testing question

[electricalperson]

this question is geared toward brian john and other testing experts. how does someone become an expert at testing equipment? is there a course i could take at a college? what kind of training is required?

 

[zog]

Good question, here is a bad answer, no there is no place to get this specific type training, thats why most testing guys come from the military, lots of Nany Nukes and Army prime power guys in the field. Or you stumble across it by learning in the field, truth is most companies that do testing just steal the guys from other testing companies.

NETA (International Electrical Testing Association) www.netaworld.org is the only place to get certified in the electrical testing field, I sit on the training commitee and we are discussing this very problem, developing courses to bring new people into the industry, there were only a few places to get this type of training and I was one of them until I retired from training a few months ago. AVO and Shermco are good places to start, but the courses are specific to breakers, transformers, etc. To cover all the bases you would be there a year or so.

A good testing guy has to have a very strong electrical theory knowledge, like EE level stuff, not trade school stuff, with a strong theory background everything else can be learned on the job if you can get in the door.

 

[electricalperson]

Good question, here is a bad answer, no there is no place to get this specific type training, thats why most testing guys come from the military, lots of Nany Nukes and Army prime power guys in the field. Or you stumble across it by learning in the field, truth is most companies that do testing just steal the guys from other testing companies.

NETA (International Electrical Testing Association) www.netaworld.org is the only place to get certified in the electrical testing field, I sit on the training commitee and we are discussing this very problem, developing courses to bring new people into the industry, there were only a few places to get this type of training and I was one of them until I retired from training a few months ago. AVO and Shermco are good places to start, but the courses are specific to breakers, transformers, etc. To cover all the bases you would be there a year or so.

A good testing guy has to have a very strong electrical theory knowledge, like EE level stuff, not trade school stuff, with a strong theory background everything else can be learned on the job if you can get in the door.

i actually get NETA world magazine because i ordered a book from them. ill look into what they have to offer for training. on the theory part im able to learn about that no problem. i have a few books and this website to help me . reason i ask is because iwas wondering if there is a special license required for certain types of testing.

 

[brian john]

I am not a NETA contractor, for a variety of reasons, though I have worked for NETA companies and was a NETA tech at the time.


Along the lines that Zog said. But I'd like to add, some large companies (I HAVE SEEN) often train their men to do one specific item. I can train a monkey to test any one specific item, circuit breakers, cables, transformers and know little about them. IMO a good tester has a large cross reference of knowledge about most electrical distribution systems. Having said that I know little about relay testing, and while I have done quite a bit of HV testing in the past I seldom do any now (for the last 20 years). So I am somewhat limited, but am able to keep my self busy with power quality and grounding issues.

Where are you located? Getting on with a company is the best way to start. Taking some courses would not hurt (well your wallet).

 

[electricalperson]

I am not a NETA contractor, for a variety of reasons, though I have worked for NETA companies and was a NETA tech at the time.


Along the lines that Zog said. But I'd like to add, some large companies (I HAVE SEEN) often train their men to do one specific item. I can train a monkey to test any one specific item, circuit breakers, cables, transformers and know little about them. IMO a good tester has a large cross reference of knowledge about most electrical distribution systems. Having said that I know little about relay testing, and while I have done quite a bit of HV testing in the past I seldom do any now (for the last 20 years). So I am somewhat limited, but am able to keep my self busy with power quality and grounding issues.

Where are you located? Getting on with a company is the best way to start. Taking some courses would not hurt (well your wallet).

im from massachusetts. neta had a school listed that does NAIT training and im thinking of doing it they offer level 1 and 2 a b c training. i dont know any testing companies around here either so finding one ot work for might be tough

 

[brian john]

Where in Mass? If you lived in Baltimore I know a guy.....

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

There always has to be a "starting line".
So, what is your present experience in the industry?

Here is what I would suggest as a start.
1. Theory, and then more theory. Not just reading it, but classes.
2. Field experience.
3. Companies like Fluke also offer beginner type course on their different type testers.
4. Apply for a job with a testing company. Don't really expect much, as they are specialty type companies and usually do not readily hire inexperienced individuals.
5. Find out if your employer may be interested in helping prepare you for this portion of the industry. If he does, he may want something in return for training you.


There are also some decent books to help get you started.

