Staking my claim

[jim mccloy]

I'm a new electrician...just starting out doing smaller jobs (got insurance). I'm nearing the completion of an associate's degree in maintenance electricity from our local trade school. I have some experience working with an electrician installing service entrances, lighting, and other general duties. My main aspiration is to go into residential..so I'm trying a part time venture to cut my teeth on the smaller type jobs in order to get more experience and to see if it will all work out.

I know that this isn't a "how to" site-- I respect that. I've been monitoring these boards for some time now and it's obvious to me that there are many highly skilled tradesmen on this site. I've seen (and it's understandible) many so called "electricians" get a short answere or are asked about their qualifications in the electrical trade when they post questions. I realize that this is because this site is not intended to "teach" unqualified people how to perform electrical work. Experienced or not, I think we all know what the ramifications of that would be.

I'm not here to blow my own horn. I'm not a young kid either, I worked as a machinist until I was dislocated from my job and qualified for the trade readjustment act and decided to pursue the goal of becoming an electrician. Actually, becoming an electrician was one of my first career choices but I never knew how to go about it. I always thought that you had to serve an apprenticeship. I feel confident of my abilities and am very satisfied in the career path that I have chosen. I feel that I have what it takes to be an electrician and though I'm not looking to "take the world by storm" I feel that I will rise up through the trade faster than the average person.

I guess I'm just posting this to give some background information on myself so when I ask those "basic" questions to you folks--you'll have some kind of idea of the skill level of the person your talking to. Take care.

 

[bphgravity]

Re: Staking my claim

Hello Jim, and welcome to the wonderful world of electricity.
Its not the lack of skill or education a person has that makes us respond in a certain way to a question. It is the manner in which the information is to be used. In many cases, the question is from ones homework or from an electrical exam they are taking. It sometimes appears as if the person is not putting any effort in their question or understanding of the issue. They simply want an answer. Please feel free to inquire anything that you really need help with, or simply wish to have a better knowedge of.
The best thing to do in any stage of your career is to become as fluent and competent with the NEC that is possible. Good luck with your career and all electrical endevours!

There are no dumb questions, only dumb people.

Bryan

 

[jim mccloy]

Re: Staking my claim

Thank you very much Brian, and I promise, I'll have plenty of questions. I just don't want to overload you guys yet.

Jim.

 

[electricmanscott]

Re: Staking my claim

Questions are good. But you already said the key word, experience Get as much as you can and you will learn things that no school could ever teach.

 

[Will Wire]

Re: Staking my claim

Jim, If you follow the NEC, do good clean work, and stand behind your work, you'll do fine. People are always looking for a good electrician. There are many great books and teaching aids out there also as you probably know. Good luck. Trent

 

[randyo]

Re: Staking my claim

The part I like best about this fourm is the answers!!!
I always follow along in my book.

I feel this fourm is not so much "how to" as it is " give me the code ref on wether or not its OK"

PLEASE as a new member, always ask or answer your questions with code references.(if appropriate)
It puts us all on the same playing field...
Novist, apprenties and masters alike all read from the same book.

Disscusion is the soul of learning.
having good instructors is the brain.
But, good old fasion heated arguments is truly the heart of it all!!!!!

So please remember, opinons are like AS@#$#@#$ everybody has one...
But if you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
(I'll stop now)

 

[bennie]

Re: Staking my claim

Subjects to stay away from...Politics, Religion, and Separately Derived Systems

 

[charlie]

Re: Staking my claim

Bennie, you forgot grounding!

 

[james wuebker]

Re: Staking my claim

Jim, I started like you. I learned the basics from a few electricians but had to work at a big factory because it paided better. I had a family to support. So I worked at night doing small wiring jobs for many of years. Now after many of years I'm a master electrician. The thing you must learn is how to use the NEC book and understand all the theory about it.Also do things right the first time and don't cut corners. I have to go now, good luck!
Bye, Jim W.

 

[sparkmantoo]

Re: Staking my claim

mr mcloy welcome once again to the world of electricity. one thing good about this trade is that you never stop learning. you can learn alot from the people you work with. and the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. be careful, be safe, and watch out for the widow makers as i call them. those are those wires that sometimes have a little nick in them that you don't see, and you always manage to find and then you have to change your laundry. respect it.

 

[hornetd]

Re: Staking my claim

Originally posted by randyo:

Earlier portion of posting snipped.

So please remember, opinons are like AS@#$#@#$ everybody has one...
But if you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
(I'll stop now)

I thought that the original quote was "opinions are like A##holes because everybody has one and the contents are equally valuable."
--
Tom

 

[hurk27]

Re: Staking my claim

Jim

Always keep an open mind, as technolegy is always evolving and new ways to do things is always just around the corner. Be like a sponge and suck it all up then ring it out and do it again. just remember that if you ever get to a point that you think that there's no more to learn, pry your mind back open and look for it as in our trade there is always more to learn and when you get done with that they will rewrite the code book and you get to start all over.

One who thinks he knows it all, has closed his mind to a newer way.