What Skills Do Electricians Need?

If you’re considering joining the electrician career path, you may wonder whether you have what it takes to become a successful electrician.

There are different requirements for becoming an electrician, which includes at least 144 hours of formal training and around 2,000 hours of apprenticeship rendered under an approved apprenticeship program. These formal requirements are designed to prepare an electrician for every aspect of electrical work, from reading blueprints to code standards under the NEC, and actual hands-on electrical work under the supervision of a master electrician. All in all, it is comprehensive training geared to preparing an aspiring electrician for the work ahead of him, and it does so by helping him develop some necessary skills:

  • Problem-solving skills

Many times, an electrician’s work will consist of identifying the cause of an electrical issue and then resolving it. Starting from something as seemingly innocuous as flickering lights, for instance, an electrician needs to be able to trace the problem back to its source. Even the seemingly simple electrical issues may be a symptom of larger electrical issues that need to be addressed as quickly as possible.

  • Mechanical skills

All electricians are required to have some manual dexterity and mechanical aptitude, whether it be installing a simple socket, repairing faulty wiring, or replacing defective circuit breakers.

  • Mathematical aptitude

An electrician’s work often requires mathematical computations, such as determining the type of electrical installations needed to support specific wattage of electrical equipment. There would also be computations to figure out weight measurements such as in the installation of heavy wall or ceiling fixtures such as lights or fans, as well as measurements of distances, lengths, and heights, and other similar precision work that requires the juggling of numbers.…

Top Software for Electricians

New technologies are constantly being developed to make our lives easier, and this is no less true for electricians. Software applications can save electricians a lot of time and effort by providing easy to access, convenient tools that can help them make calculations; access needed information; enter invoicing and billing information; and a whole lot more.

Here are some of the top picks for electrician software that are currently available:

  • TurboBid

This is an estimating software that accommodates electrical work for residential, light commercial and industrial work, remodeling, and other construction projects. The great thing about this software is that it is flexible enough to allow for different types of work. So whether you are providing purely electrical work, or include other services such as plumbing and construction work, this is a great tool to generate estimates, integrating all the different services rendered in one convenient and user-friendly interface.

  • eToolsLite

eToolsLite is a handy mobile software that allows an electrician to check references for codes, converters, and other similar materials. An electrician can simply check his smartphone to verify that information he only vaguely remembers is correct, to make calculations, to convert values, and a whole lot of other tasks. Having it so handy is a big plus, especially if you are out in the field somewhere and need to check a specific provision of the NEC, or are unsure about a mathematical formula you barely remember.

  • Electrical Wiring Lite

This is a free app that can help you make calculations based on NEC provisions. One of the best things about it is that it is free!…

Why It’s Important to Have a Qualified Electrician Do an Electrical Safety Audit on Your Home

Procrastination is one of the most annoying things that plague humanity. We tend to put off things for next time, justifying ourselves by reasoning that “the situation isn’t that urgent” or “what’s one more day?” We usually need a huge kick in the butt before we can recognize that the situation or task waiting for us actually needs attention. Unfortunately, as with simple things, we humans also still have the tendency for procrastination even in serious matters. One such thing is the security of our loved ones and home.

One of the things a lot of homeowners neglect is the safety of their homes. Making sure that their house is in good condition is not in their to-do lists at all. Unlike fixtures and furniture that are easily visible, your electrical systems are kept hidden behind walls and cases. And because they’re usually out of sight, this important aspect of your home stay out of your mind too. Your electrical systems may be deteriorating without you knowing until the day an accident happens.

It is a must that you obtain an electric safety audit if your home is over a decade old. It becomes even more urgent if your house is over 25 years old. It is imperative that you promptly have someone check up on your electrical systems and devices for defects and other problems. Hire a licensed electrician to examine your house and make sure that everything is in good working condition. You don’t necessarily need to hire a Master electrician. A journeyman electrician can safely and properly do everything that an electrical safety audit includes.

There are specific safety codes that all properties must follow. This is obviously something the average homeowner can’t handle on their own. As such, you will need the expertise of a professional electrician to assess your electrical systems and ensure that everything is up to code. You ought to be able to find a licensed electrician in your town or city to perform the audit on your home. Your electrician will check, repair, and maintain your appliances, wires, and connections.

Don’t let something as significant as your electrical system go for a long time without the proper upkeep. It is not only inconvenient when something finally breaks and disrupts your day to day activities, but it can also result into dangerous situations. Don’t delay your home’s electrical safety audit any longer. After all, it is always better to be safe than sorry.…