iCertifi – Available for iOS devices

Described as a ‘revolution in electrical certification’ iCertify will allow electricians to produce high quality BS 7671 electrical certificates easily from their iOS device. All certificates are generated as secure PDF, ensuring compatibility for all your customers. This app works completely offline and is designed exclusively for iOS, no need for an internet connection, laptops, computers or carbon pads.

QuickBooks Self Employed – Available for all internet enabled devices

QuickBooks by Intuit is described as a ‘smart, simple accounting software’ which allows self-employed electricians to manage taxes, staff, clients invoices and track expenses all from one place. This software is a virtual accountant, fully integrated with HMRC self-assessment system meaning that your tax return will be easier to complete.

Megger Cable Calculator+

This free iPhone app includes a Cable Calc tool useful to every electrical contractor. It features a comprehensive selection & volt drop calculator tool. for installations up 25KW 100A.

ElectroDroid – Free app version only available for Android devices

The free app is designed exclusively for Android devices, this is a free reference app that brings a collection of electronic tools and reference materials. It features electronic specs, calculators, and references.

There is a premium app version called ElectroDroid Pro which is available for Android, iOS and Windows devices which boasts a larger number of features such as the adjustable voltage regulator/LM317 calculator and Voltage Drop calculator.

Energy Cost Calculator

This app calculates the operating costs and energy usage of your electrical equipment and machinery such as:

• Consumption/Hour (watts/kilowatts)
• Usage/Hour (number of hours used)

This app is particular useful when used in conjunction with other expenses tracker software (e.g. QuickBooks by Intuit) to effectively track the running costs of your electrical business. To conclude, it also helps to keep an eye on your Co2 emission, which helps your business becoming eco-friendlier.

The post Top 5 Electrician Apps for 2020 appeared first on Tradeskills4u.

New mobile Apps are continually being created and updated, designed to help electricians perform jobs more effectively in their day-to-day tasks. These range from electrical calculators, to those that produce electrical certificates, calculate voltage drops and choose cables for electrical installations, plus many more.

When used correctly these Apps can assist with specific skills and knowledge as support to help with the more repetitive hand calculations and time consuming diversions that include referencing code books. We do not recommend however that Apps are used as a sole means.

Of course there are certain jobs that only an experienced electrician can achieve without the help of these Apps, but a few helpful tools and resources along the way are always welcome to make some of the more tedious jobs a little less arduous.

Electrician Apps Survey – the results are in!

With the above in mind, we have compiled a list of FREE Electrician’s Apps that we think could be useful, however this list is by no means a definitive. Of the 9 Apps listed we wanted to find out how the electrical professionals that use them rated them and which of these they would recommend.

The findings are now in! Check out the results below in order of rating:

1. Megger Cable Calc+ (Rated 53.85%)

This App can be used without Internet connection, a major advantage if you’re working anywhere mobile data reception is unavailable. Suitable for Android and iOS devices. It allows electricians to calculate voltage drops and choose cables for electrical installations up to 25Kw. It covers all commonly used types of cable, which include SWA 2, 3 and 4 core PVC, SWA 2, 3 and 4 core XLPE, twin and earth, fire proof and tri-rated.

The App allows the user to choose between the four most commonly used reference methods – B, C, 101 and 102, and data entry is quick and simple, instantly showing the minimum recommended cable size, the calculated voltage drop in volts and as percentage, and the load current.

2. Electrical Calculations LITE – (Rated 38.46%)

This App has many calculations that can help you in your work that include cable size, calculation of voltage drop, calculation of current, calculation of voltage, calculation of active power, calculation of apparent power, calculation of reactive power, calculation of power factor, calculation of resistance, maximum wire length and much more!

3. ICertifi – (Rated 38.46%)

BS7671 Electrical Inspection testing and certification on your iPhone/iPad. Electrical certificates with no need to sync with a computer. The App works completely offline and is suitable for ALL scheme providers. It not only produces high quality BS 7671 electrical certificates, it’s an assistant monitoring and checking your test results and calculating data where appropriate making testing accurate and more productive. iCertifi knows if you’re completing an EICR, allowing you to turn off test result monitoring so it doesn’t bother you when you expect unusual test results/non compliances.

4. Ohm’s Law – (Rated 30.77%)

This simple Ohm’s Law calculator allows the user the ability to calculate the resistance, voltage or current.

5. Megger PAT Testing – (Rated 23.08%)

Designed to simplify Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) by calculating the maximum recommended cable resistance for power cords, extension leads or the total resistance of class I equipment with long power cords. Additional features include: maximum recommended current capacity for the specified cable size. Guidance for appropriate cable sizes for given fuse rating, maximum recommended lead length for the size of cable. In addition the app includes links to Megger.com and MeggerUK YouTube sites for additional product details and downloadable material, or Megger product demonstration videos.

6. Electrical Safety First – Safe Isolation – (Rated 23.08%)

The Safe Isolation App is a step by step guide using a series of illustrations and simple instructions to enable anyone carrying out work on or near electrical equipment to do so safely. The app also includes links to Electrical Safety First’s series of Best Practice Guides, which provide definitive information and safety guidance on a range of electrical subjects.

7. KEWPAT Pat Testing – (Rated 15.38%)

Designed to work with SimplyPats – data can be copied over to your PC and imported into SimplyPats Version 7 or SimplyPats Version 7 Manual Plus Edition PAT Testing Software (for Windows OS). Manually log your PAT Testing Results using your iPhone or iPad, and if you own a Kewtech SMARTPAT you can control the PAT Tester via Remote mode using the App.

