Electrical Technicians are technical persons with Electrical and electronic background who help in designing the electrical circuits, developing various electrical equipment and devices, manufacturing the large and heavy electrical units, do the testing of various developed electrical parts for quality and safety and take care of the repair of all electrical machinery and circuits.
What they Do?
Electrical components and electronic components are used simultaneously at almost every place. While Electrical components provide power electronic components control the equipments. Electrical Technician generally performs the duties under the supervision and monitoring of electrical engineers. They also have to coordinate with design, development and testing team to provide them the necessary assistance in performing medium tasks. Technicians perform a variety of different tasks that depend upon the need of employer and superiors. Some technicians who work under the power unit have to work on generation and transmission of electricity or they sometimes also work on units that uses the electricity to run power machinery.
Where they Work?
Other areas where electrical technicians are in heavy demand are the industries dealing in manufacturing of electrical equipments and machine parts. Telephone industry also recruits technicians for various tasks like for looking after the safety of the lines and at the nodal telephonic center to look after the electrical equipments that run the telephone lines.
Major employers of electrical technicians are public utility companies, institution and plants that generate their own electricity, large industries that make use of electricity, military bases, hospitals, colleges for handling electrical parts in laboratories, government electrical power generation plants where they need technicians to monitor switch boards to ensure that plant is operating efficiently. Technicians also have to sometimes inspect the electrical generation units, generators, transformers and other heavy electrical equipments.
They may also be a team leader of junior and field electrical workers who perform the routine work at power generating stations. It is required of them to understand the basics and advanced levels of electrical engineering technology concepts to diagnose the electrical problems. They need to repair the parts and equipments directly or they may also direct others to do it. Other responsibilities include monitoring the plan, action done and record the results of test done on various electrical equipments in order to suggest necessary changes in the design for efficient working.
Command on electrical Tools
Electrical technicians should know how to work with hand tools such as screwdrivers, wrenches, wire cutters, soldering irons and pliers. They should also know how to read readings from precise instruments such as voltmeters, which is used to measure electricity. In addition to this they must know how to read and understand the blueprints and engineering handbooks.
Education and training
They should have diploma or a degree in related field from certified institution; they should hold the certification as electrical technician from accredited training center. They should have done at least two years of apprenticeship in any authorized and recognized electrical or power generation firm.
Opportunities in the employment outlook
Technicians can often get promotions on the basis of skills and experience they get during their tenure. It’s a normal practice that technician can get themselves specialized in one area of technology and on the basis of their experience they can get promotion up to the level of supervisor and manager of crew of technicians. Highly experienced technicians also have the opportunity to advance to the position of sales representative, instructor and technical writer.
Typical Working Conditions
Technicians have to typically work around electric current which can be dangerous, but the record of electrical industry is good in this respect. In general, electrical technician works in offices, manufacturing units, power generation plants, construction sites and laboratories. Technicians who will be placed in power generation units or production lines may have to work in high noise level. Working hours may vary from 35-54 hours a week based on country and work culture. Even sometimes technicians may be exposed to chemical, toxic material hazards from electrical equipments.