Industrial Electrical Troubleshooting - Lynn Lundquist
Troubleshootng Electrical/Electronic Systems -Glen A. Mazur
Test Instruments - Glen A. Mazur - Test Instruments Application Manual
Digital Multimeter Principle - Fluke
Insulation Rsistance Testing - Fluke
Power Quality Measurement and Troubleshooting - Fluke
Getting Down to Earth - Megger
Electrician's Troubleshooting and Testing Pocket Guide - H. Brooke Stauffer, John Traister (Both of these gentlemen have passed away this past year)
(You can get some of these books at Amazon for decent pricing)


Of course the internet has tons of info, Google:
Fluke
Flir
Agilent
AEMC
Megger, AVO
Simpson
Slaughter
NETA

Subjects:
Insulation testing
Testing electrical
troubleshooting electrical
Electrical Testers
Voltmeters, etc...

I think you get the drift.

 

[electricalperson]

well im a journeyman electrician and my experience is mostly in the construction field, mostly residential but a lot of commercial/industrial. ive been doing it for about 6 years now. ive done a few theory courses but never really made it past high school level. i would like to learn a lot more about power quality and theory and testing/troubleshooting of equipment in commercial/industrial settings. this is what i would eventualy want to specialize in if i could

 

[76nemo]

this question is geared toward brian john and other testing experts. how does someone become an expert at testing equipment? is there a course i could take at a college? what kind of training is required?

Field knowledge. You must take into consideration what you want to learn and what the test equipment is geared towards. We are all different. You guys/gals are mostly geared towards code. Myself, not doing much construction, code is not my immediate concern, yes, and no, hard to explain. I have worked machinery maintenance for awhile. I maintenance the equipment, and you pro's install it. College courses and TE? Pick specific applications and hop on the computer. I'd say the best courses I have learned of is Industrial Electricity, and you may ace that, but specific equipment, that is a little off angle here. Every piece of test equipment is geared towards different studies/applications. There are many good books and websites out there that Pierre has pointed out.

Can you be a little more specific on your questioning EP?

 

[76nemo]

well im a journeyman electrician and my experience is mostly in the construction field, mostly residential but a lot of commercial/industrial. ive been doing it for about 6 years now. ive done a few theory courses but never really made it past high school level. i would like to learn a lot more about power quality and theory and testing/troubleshooting of equipment in commercial/industrial settings. this is what i would eventualy want to specialize in if i could

Will you read any/all the links I could send you on PQA?

 

[electricalperson]

Will you read any/all the links I could send you on PQA?

yea ill print them out too and save it possibly

 

[76nemo]

yea ill print them out too and save it possibly

Be patient with me, I've been busy. Want them posted here or PM'd? How about here? Get everyone's opinion?

 

[electricalperson]

Be patient with me, I've been busy. Want them posted here or PM'd? How about here? Get everyone's opinion?

here is good :grin:

 

[76nemo]

Anyone else want to jump in as I include some good links? I'll start tomorrow if time allows.

 

[zog]

But I'd like to add, some large companies (I HAVE SEEN) often train their men to do one specific item. .

Very true, if they train them to do everything some other company will hire them. A testing tech that can do everything is hard to find, lucky for me I found and hired one Monday

 

[zog]

I forgot about books, THE book, the bible of testers is "Electrical Power Equipment Maintenance and Testing" by John Gill. You know everything in that book and you are in.

 

[electricalperson]

I forgot about books, THE book, the bible of testers is "Electrical Power Equipment Maintenance and Testing" by John Gill. You know everything in that book and you are in.

i actually own that book just never read it. do you mean paul gill? i should start reading it.

 

[zog]

Oops, by bad, Paul Gill.

 

[Lxnxjxhx]

You should know
-Some meters respond to average values but display a calculated RMS value, while others respond to RMS and display it.
-That a waveform with high voltage spikes on it may be ruining your meter even though the meter shows a value well within range.
-A meter doesn't care what it's looking at, it will display a value. If it's looking at a sine wave, that value has a lot of meaning. Otherwise, . . .?
-The instrument that does the least interpretation for the user (a scope) may also be the hardest to use.
-Instruments have limited bandwidths, so if you looking for the short-duration spike that's causing your problem, you may not always see it.

 

[zog]

Not sure what that all has to do with the price of rice in China.