Types of Work that an Electrician Does Well

We all know that electricity is available at the touch of a button and is delivered to us via the outlets in the walls and light sockets in the ceiling. But there is a rather complex job behind all that wiring and it requires the expertise of an educated individual such as an electrician. If you are considering this type of job for your future career, you may be interested to learn a few of the things that this type of professional is responsible for on a day-to-day and contract basis.

An electrician is the individual responsible for the wiring of a residential or commercial unit in order to supply the contents with light, heat, air conditioning, and other amenities that make inside more comfortable than outside. Many professionals in this line of business are self-employed and bid on contracts or do mainly repair work. Other professionals work for larger organizations that take care of the business side of things and pay them a per-job or per-hour wage. Self-employed professionals often have a lot more work, but have the potential to make a lot more money. 

An electrician will often further subspecialize their profession into one of two categories: construction or maintenance. While some technicians in this line of business may do both, many prefer to focus on one or the other and gain experience that makes their services more valuable. For example, a construction electrician has more intimate knowledge of the process of initial wiring and blueprint layout, while a maintenance electrician is better able to diagnose and repair problems. 

There are a number of state and federal regulations that electricians must follow when performing initial installation or follow-up repair work. The National Electrical Code is a number of guidelines that are mandatory for all residential and commercial buildings within the United States. New and existing electrical work must be maintained according to these standards in order for the building to be inhabitable. 

The tools used in this profession vary widely and may include everything from knives, hacksaws, wire strippers, conduit benders, screwdrivers, pliers, drills, and saws. There are also measuring tools such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, ammeters, and harmonic testers that help to guide and facilitate their work. Knowledge of these tools is important in order to get the job done correctly and ensure the professional is safe on the job with the other technicians. Most technicians get their experience on the job after a short time learning the basics in a classroom. Hands-on education is the best way to get the experience needed to do a job correctly.