You may have wondered what an electrician really does, and the answer goes far beyond simply working with electricity.
Specifically, electricians set up buildings and homes to get the power they need in order to use electronics and electrical appliances. In general, all electricians install, inspect or maintain electrical wiring that supplies power to a structure or building. One of their main concerns is ensuring a building has the correct amount of power it needs and that the environment is safe for the people that work or live in the space.
Electricians have many job tasks, and their day-to-day work functions depend on what type of electrician they are. The Electrical Connection offers a variety of services to home owners and businesses.
There are four main types of electricians including telecommunications electricians, residential wiremen, inside wiremen and outside linemen. Telecommunications electricians lay cable that is used for communicating whether through the computer, telephone or local area network wiring. Residential wiremen work inside of people’s homes installing and maintaining electrical wiring. Inside wiremen work on electrical wires in larger structures like commercial office buildings, airports, schools, factories, government buildings, and sports arenas. Finally, outside linemen establish cables from power plants to homes and buildings. These electricians are commonly seen laying cables on the side of roads or high up on telephone poles. They are out working in the community and their jobs can be very complicated. It requires years of experience and careful execution to be able to manage all aspects of electricity successfully.
An electrician’s daily tasks largely depends on what type of electrical work they specialize in, however there are several tasks that all electricians have. First, they have to read and study blueprints to determine where the electrical outlets, circuits, panel boards and other electrical components should be placed in a new building, or where they can be found in an existing building. Additionally they plan the layout and install wiring through an entire building. Thirdly, all electricians maintain, replace, or add fuses, wires and circuit breakers. They also trace energy flow to transformers and circuit breakers. Next, they find and replace any wiring that may be too old or faulty and could be a potential safety hazard. Electricians will also review other electricians’ work and make sure it meets safety standards according to the National Electrical Code. They also manage their work crew’s labor and time and help in training electrician apprentices. Maintenance is just as much a part of an electrician’s job as installation.
There are many circumstances where buildings can lose power, and electricians are important in helping to prevent this from happening by performing routine testing and check ups of all systems. When problems occur and systems go down, it can be extremely complicated to try and figure out what caused the outage and what needs to be fixed. A good electrician will help keep a facility operating smoothly, and address problems quickly. In today’s high-tech world, many businesses and homes do not do well without power, making an electrician’s job absolutely vital.
Make sure to choose your electrician carefully and hire one that has the right kind of experience for the job you need to get done.