The Database used by KEWPAT is capable of storing large amounts of PAT Test Data between single (if in-house Testing) or multiple (if PAT Testing as a Contractor) Customers, and is designed to be compatible with the SimplyPats Manual Plus or Downloading Edition software, available separately.

8. Electrical Tool Kit – (Rated 15.38%)

This is a smart and handy tool for all electricians, technicians, electrical and electronics engineers, students etc. This app is only available for iPhone and is simple to use and smart enough to recalculate circuit values when a user edits any input data.

9. Time Tracker – Time Sheet – (Rated 7.69%)

Track time spent on the job with this powerful, customizable and easy to use app. This time tracking and reporting application. It will simplify your life and save you money! The latest update includes many customer requested features. It will quickly pay for itself!

Other Apps Suggested Via The Survey

TestGuide

In this app you will find support for the most common measurements (eg. RCD testing and measuring insulation). The app show electricians in short and clear steps what the actions are, what to look at and how to interpret the results. The app has regular updates with measurements.

EasyCert Mobile

This App works with the EasyCert desktop software to record and input all results direct onto your phone to be then imported into your desktop software. The App saves time and effort by not having to write certificates by hand onsite.

Zoho invoice and time tracking

Invoice Software that lets you send professional invoices, automate payment reminders, and accept card payments online, faster than ever!

Please remember!

With all Apps it is important to remember that whilst these may be useful in your day-to-day work you must still know how to make these calculations yourself – and should regularly check these calculations to ensure the Apps are giving you accurate information.

The post Mobile Apps for Electricians – 2019 Survey Results appeared first on Tradeskills4u.

Mobile web out – Apps are in

Back in April 2014, the Guardian published an article challenging the use of Apps over mobile web usage. Their research showed that people use their smartphones for an average of 2 hours 38 minutes per day and most of this time is made up of App usage. Use of the mobile web continues to dwindle despite technology advances like the introduction of 4G. According to research company ComScore, people are spending just 22 minutes each day using mobile web.

These findings do not come as a surprise, after all Apps are fast and keep all your information to hand. There is no need to log in and wait ages whilst the screen loads up. From popular apps like Facebook to an app which can promote your own electrical business, they all meet three essential requirements:

• Speed
• Satisfaction of needs
• Cheap – many are free or low cost

Using Apps at work

Using an app to help with electrical work may have raised a few eyebrows years ago, however electricians are now increasingly using Apps which are fast replacing bulky and cumbersome books. Apps provide answers and clarification quickly enabling the job to progress more smoothly and quickly.

Many big names in the electrical industry including Schneider, Electrical Safety First and Legrand have been producing apps designed to make working life easier. We also came across some other interesting apps such an Ohms Law calculator, Electrical Toolkit app and even an iHandy level app where you can turn your Smartphone into a spirit level!

For our August survey, we asked electricians what they rated as their top app and indeed, whether an essential app is missing from what’s on offer currently.

Electricians Top 3 Rated Apps

1. Icertifi

Free to download and offering in-app purchases, icertifi was our top pick amongst UK electricians. Offering the ability to produce electrical certificates without the need for expensive desk top software, the app also acts as an ‘assistant’ monitoring and checking test results and calculating data making electrical safety testing accurate and more productive.

The App is free to use although a subscription is required to send and save certificates.

2. EasyCert Mobile

EasyCert works in conjunction with EasyCert desktop software by allowing electricians to record and input results directly into a smartphone ready for importing to the desktop software. The information only needs to be entered once saving time and effort. The EasyCert mobile wizards guide you through each part of the certificate avoiding mistakes.

The complete range of electrical certificates is supported on the EasyCert App.

3. Megger Cable Calculator

The cable calculator tool app offers a comprehensive cable selection and volt drop calculator tool for installations up to 25KW 100A. Most cable types can be calculated with the app recently updated to include calculations of up to 400mm SWA. MICC light and heavy duty cables have also been added.

There is a wide range of reference methods and videos within the app and a handy guide to the use of electrical test instruments.

Other Electrician Approved Apps

Bookshelf

From VitalSource Technologies Inc, the app is free to download and allows the downloading and access of VitalSource e-books. E-books contain exactly the same information as the printed versions and can be leafed through in full colour exactly like the books. Note taking and zooming in of images is possible as well as the option of jumping straight to a specific page.

• Downloads of essential publications such as BS7671, guidance notes 1 to 8, on-site guide, design guide and code of practice for electricians are all available to download.
• Calendar – better than a paper diary, easy to use and one less thing to loose!
• AseePro – Shows CCTV live
• Signeasy – A convenient way to sign documents, worksheets and the filling in of forms which can then be signed electronically.
• Sumup – Get paid quicker by turning your Smartphone into a card terminal and accept card payments.
• Simplenote – An easy way to sync notes and ‘to do’ lists to your desktop
• Ohms Law Calc – great for reference
• Apollo Fire HD – Contains a version of the BS5839 Guide to help you stay within the rules and regulations when installing fire detectors and devices.

What electricians would like to see

On every electricians wish list is a fault finding app! Unfortunately it is unlikely that one will ever exist! If you’re a budding inventor, you might like to start developing the impossible dream now……

Although the fault finding app will be forever absent, the Smartphone is still definitely a saviour when it comes to space saving and time saving. Imagine the resources you would have to carry around with you without one! Come to think of it, we wonder how the 28% of people without a Smartphone manage. We’re assuming they can’t be electricians!

The post Top 3 Apps for Electricians & A Few More Too! appeared first on Tradeskills4u.