28AUGUST2009

What we did today was part of the handyman course,we were busy at the new sondela office at town.Our task was to install trunkings for the cables of electricity,telephones,computers and all machinery used in offices.We first started by measuring length of walls then cut the trunkings according to the length using a grinder,we mounted the trunkings on the wall a drill machine and fischer plugs,we then used a screw driver to screw in the fischer plugs.This will in the future help me in case I want to install trunkings in my house or if somebody hires me to install them for him.

26-27AUGUST2009

OPERATE ON LOW VOLTAGE NETWORKS(PRACTICALS)
Through the theory we did on this module,we are going to do some of this practical.
Our focus today is mainly on distribution boards and transformers.we started first by distribution boards,we went through the whole of sondela checking that all the DB's have warning signs,padlocks, the right sizes of circuit breakers and earth leakages for a particular purpose,the wiring and colours used are right,no loose connections,no dirt in the DB's,all DB's are well mounted and accessable.And on transformers what we basically did was we checked if the silica jel was still right,level of transformer oil,rust on transformer,if the transformer is well mounted and safe to work on.

24-25AUGUST2009

OPERATE ON LOW VOLTAGE NETWORKS(THEORY)
Through this module we have learned how to:

• Identify low voltage breakers
• Testing of apparatus
• Understand regulations
• restore supply
• Plan and prepare to work on low voltage networks

We also learned how power travels from the plant to our houses(power ditridution grid).
Power is first generated from power plant then to transmission substation then through high voltage transmission lines to the power station,then to transformers and through power poles to the transformer drum then to our house.

Through this lesson we will in future be able to know how to deal with power stations in case we are employed in one or if we are working in a municipality we will be able to deal with power lines and transformers.

21AUGUST2009

Day five of the handyman course

Today our task was to do maintenance,we went around sondela reception,the academy,piccinini restuant,workshop checking that all lights,lights swithches,plugs and specially distribution boards are in good working condition.The distribution boards we checked if there no loose connections as that can start fire,we also checked if the colour coding on the wires are right and if the distribution boards are neat.This was a great expirience as this will in future help me if I have to do maintenance check if maybe I am hired by a big company or maybe when I am doing a private job for my customers.

20AUGUST2009

Day four of the handyman course
We are still busy with the bicycle stand cause we still have to put some finishing touches on stand before we start painting it,we have to first use a grinder to remove bumps were we welded.Then we started mixing the paints we want to use inside the container(spray gun) that is connected to the compressor,then we started spraying the bicycle stand and after we finished we put it outside so that it can dry out.

19AUGUST2009

Third day of the handyman course
We are finished with the theorical part of the course and today we started with the practicals,our facilitator gave us task to do.Our task was to make a bicycle stand and we first started by taking pieces of metals bars from the scrapyard,measured them and cut them into the right pieces.We then joint the bars together according to the bicycle stand plan,we used welding equipment to join the bars together and all safety procedures we followed.After then we took sand paper and filed the rust away from the metal bars so that we can able to paint them.This was a nice expirience cause it will in the future help me if I want to make my own bicycle stand or if i have a business i could be able to do it for my customers.

18AUGUST2009

Second day of the handyman course
Today we were learning about the ins and outs of a business,we were taught how to manage finance in terms thing like drawing a budget for the month and how to manage petty cash.Strategic planning we did thing how to target your market,location were you want your business,labour force and the materials you will need for your business.This will in the future help me if I want to open my own business and if I want to manage my own finance in business.

17AUGUST2009

Today is the first day of the handyman course,we started by first reading the manual on the general maintenance.The manual is basically based on plumbing,bricklaying,welding , business and life related issues.First we started with the chapter concerning tools and equipment,we were showed different tools and equipment,how they are maintained and repaired.For grinders how to replace the blade,which blade to use on a specific task and also to use a measuring tape in case we want to measure something that needs to be cut.For the welding machine we were showed how to hold the welding clamp,the different types of welding rods.

12AUGUST2009

Today we were still busy with the bicycle stand,we first started by filing the rust on the metal bars away using a sand paper,after filing the stand we started mixing the paint we were going to use to paint the stand,after that we put the paint inside the container that is joint to the compressor then we painted the stand.

11AUGUST2009

Today we did a of welding and grinding,we were designing bicycle stands from scratch,we took scraps of metal bars from the scrap yard,cut them to the desired length by using a grinder,after we assembled the bars according to the bicycle stand sketch using a welding machine.