dont quite remember fitting end of line batteries and record player signalling devices, but I do remember programming digital communicators with little screws. We fitted 8 track 999 dialers instead.

We also had to make the control panels as most of them were only 2 zone as standard. My boss at the time had little 2 zone expader boards made that latched and gave out a negative supply, which we connected across the pressure mat zone.

This industry has changed so much during this time. I remember that taking out an NSCIA inspector involved checking a couple of installations and then retiring to the pub for the afternoon.We always got good grades. I have witnessed some incredible installation cook ups that would make you laugh, but there is not enough time to recount at this time.

I have worked for both National and local companies as a manager,surveyor,installation engineer and director and if I dont know it, it aint worth knowing. Joking aside this industry is a lot harder than it used to be, any panel worth using has a bible to go with it. What does piss me off nowadays is the requirement for us old timers to have formal qualifications. Why should I spend good money on obtaining a NVQ when the guy training me knows far less.

Work aside the industry has treated me well and I have always enjoyed it. I run my own small company and make a good living. For pleasure I ride a 1000cc Yamaha and a KTM motorcrosser. My young son Joe also has a moto x bike which he races.

Nick

Welcome Nick

Evening mate.