Any Electricians on Here?

[crimson merc]

Just wondering how many electricians are on here. Reason why is I start a 5-year apprenticeship program monday, I go tomorrow to do the OSHA 10 course. Had the choice to either go into this program or go into the new nuke tech. program at school. Been going back and forth between the two for a while. Chose this one because it will be a foot in the door at the plant. The only thing I hate is I don't know much about wiring stuff, only thing I've ever wired up was a few boats and helped with a spray system.

I'm wondering how did you get started in this field and why did you chose to go into it and what are some of the benefits that im not seeing?Thanks and any input would be appreciated

[Ted Stryker]

Learn all the basics of wiring, but I'd have to assume You'd be better off with a specialized skill within the electrical trade... When I started I did 4 1/2 years of 85% residential/ 15% commercial work... Seven years later with a different company I do about 50% new commercial/ 30% commercial service/ 20 residential service, so I've got alot of different experience with these basic parameters but I wish I had a more specific skill... Don't let anyone BULLSH you about it being easy, if Your in the corner of the industry that I'm in it is very often quite tough... I did house framing for a couple years, freight dock work, roofing work, welding, and lots of lawn work so I know what work is and some aspects of electrical can be a pain in the butt... I work in attics, under houses, dig ditches by hand usually, work on rooftops, oil fields, hardly ever in climate controlled enviroment, etc. and it can be as hard as anything... I'm non-union and constantly work in unfamiliar situation, so Union plant life work may be easier (is very much easier from all accounts from fellow Electricians), but I can't say directly from 1st hand experience... Don't worry about not knowing anything, keep an open mind and don't get discourage by what will seemingly appear to be a mountain of info involving the different in's-and-out's of different circumstances because You'll eventually develop an instinct for it like any other skill... I guess it's paid My meager bills, but I wish I had learned something easier that pays more because there certainly are plenty of jobs that do, but that just My situation only... Your opportunities may be much better than I have made for Myself...

[blazer01]

Just wondering how many electricians are on here. Reason why is I start a 5-year apprenticeship program monday, I go tomorrow to do the OSHA 10 course. Had the choice to either go into this program or go into the new nuke tech. program at school. Been going back and forth between the two for a while. Chose this one because it will be a foot in the door at the plant. The only thing I hate is I don't know much about wiring stuff, only thing I've ever wired up was a few boats and helped with a spray system.

I'm wondering how did you get started in this field and why did you chose to go into it and what are some of the benefits that im not seeing?Thanks and any input would be appreciated

i have been a (union) commercial electrican for 14 years..seen my share of ups and downs hard times,cold days hot days you name it..nuke powerplants,coal powerplants.. just about everything there is out there.
im 3rd generation electrican so i kinda followed fathers foot steps.however if i had to do it over again and the way technology is going i would have defintlly went for plc programming im telling you that is where the work and the oportunity is to move forward(just look around you everything is going to computers) and if you deside to go the nuke plant way i would certinlly think they would like you to have some type of programming experience rather it be with allen bradley,siemens,etc....

[joec229]

i have been a electrical contractor in all phase for over 20 years get basic electrical courses and then go intodata and computer programing also my brother lives in ashford and has worked at farley for about 1o years

[crimson merc]

Watched a buch of safety tapes, and got my osha card. Now just to finish all the paper work.

If you dont mind me asking whats your brothers name? More than likely know of him. Trying to think if I've ever met you, Im over in your town ever other weekend, north of the big slough(sp?)

[joec229]

dewayne conyers don't know if we met yet i live close to roger and old stv house at power line my daughter and her husband go up north nearly every weekend white yt with alien cowling

[donmac]

learn control circuitry and you likely won't need more than a briefcase and a laptop!

[blazer01]

learn control circuitry and you likely won't need more than a briefcase and a laptop!

thats the way donmac....dont have to worry about getting dirty either do you

[donmac]

thats the way donmac....dont have to worry about getting dirty either do you your so right! but you will need a gym membership to keep the ladies interested,not a lot of physical unless you consider walking exercise!

[blazer01]

yeah gotta get sweaty some where and the gym is the best place to see the best scenery...lol like i told him earlier all this stuff is going to computer's(plc's) and the electricans are gonna start makeing less and less $$$$$$$$$

[donmac]

I don't see that the electrician's will be making less money! it's the part of pulling miles of wire through a building that doesn't seem like a lot of fun. I seen guy's fishing wire through ceilings and walls that I wouldn't want to be climbing around in! I have a controll guy that comes to check systems everyweek and he walks pulling his laptop on a little 2 wheeler and we go around and check modules! he could wear the same clothes for a month!

[blazer01]

actually donmac here in st.louis (use to be the strongest electrical union in the us) carpenters can now hire non union to do the work to where they use to have to hire union contractors....

yes i agree pulling wire thru a ceiling s**cks been there done that im gonna start school on plc programing soon

[joec229]

we work both end here ,run the conduit, pull the wire @ hook it up . we do at least two upgrade a week to c-store in three states all going to computer controlled system

[joec229]

we work both end here ,run the conduit, pull the wire @ hook it up . we do at least two upgrade a week to c-store in three states all going to computer controlled system

[crimson merc]

Well the first week is done with now. Had to do all the saftey classes and test, still got to do 2 test first thing monday and then I start working with 3in. conduit.
Got lucky and the majority of the crew i came in with have been doing this longer than I have been living and they have helped me out along the way and told me the same stuff yall have mentioned.

[blazer01]

3" conduit ain't so bad could be worse. Could be worse could be running 6 inch in a ditch out in the blazin heat.. Good luck with your career. I don't know what type of literature you have.. I have always found a ugly's book to be just as handy as a pocket on a t shirt