What is "Industrial"?
- Thread starter zog
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realolman said:I imagine it would be possible to do a job troubleshooting and replacing a large motor starter, pulling a batch of control wires , and hooking up some mag panel that wouldn't require much different screwdrivers and pliers than you'd use for anything else.
When you wonder into industrial there is more then tools to consider, do you have the experience needed to troubleshoot complex systems, are you insured for industrial work, high voltage coverages, do you have the proper personal protection equipment, chance poles, other high voltage gear. Juat a bit more then having the tools.
Controls
Member
- Location
- North East
industrial
Definition
Anything having to do with the business of manufacturing products; excludes utility, transportation, and financial companies. ( found it on the internet)
Satcom made a few, very good points (IMO) about being qualified for industrial work. Also, need to remember to obey/play by the special rules of the industrial facilities, that changes, place to place. it is just not matter of showing up and doing the physical work that is involved.
Definition
Anything having to do with the business of manufacturing products; excludes utility, transportation, and financial companies. ( found it on the internet)
Satcom made a few, very good points (IMO) about being qualified for industrial work. Also, need to remember to obey/play by the special rules of the industrial facilities, that changes, place to place. it is just not matter of showing up and doing the physical work that is involved.
Controls said:
You bet, for those of us that are out there we run in different rules all the time, the new Buz word in inndustrial work is ISO, just about every large industrial company has an ISO controlled program, you can spend a week just going thru the ISO manuals, and then sending in all your company experience, and trainning records, along with a fee to be able to work in their plant.
bikeindy
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis IN
and having your company ISO 9000 certified doesn't mean you can troubleshoot a production line problem. It is a skill learned and then put to practice, I don't think anyone here would call themselves an industrial electrician just because they hung some lights in a warehouse.
brantmacga
Señor Member
- Location
- Georgia
- Occupation
- Former Child
bikeindy said:
wanna bet?
emahler said:no...but when a company that ISO needs a new vendor, it tells them that you understand their needs....not just electrically....it's not necessary, but then according to some members here, neither is a license and insurance
"....it's not necessary, but then according to some members here, neither is a license and insurance:"
I often wonder what these members really do for a living.
What is intresting, is when any of the ISO companies have an in house trainning program, scheduled, they will notify us and, we can send our guys to the trainning usually, at no cost to the contractors.
Yes is is great, how other companies in the ISO system will contact you when they have a need for your services, your looking at projects from companies that have the ability to pay.
satcom said:
I agree. I thought it to be self evident that you should know what you're doing, and should be properly insured.
But, it's always possible to make mountains out of molehills, also.
Not everything in an industrial setting is a large feeder at thousands of volts. Particularly in light industrial settings. If it is... and you don't feel confortable doing it...don't do it. As I said before, lots of things are done with the same screwdrivers and pliers you'd use for anything else.
I think the complexity of many things is less than ever with the ever increasing use of PLC s and digital equipment. Mostly it's point to point wiring and then programming.
What sticks in my craw more then anything is the increasing "complexity" introduced by the greasing of palms to keep software licenses and versions up to date, and paying subscriptions to be able to talk to manufactures for troubleshooting assistance, to ask them why the hardware and software they sold you at exorbitant prices doesn't work...
Pretty good racket.
Karl H
Senior Member
- Location
- San Diego,CA
I am an electrician. I work 90% Industrial.I'm not gonna split hairs here. Electricity is electricity.It needs a path in order to perform work.It could be a recept in a house,switch,motor,PLC, or whatever. As a electrician you need to always ask yourself,"What enviroment am I in,and what rules apply here?"If you don't know the rules,you need to learn, If you do know the rules complete the job and cash your check. If you don't know the rules and still complete the job and it fails ,prepare to lose money, and possibly get sued.
cadpoint
Senior Member
- Location
- Durham, NC
I just think of it as Electrical Work, I think of all of it as Industrial, I'm in it, what, when , where, why. Task to finished product... We ain't left yet ...
