Electrician... Electronics

[brother]

Just curious as to how many of 'electricians' also do alot of 'electronic' work. In my area, this is a 'different' license and trade per se. I remember getting basic training in the electronics, but when I went on to become an electrician, we didnt do much in that field anymore. In fact our 'license' covers that area, but an electronics 'license' would not allow them to do electricians work. So how many electricians actually deal with electronics out there??

 

[LarryFine]

Just curious as to how many of 'electricians' also do alot of 'electronic' work.

So how many electricians actually deal with electronics out there??

If, by "electronics," you mean low-voltage wiring, I do a bit.

I do computer networking, phone lines, satellite and cable wiring, HVAC LV wiring, AV and home-theater (including system interconnection), etc.

I'm sort of a black sheep. I'm one of the few who will install customer-owned equipment. I don't want to become a seller, but I supply accessories.

Licensing I don't have is required for security systems, but I can set up X-10 and similar stuff. I don't like landscape stuff because I don't like dirt.

 

[yanici]

When I was in the Navy and just out of the service I was an electronic tech. Then I became a licensed electrician and eventually ended up at a place with en extensive building automation system. I was able to save big bucks by being able to repair and calibrate electronic temperature sensors, power supplies, etc. as well as doing control work and electrical installations and modifications. A sensor may have cost $250, new, and could be repaired for a few dollars in parts and maybe 1/2 to 1 hour of labor. Through the years the savings must have been tremendous.

 

[brother]

When I was in the Navy and just out of the service I was an electronic tech. Then I became a licensed electrician and eventually ended up at a place with en extensive building automation system. I was able to save big bucks by being able to repair and calibrate electronic temperature sensors, power supplies, etc. as well as doing control work and electrical installations and modifications. A sensor may have cost $250, new, and could be repaired for a few dollars in parts and maybe 1/2 to 1 hour of labor. Through the years the savings must have been tremendous.

Thats interesting on the savings side. I wonder how much they pay you, (benefits includedJ) per hour and the parts you buy. Sometimes its a savings other times its not.
Ive been interested in more of learning electronics side, I enjoy the electrical work, but lately Ive been running into some electronics stuff.

 

[foqnc]

Thats interesting on the savings side. I wonder how much they pay you, (benefits includedJ) per hour and the parts you buy. Sometimes its a savings other times its not.
Ive been interested in more of learning electronics side, I enjoy the electrical work, but lately Ive been running into some electronics stuff.

I do the same thing as Yanici, my company has had me looking at everything, before we ship out for repair or replace. We have saved money sometimes, but the company only look at the parts bought. They view paying me, as not in the equation, after all I'd be here anyway.

 

[John Valdes]

Most all manufacturing plant electricians must do electronic work along with running conduit and pulling wire. A good maintenance electrician does more electronic work than anything else. At least thats the way it's been with me. Where do you draw the line between electronics and electrical? It's hard to do. I mean if you can work at component level I would say you are an electronics tech. If you can find the bad circuit board, but cannot fix it your an electrician.
I didn't know I was an electronics technician until they gave me my business cards. LOL...

 

[weressl]

Just curious as to how many of 'electricians' also do alot of 'electronic' work. In my area, this is a 'different' license and trade per se. I remember getting basic training in the electronics, but when I went on to become an electrician, we didnt do much in that field anymore. In fact our 'license' covers that area, but an electronics 'license' would not allow them to do electricians work. So how many electricians actually deal with electronics out there??

You can also turn the question around and ask how many electronic technicians also do electrical work.

I would have a more fundamental question: how and where do you separate the two trades?

 

[jumper]

If, by "electronics," you mean low-voltage wiring, I do a bit.

I do computer networking, phone lines, satellite and cable wiring, HVAC LV wiring, AV and home-theater (including system interconnection), etc.

I'm sort of a black sheep. I'm one of the few who will install customer-owned equipment. I don't want to become a seller, but I supply accessories.

Licensing I don't have is required for security systems, but I can set up X-10 and similar stuff. I don't like landscape stuff because I don't like dirt.

ditto. but i do security systems also. i work at a college and we own the system.i despise dirt!!!:grin:

 

[brother]

Most all manufacturing plant electricians must do electronic work along with running conduit and pulling wire. A good maintenance electrician does more electronic work than anything else. At least thats the way it's been with me. Where do you draw the line between electronics and electrical? It's hard to do. I mean if you can work at component level I would say you are an electronics tech. If you can find the bad circuit board, but cannot fix it your an electrician.
I didn't know I was an electronics technician until they gave me my business cards. LOL...

I feel they should Pay you even More, if you can trouble shoot to the component level. I know in my area, most electronics guys cannot do what electricians do and they really do not know the NEC. Also they dont have the license to do it anyways. Its basically almost another 'trade' if I dare say that.

 

[tom baker]

I work in an electronics shop and am actually an electronics tech. We don't fix much anymore, its rare to get out the soldering iron.
But the theory is invaluable. The skills I need are the ability to read a manual and program new equipment, some of the manuals lead a lot to be desired, some of the equipment is very complicated. The new equipment is so good to work on compared to the old stuff, that you could work on, the new you can't work on.
Its nice to be able to do both ends of a project, I can ditch, pull wire, connect and program.

 

[Billy_Bob]

...Ive been interested in more of learning electronics side, I enjoy the electrical work, but lately Ive been running into some electronics stuff.

It comes in very handy for troubleshooting and "finger pointing" situations to know how everything operates or how it should operate.

Also for remodeling situations, it is great if you can move any wire as needed - electrical, phone, video, security, data, etc. and have the tools to do this properly.

So far as learning new things, I learn best by reading books and learning on my own. Others learn best by taking classes at a school.

For electronics I would suggest first learning what each component does. Resistor, capacitor, diode, transistor, varistor.

Good start on this information here... (Search for above terms)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Then follow the links in each article to learn more (which you could probably do forever on this subject!)

Here are a few more interesting things...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_electronics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_electronics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modem

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coax