Are you interested in becoming an electrical technician, and wonder why people take up this trade? Just like any other job, many electrical technicians pursue this trade out of passion. If you enjoy working with home and commercial electrical systems, then you might be interested in becoming an electrical technician. You may pursue the career because you enjoy working with your hands outside the office setting. Plus, if you have fantastic problem-solving skills, you can learn the other important electrical skills during an Electrical technician program. So, What does a junior electrician do?

What Does a Junior Electrician Do?

After graduating from an Electrical Technician Diploma program, you will start at the position of a junior electrician. In this position, you may work under journeymen while gaining more skill and expertise in the field. Below are some tasks you can handle in this capacity:

Installation and Maintenance of Electrical Wiring

You will install a residence or commercial building’s wiring, lighting, and control system, while ensuring proper current flow in the entire building. During this task you will observe all the IEE regulations. Apart from performing the initial wiring, you may also do regular maintenance check-ups and perform a test before leaving the mechanism to the consumer to ensure the electrical system meets the building code and safety requirements.

Transformers

You will manage the designing, installation, and maintenance of transformers. Transformers vary in size depending on their load and where they supply the power. Transformers are either step-up transformers or step-down transformers. With the skills in reading technical diagrams, you will be able to easily set up a functional transformer and install the circuit breakers and all other components necessary for an efficient power supply.

AC and DC Motor Control Circuits

Motors mainly convert electrical energy to mechanical energy to create motion. You will also learn how AC and DC motors run differently. AC motors run on alternating current, while DC motors run on direct current. As a junior electrician, you will be able to set up control circuits, inspect them for faults, and correct any mishaps to prevent future problems.

Instrumentation

Instrumentation involves using the electromagnetic field to measure machines’ power, voltage resistance, and current flow. Instruments used for measuring are classified as digital multimeters and analog multimeters. You use gadgets like wattmeters, ohmmeters, ammeters, harmonics testers, and voltmeters. Other instruments, such as multimeters (Avo meters), are also used to test the continuity and polarity of a circuit. Continuity tests help in locating specific points or devices that have malfunctioned. This process reveals the electrical activity in a machine and enables you to site the source of a breakdown or malfunction. When you have the right equipment for this task, you can diagnose potential and existing problems with the current flow in a system and know the measures needed to restore it.

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)

A programmable logic controller or PLC is an industrial computer that helps to control and operate machines, manufacturing systems, and robots. With the qualifications of a junior electrician, you can design these programmable computers for large-scale companies. Depending on the size of the project, you can use PLCs to program company systems and diagnose potential issues. You can also use the system’s blueprints to identify and correct proper current flow.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become an Electrical Technician?

Even with a passion for do-it-yourself projects around the house, you still need some formal training to become a licensed electrical technician. To start as a junior electrician, you will need a diploma in electrical systems. Many trade schools offer electrical technician courses, and you can complete the course within as little as nine months attending full-time. You can easily attain all the qualifications of a junior electrician and work your way up the ladder with an apprenticeship.

Why Attend a Trade School to Become a Junior Electrician?

There are many important reasons to attend a trade school to become a junior electrician. From a complete curriculum and hands-on experience to career services and everything in between, getting a formal education helps you prepare for the electrical technician license exam and shows employers that you are serious about your craft.

Complete Curriculum

During an Electrical Technician Diploma Program, you will gain knowledge and skills that you will not get from the internet or self-study. When you enroll at a trade school, you cover the necessary areas to become a successful junior electrician such as reading and interpreting blueprints, locating circuit breakers, transformers, power panels, and other general wiring of buildings. With such comprehensive coverage, you offer quality services for your future customers and avoid second-guessing your decisions.

Hands-On Experience

The best way to learn is by practicing electrical theories in a practical setting. Once you learn a concept in class, you have the opportunity to practice it during workshop and lab projects. Hands-on experience is important to build skills through repetition. Instructors are ready to help when you have questions during workshops and labs.

Ability To Make Mistakes and Learn From Them

What better place to make mistakes than in school under the supervision of your instructors? You will build confidence in your skills because your instructors are present to watch your progress and guide you. Electrical mistakes may be catastrophic in a real-life setting. Therefore, when you make an error in your wiring while at school, you will have a chance to identify the error and correct it. It is better to make mistakes and experiment under the watchful eye of your instructors rather than make a mistake in a building’s electrical system.

Industry Experienced Instructors

Trade schools have employed qualified instructors to educate student electrical technicians. Since they have years of experience as electrical technicians, they have seen all possible techniques. Instructors have handled large assignments for installing, maintaining, and repairing complex systems. When you learn from the best, you set a good foundation for excellence in your career.

Like-Minded Classmates

Classmates are a motivating factor for excellence. They bring healthy competition and great ideas that may help your career path. When you surround yourself with like-minded people, they help sharpen your skills, and you become better by working together.

Great electrical technicians are team players. Through a connection to your classmates, you will learn good wiring techniques, and they can help you grasp concepts that prove hard to understand.

Career Services

Trade schools organize job fairs to help their students network with companies and successful individuals. With such platforms, you can connect with a potential employer or learn a few tips on how to write a solid resume or prepare for interviews. Trade schools pride themselves on high graduate placement rates so you can enjoy the benefits of a trade schools’ connection with employers in the community to find the job you are passionate about.

How Long is an Electrical Technician Diploma Program?

If you choose to attend the program full-time, you may complete it in as little as nine months. However, if you already have a job, you can attend evening classes that better fit into your schedule. Trade schools understand that you need flexibility and may have other responsibilities outside school.

Want to Learn More?

At Ohio Business College, you can enroll in an Electrical Technician Diploma Program that can prepare you for an entry-level position as an electrical technician, providing skills and services that are needed in a variety of settings, including residential, commercial and industrial. Whether it’s wiring a new building, fixing an electrical problem, or getting old wiring up to code, Ohio Business College can get you the hands-on training you need to become employed in this vital field.

Contact us today to learn more about our Electrical technician programs.