Electrician: Difference between revisions
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Lazy, useless wankers..... Not a recognised trade. |
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{{for|theatrical electricians|Electrician (theater)}} |
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[[Image:Tvaelectrician.jpg|[[Tennessee Valley Authority|TVA]] electricians, Tennessee, 1942.|200px|right|thumb]] |
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An '''electrician''' is a [[tradesman]] specializing in electrical wiring of buildings and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance and repair of existing electrical infrastructure.<ref>{{citebook|title=Electrician|author=Roger Jones|publisher= Trotman Publishing|year=2004|id=ISBN 0856609978}}</ref> |
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== Terminology == |
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In the United States electricians are sometimes referred to as Inside Wireman as opposed to Outside [[lineman (occupation)|Linemen]] who work on electric utility company [[electricity distribution|distribution]] systems at higher voltages. |
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"Electrician" is also used as the name of a role in [[stagecraft]], where electricians are tasked primarily with hanging, focusing, and operating [[stage lighting]]. In this context, the [[Master Electrician]] is the show's chief electrician. Although [[Electrician (theater)|theater electricians]] routinely perform electrical work on stage lighting instruments and equipment, they are not part of the electrical trade and have a different set of skills and qualifications from the electricians that work on building wiring. |
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In the [[United Kingdom]],United States, and Australia "spark" or "sparky" is slang term for an electrician. |
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== Training and regulation of trade == |
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[[Image:Electrician Working.jpg|thumb|200px|An electrician hooking up a generator to a home's electrical panel.]] |
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In most countries, the job of an electrician is a regulated trade for safety reasons due to the many [[electric shock|hazards]] of working with electricity, requiring testing, registration, or licensing. Licensing of electricians is controlled through government and/or professional societies. |
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===United States=== |
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In the United States licensing requirements for construction work are controlled by local building officials. Typically, certain types of electrical work are only [[License|permitted]] to be performed by a Journeyman or Master electrician. The requirements for becoming a journeyman or master electrician, and the types of work they are permitted to do, vary between states; however, there are often interstate reciprocity agreements. Not all states offer a statewide journeyman or master electrician license. |
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Before electricians are allowed to work without supervision, they are usually required to serve an [[apprenticeship]] lasting from 3 to 5 years under the general supervision of a [[Master tradesman|Master]] Electrician and usually the direct supervision of a [[Journeyman]] Electrician. Schooling in electrical theory and electrical building codes is usually required to complete the apprenticeship program. A Journeyman electrician is a well rounded [[artisan|craftsman]] trained in all phases of electrical construction installation in various building styles and maintenance of equipment after installation. A Journeyman is usually permitted to perform all types of electrical work except design of electrical systems<ref>{{cite web |
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=== Canada === |
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In most Canadian jurisdictions a supply authority will not connect power to a new building unless a licensed electrician has applied for the electrical permit (some provinces allow a homeowner to obtain his own electrical permit). |
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Similarly to the United States, training of electricians follows an apprenticeship model, taking four or five years to progress to fully qualified journeyman level.<ref> http://tableauellis.ca/tradechart.jsp?lang=eng&tradeid=51 Chart of Red Seal trandes, retrieved 2008 Aug 2 </ref> Typical apprenticeship programs emphasize hands-on work under the supervision of journeymen, but also include a subtantial component of classroom training and testing. Training and licensing of electricians is by province, but many provinces recognize qualifications received in others. |
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Restricted electrical licenses are also issued for specializations such as motor winder, appliance repair, audio/visual installation, [[HVAC]] installation, and similar jobs. |
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==Wiring tools== |
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The electrician's trade requires use of a range of hand and power tools and instruments. Usually an electrician will have a personal set of hand tools and general-purpose test instruments, with the more costly power tools or instruments provided by the employer or business. |
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Some of the more common tools are: |
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* [[Lineman's pliers]] are heavy-duty pliers for general use in cutting, bending, crimping and pulling wire; [[electrician]]s commonly use the tool as a hammer, as well. |
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* [[Needle-nose pliers]] feature a namesake long, tapered gripping nose and are of more various size, with or without side cutters, generally smaller and for finer work (including very small tools used in [[electronics]] wiring). |
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* [[Wire strippers]] come in many sizes and designs, but those intended for electric power wiring feature special blades to cut wire insulation on American Wire Gauge ([[American wire gauge|AWG]]) #16 to #10 while leaving the conductor wire intact and without nicks. Some wire strippers include [[cable stripper]]s among their multiple functions, for removing the outer jacket of [[NM cable]] (also known as ''Romex''). |
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* [[Cable cutter]]s are highly-leveraged pliers for cutting cable larger than #10/3. |
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* [[Rotosplit]] is a brand-name tool designed to assist in breaking the spiral jacket of metallic-jacketed cable ([[MC cable]]). |
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* A [[multimeter]] is a small, battery-powered instrument for basic electrical testing and troubleshooting; features [[voltage]]-, [[Electrical resistance|resistance]]-, and [[Electric current|current]] [under 10 amps] -reading settings, maybe other measurements. |
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* portable ammeters may have a split torroid coil which may be opened then closed around a single conductor. |
