Introduction
Electrical work is a complex operation that requires the know-how of a professional: the electrician.
The electrician carries out all electrical installation, distribution, and connection work for electrical appliances in industrial buildings, housing, and offices.
He is often required to move from one site to another. He must, however, coordinate his activities with the other trades (masons, plasterers, heating engineers, etc.) to ensure the proper progress of the work.
Responsibilities
- Determine the location of the various elements of the electrical installation.
- Install the pipes and supports, and also lay the cables,
- Set up the various equipment such as panels, cabinets, sockets, or heating devices and make the connections.
- Responsible for replacing old electrical installations to ensure compliance with standards.
- Participate in more complex installations such as air conditioning or an elevator.
- On major construction sites, the electrician refers to the assembly diagrams and plans drawn by the architects or engineers
- Responsible for maintenance.
- He makes and guarantees all the connections to the electrical equipment present on each site;
- Ensures distribution of electricity that is reliable and secure;
- He ensures that his work always complies with strict national safety standards.
- Install octopuses, pass ducts, install junction boxes and also connect electrical panels
- Check the quality of the installation.
- Install cable trays and electrical installations in a building
- Install light fixtures, sockets, and also switches
- Supervise commissioning on site (for the team or site leader)
Education
To become an electrician, a high school diploma is the least requirement. The skills of electricians are learned on the job. If you want to become an electrician, a four (4) to five (5) years apprenticeship program is required. This is done to master the art of electrical work.
In addition, few electricians enroll in technical programs to gain theoretical knowledge. And this gives them an advantage over other electricians.
In the United States, a license is not needed to practice in most states. However, few states require electricians to be licensed by passing a licensing exam.
Salary
Electricians in the United States earn an average salary of $56,900 per annum. However, depending on years of experience this may go up to $98,720. Most beginners earn $33,810 annually.
Work Environment
The electrician works in a wide variety of areas: heating, air conditioning, IT, multimedia, telecommunications (telephone or IT links, video surveillance, etc.), automation, home automation, alarms, photovoltaics, antennas, etc.
He ensures the installation and maintenance.
The electrical installer also appreciates collective work: on construction sites, he very often works within a team supervised by a team leader or even by the site manager.
This professional environment also requires an infallible technicality on the part of the electrician.
Finally, he may be required to work on weekends and be on-call and must wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as safety shoes, a helmet, and protective glasses.
Sustainable Development
The electrician also plays a relevant role in terms of sustainable development. He will advise his customers on new products and their uses and will give them solutions in terms of energy saving.
To do this, he must master energy and in particular the new energies
He can thus specialize in eco-construction, which defines any construction ensuring the comfort and health of the inhabitants while respecting the environment.
In particular, he ensures that his installations do not emit magnetic fields.
With experience, the building electrician can become a team leader on large sites and within a large company. He can also become self-employed.
Required Skills
- Ability to read plans and diagrams
- Knowledge of safety standards and procedures
- Knowledge of VDI electricity (Voice, Data, Images)
- Basic knowledge of automation
- Basic knowledge of electronics
- Knowledge of home automation
- Knowledge of basics in general mechanics
- Observance of safety rules and instructions
- Observance of safety rules for working under voltage
- Welding
- Rigor and vigilance
- Skill and precision
- Master the use of electrical measuring devices
- Master automation, home automation, and electronics
- Connect the computer, telephony, or video surveillance, and fire equipment
In addition, the electrician must have good manual skills, ingenuity, and initiative in the event of unforeseen problems. The profession also requires good physical condition and the ability to work at height.
Finally, team spirit, the ability to communicate well (exchange of technical information, for example, etc.) are useful
Job Outlook
Job Outlook
Electricians are in great demand today, technological advances and the development of home automation now involve new challenges for electrical equipment in all types of buildings. These parameters have thus created new outlets and intensified the need for electricians.
Electrician’s Tools
- Mason’s pencil
- Meter and also Multimeter
- Electrician’s knife
- A set of screwdrivers
- Cutting and stripping pliers
- Hammer
- Hole saw
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Unscrewer
- Voltage tester.
