What Does an Electrician Do?
An electrician handles the installation and repair of electrical systems. They can work in homes, businesses, and industrial facilities.
A person interested in becoming an electrician can attend a vocational school or apprenticeship. These programs last up to five years and teach students both technical information and skills. The profession is expected to see a high growth rate due to new construction and alternative power sources.
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Installation
Electricians install the electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems that allow us to use our modern appliances, tools, and gadgets. They work on new construction projects and also maintain and repair existing ones. They typically read blueprints to determine the locations of outlets, circuit breakers, and other components. Apprentice electricians learn to use handtools like screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches as well as power tools such as drills. They also use specialized equipment such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, and harmonics testers to test electrical components.
The most common type of electrician is the residential electrician. These professionals specialize in working on electrical wiring, outlets, and switches in homes and other residential buildings. They also perform maintenance on these systems and ensure that they comply with local building codes.
If you’re interested in becoming a licensed electrician, you need to complete an apprenticeship program and obtain a journeyman electrician’s license. This usually takes about seven to ten years and requires that you pass an exam. However, if you have the right skills and knowledge, it’s possible to become a master electrician in less time. Getting work experience by helping out a family member or friend who works in the industry is also a great way to get started. Applicants must have normal color vision and pass a drug screening to be employed as an electrician.
Maintenance
Electricians perform maintenance tasks that ensure electrical wiring, fixtures, and appliances continue to function properly. Their responsibilities include inspecting equipment and systems, identifying problems, replacing outdated parts, and troubleshooting issues. They also install new wiring or equipment to prevent future problems, such as circuit overloads and power outages.
In order to succeed as an electrician, you must have good physical stamina and excellent hand-eye coordination. You must be able to read technical diagrams and blueprints, and you must understand how electricity works. The ability to identify different colors of wire is important, as you need to know which color identifies each specific type of wire. Electricians must also be able to work in various environments, including cramped spaces and large buildings.
Electricians often work in collaboration with other professionals, such as construction workers and building inspectors, to plan and execute electrical installations. They use their knowledge of local electrical codes and safety regulations to ensure that all wiring meets certain standards. They also provide guidance to end-users on proper electrical usage and safety precautions. Some electricians specialize in certain types of equipment or locations, such as marine electricians, hospital electricians, and auto electricians. Other electricians work exclusively in maintenance, focusing on repairing and updating existing wiring and equipment. They may also be responsible for testing and certifying electrical devices.
Repair
Electrical systems require regular maintenance to ensure that they continue to function correctly and safely. This includes replacing worn or broken parts, such as switches and fuses, as well as fixing or adjusting existing circuits. It also involves rewiring a home to accommodate changes in the number and type of light fixtures, outlets or other appliances.
Regardless of the project at hand, electricians need to be critical thinkers. They use a variety of testing devices to assess faulty wiring, equipment and circuits. This allows them to make sound decisions that minimize disruption and keep their clients safe.
For example, if an older home has an electrical service panel that’s less than 200 amps, it can cause dangerous overloading and short circuits. An electrician can rewire the entire house to bring it up to current standards and provide more reliable power sources for all the home’s fixtures.
In addition to technical knowledge and skills, electricians must have excellent communication abilities. This includes verbal and written communication, as they often work with customers, supervisors and other members of their team. They must be able to communicate clearly so that everyone understands what needs to be done and why it’s being done. This can help avoid costly mistakes or mishaps that can cost customers money and create a negative experience for them and the electrician.
Replacement
Your electrical panel may seem like a simple metal box, but it is the heart of your home’s entire network. If it is damaged, an electrician should be called to replace it and repair any wiring that was affected. It is important that these professionals handle the job, because working with household electricity can be dangerous. Fire departments across the country respond to over 46,7000 home fires involving electrical malfunctions or failures each year.
A professional Electrician Pasadena can upgrade your home’s breaker panel to accommodate the power demands of new electrical appliances, including computers and electronic devices. They will also inspect your home for any overloaded outlets or circuits that are causing brown or black marks around outlet holes. An undersized breaker panel should be replaced, as this can lead to overheating, which can cause serious and expensive damages to your home’s wires, appliances, and equipment.
An electrician can also install a new meter riser that connects your home’s electrical system to the public utility grid. They can also install whole-house surge protection to protect your electronics and appliances from high voltage damage. It is best to bundle these jobs together, as it will save money on labor costs.
Electricians can move into alternative careers that utilize their technical and machining skills, including project engineers, industrial maintenance technicians, material handlers, and prefab manufacturing assemblers. Obtaining these jobs can offer greater flexibility in the workforce and increased career opportunities.
An electrician handles the installation and repair of electrical systems. They can work in homes, businesses, and industrial facilities. A person interested in becoming an electrician can attend a vocational school or apprenticeship. These programs last up to five years and teach students both technical information and skills. The profession is expected to see a…