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* [[step-bit]] is a metal-cutting drill bit with stepped-diameter cutting edges, generally at 1/8-inch intervals, for conveniently drilling holes to specification in stamped/rolled metal up to about 1/16" thick; for example, to create custom [[knock-outs]] in a [[breaker panel]] or [[junction box]]. [Keep bit perpendicular to metal!] |
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* Wires are "fished" into closed cavities using includes cord or rope, [[fish tape]]. Small chain is useful in vertical cavities. The fishing tool is pushed, dropped, or shot into the installed racway or [[stud-bay]] or [[joist-bay]] of a [[finished wall]] or in a floor or ceiling. Then the wire or cable is attached and pulled back. |
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* Other, general-use tools with applications in electric power wiring include [[screwdriver]]s, [[Crimp (joining)|crimper]]s, [[hammer]]s, [[reciprocating saw]]s, [[drywall saw]]s, [[metal punch]]es, [[flashlight]]s, [[chisel]]s, [[adjustable slip-joint pliers]] (for example, Channel-Lock (R) pliers), [[drill]]s. |
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* Crimping tools are used to apply terminals or splices. These may be hand or hydraulic powered. The better hand tools have ratchets to insure proper pressure. Hydraulic units achieve [[cold welding]], even for aluminum "locomotive" [many fine strands] cable. |
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* [[Megger]] insulation tester applies several hundred to several thousand volts to cables and shows the insulation resistance value |
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*[[Solenoid voltmeter]] simple go/no go to indicate the presence of voltage. |
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==Trade Organizations== |
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Many unions represent electricians such as the [[International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers]]; the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried, Machine, and Furniture Workers; [[International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers]]; [[United Auto Workers]]; and the [[United Steelworkers]].<ref>{{cite web |
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| last = |
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| first = |
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| authorlink = |
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| coauthors = |
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| title =Electricians |
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| work =Electricians |
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| publisher =US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics |
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| date =2006-08-04 |
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| url =http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos206.htm |
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| format = |
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| doi = |
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| accessdate =2007-06-30 }}</ref><br>Many merit-shop training and apprenticeship programs also exist, including those offered by such as trade associations as [http://www.abc.org Associated Builders and Contractors] and [http://www.ieci.org Independent Electrical Contractors.] These organizations provide comprehensive training, in accordance with U.S. Department of Labor regulations, for this challenging but fulfilling career.<br>http://www.bls.gov/k12/build06.htm |
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==See also== |
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*[[Best boy]] |
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*[[Building code]] |
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*[[Circuit breaker]] |
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*[[Distribution board|Circuit breaker panel]] |
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*[[Domestic AC power plugs and sockets]] |
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*[[Electrician (theater)]] |
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*[[Electricity]] |
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*[[Electric light]] |
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*[[Electric switch]] |
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*[[Electrical wiring]] |
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*[[Fire safety]] |
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*[[Industrial & multiphase power plugs & sockets]] |
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*[[International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers]] |
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*[[Moritz Volz]] - A German [[Football (soccer)|footballer]] nicknamed "The Electrician" |
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*[[Lineman (occupation)]] |
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*[[National Electrical Code (US)]] |
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*[[Power cable]] |
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*[[Power cord]] |
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*[[Residual-current device]] |
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*[[Three-way circuit]] |
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*[[Wire]] |
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=== References === |
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{{reflist}} |
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=== External links === |
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* [http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos206.htm Electricians] - from the BLS [http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm Occupational Outlook Handbook] |
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* [http://www.Electrician-ElectricalContractor.com www.Electrician-ElectricalContractor.com] - Get a detailed look into the Electrical Trade and what it takes to become an Electrician and a Licensed Electrical Contractor. |
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[[Category:Electric power]] |
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[[Category:Construction trades workers]] |
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[[Category:Electrical wiring]] |
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[[da:Elektriker]] |
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[[de:Elektroinstallateur]] |
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[[fi:Sähköasentaja]] |
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[[fr:Électricien]] |
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[[it:elettricista]] |
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[[he:אלקטרונאי]] |
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[[nl:Elektricien]] |
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[[no:Elektriker]] |
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[[pl:Elektryk]] |
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[[ru:Электрик]] |
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[[simple:Electrician]] |
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[[sr:Електричар]] |
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[[sv:Elektriker]] |
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Revision as of 14:10, 10 September 2008
Lazy, useless wankers..... Not a recognised trade.