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bikeindy
Senior Member
- Location
- Indianapolis IN
Karl H said:
Very well put. Thank you for saying what I wanted to say earlier.
There are more specialists in large urban areas. If you are doing electrical in less populated areas you have to be able to do all type electrical work, or
skip eating and sleeping inside.
I spent quite a few years doing maintenance and running an industrial repair shop before going into construction. Not a GM plant, but a metal refinery, and natural gas plant. Had to travel a couple hundred miles for one of these, and in between did commercial and residential closer to home. Then went 3000 miles to a job offer on a power plant. I always liked all electrical work, and wanted to do it all.....Of course thats not possible. I began doing electrical startup at power plants, we checked and function tested everything, except we did contract out testing of the protective relays. To increase my knowledge on my own dime I even went to a school in Texas for 2 weeks and learned how to calibrate protective relays. I did not want to work for any testing company, but wanted to know how protective relays worked and the exact function. My thinking is that you can do residential, commercial and even HEAVY INDUSTRIAL if you are prepared to make the commitment. If you really want to do industrial you'll be happy to purchase the tools required - you just may not be able to go out and start tomorrow. Besides the tools you need more capital to back you up, more experience (yours and your supervisors), and electricians with good all around skills. They don't get to listen to a radio on the job, or talk on a cell phone, and leaving early is a quick way to begin a job search.
skip eating and sleeping inside.
I spent quite a few years doing maintenance and running an industrial repair shop before going into construction. Not a GM plant, but a metal refinery, and natural gas plant. Had to travel a couple hundred miles for one of these, and in between did commercial and residential closer to home. Then went 3000 miles to a job offer on a power plant. I always liked all electrical work, and wanted to do it all.....Of course thats not possible. I began doing electrical startup at power plants, we checked and function tested everything, except we did contract out testing of the protective relays. To increase my knowledge on my own dime I even went to a school in Texas for 2 weeks and learned how to calibrate protective relays. I did not want to work for any testing company, but wanted to know how protective relays worked and the exact function. My thinking is that you can do residential, commercial and even HEAVY INDUSTRIAL if you are prepared to make the commitment. If you really want to do industrial you'll be happy to purchase the tools required - you just may not be able to go out and start tomorrow. Besides the tools you need more capital to back you up, more experience (yours and your supervisors), and electricians with good all around skills. They don't get to listen to a radio on the job, or talk on a cell phone, and leaving early is a quick way to begin a job search.
zog
Senior Member
- Location
- Charlotte, NC
Controls said:
Thanks for actually answering the question. I was wondering how many posts until someone answered it.
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
...and as you can see any one of us could actually be an Industrial Electrician. The service some of you guys put on a large residence may very well be larger than the small Industrial I work on just down the street.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
I know your statemnents are generalizations, but it's not because any given person is only capable of one type of work, in my opinion. I believe it's more a matter of experience than anything else.zog said:
I have worked in a quarry wiring large motors and controllers, and I've done electronics and PC board soldering. I've wired houses and small stores in NM and PVC, and I've done all-conduit and MC jobs in restaurants and manufacturing plants.
In spite of what others may think, I consider myself to be competent in most aspects of electrical work. I'm no expert in everything, but I know my abilities and my linitations. I can do what is explained to me.
In fact, when I began doing electrical work, as a little ol' helper, I knew more electrical theory than the guys I worked under. What I learned as a helper was the hardware, the materials, and how to use them properly.
What I've learned since is that most helpers need to be taught the real basics, such as how to strip wire, and how to make good connections and splices. That's why on-the-job training is so important.
One thing that I get a kick out of is when a customer says that a guy they know who works maintenance at 'the shop" did some wiring for them but they need some other stuff done. You go to the house and find that the 20A 240V A/c that was hooked up, was run from the panel in conduit, #6 THHN was used, and a 60A heavy duty disconnect switch was used outside with 1" sealtite leading to the condensor.Sure it all worked, but should it have cost $600 to hook up the unit. Some jobs are better left to the ones who are familiar with the particular line of work they are used to. JMO.
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