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When do you consider yourself an electrician?

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Joethemechanic

Senior Member
Location
Hazleton Pa
Occupation
Electro-Mechanical Technician. Industrial machinery
only to himself. it was how he discovered his love for electricity. :)

now he comes to work everyday knowing there is the potential for that sweet release when he "forgets" his gloves and works on live equipment anyway.

Typically, 70 to 120 volts are applied externally to the patient's head, resulting in approximately 800 milliamperes of direct current passing between the electrodes, for a duration of 100 milliseconds to 6 seconds, either from temple to temple (bilateral ECT) or from front to back of one side of the head (unilateral ECT). However, only about 1% of the electrical current crosses the bony skull into the brain because skull impedance is about 100 times higher than skin impedance.[2]
 

mtnelect

HVAC & Electrical Contractor
Location
Southern California
Occupation
Contractor, C10 & C20 - Semi Retired
Sociologists say that every group has a "Pecking Order", so I am assuming that I am at the bottom of this forum's list, where are you ?
 

Another C10

Electrical Contractor 1987 - present
Location
Southern Cal
Occupation
Electrician NEC 2020
It may be best to simply say, If a person holds a legal credential stating Electrical whatever .. chances are they are an electrician. although obviously there are variations of electrical expertise.

a country singer or heavy metal guitarist or let's throw in bongo player . all are very different although they're all classified as musicians.
 

Strathead

Senior Member
Location
Ocala, Florida, USA
Occupation
Electrician/Estimator/Project Manager/Superintendent
It may be best to simply say, If a person holds a legal credential stating Electrical whatever .. chances are they are an electrician. although obviously there are variations of electrical expertise.

a country singer or heavy metal guitarist or let's throw in bongo player . all are very different although they're all classified as musicians.
Once again, a guitarist is someone who plays guitar. He doesn't have to play it well. I know, I have heard a few. An electrician is someone who works on electrical systems. He doesn't have to do it well. As I stated it is the English language that dictates this, not a person's aptitude. It is the adjectives that determine the person's level.
 

Sea Nile

Senior Member
Location
Georgia
Occupation
Electrician
So based on the English language, are you saying anyone who works on anything electric, regardless of credentials, experience, or competency... Is an electrician?
If that's your position it's ok with me. I don't agree with you, but who am I to say you are wrong?
 

jim dungar

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Wisconsin
Occupation
PE (Retired) - Power Systems
So based on the English language, are you saying anyone who works on anything electric, regardless of credentials, experience, or competency... Is an electrician?
If that's your position it's ok with me. I don't agree with you, but who am I to say you are wrong?
I know people have gotten used to cutting out words and even letters as they text/message with their thumbs on their phones, but adjectives are important to the English language.

I am an engineer, but I don't design structures.
I am an electrical engineer, but I don't design building wiring.
I am a licensed electrical engineer specializing in industrial power systems
 

Sea Nile

Senior Member
Location
Georgia
Occupation
Electrician
I understand, there are many different opinions and definitions. But like Mr. Holt says, you can't have a conversation when people have different definitions for the same word. Paraphrasing of course. But he was talking about the importance of Article 100.
According to post#68, as an apprentice, I am an electrician.
But others, including myself, think that there needs to be some benchmark, certification, amount of experience, or at the very least someone to vouch for your competency before you say out loud to another person "I am an electrician"
Otherwise, why not consider DIYers electricians?

Edit: I guess the question is what it always was, I don't feel comfortable dropping the word apprentice yet. I still call myself an apprentice electrician. And not just 'electrician'
 
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Joethemechanic

Senior Member
Location
Hazleton Pa
Occupation
Electro-Mechanical Technician. Industrial machinery
New York State Electrician was a title given to the chief executioner of the State of New York during the use of the electric chair from 1890 to the state's last execution in 1963, although the final State Electrician, Dow Hover, remained on call for any future executions until the United States Supreme Court briefly abolished capital punishment with its 1972 decision in Furman v. Georgia.[1][2]

The State Electrician was contracted by the state at an unchanged rate of $150 per execution (with $50 added for any additional executions performed on the same day) for the duration of the position's existence. New York did not prohibit the officeholder from performing executions for other states or for the federal government, and such arrangements were common, with the New York State Electrician being retained to conduct notable executions such as that of Lindbergh baby killer Richard Hauptmann by the State of New Jersey, Sacco and Vanzetti by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Rosenbergs by the United States.[1]

EXECUTION_BY_ELECTRICITY_electric_chair_illustration_Scientific_American_Volumes_58-59_June_30...png
 

roger

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Fl
Occupation
Retired Electrician
Edit: I guess the question is what it always was, I don't feel comfortable dropping the word apprentice yet. I still call myself an apprentice electrician. And not just 'electrician'
You will always be learning new things about this trade even after you retire so when you feel comfortable dropping "apprentice" do it.

As already stated the trade is wide. I have been lucky enough to work in service, residential, commercial, and industrial (up to 25KV). Hospital construction was where I spent most of my career and I have considered myself an electrician for a long time but, if I was sent to work with a solar installation crew I'm sure they would not be impressed with me.
 

Strathead

Senior Member
Location
Ocala, Florida, USA
Occupation
Electrician/Estimator/Project Manager/Superintendent
So based on the English language, are you saying anyone who works on anything electric, regardless of credentials, experience, or competency... Is an electrician?
If that's your position it's ok with me. I don't agree with you, but who am I to say you are wrong?
We aren't really far apart, but we are very picky here. I am saying that when someone is as you described, they are able to describe themselves as an electrician without lying. To be descriptive, it ALWAYS requires qualifiers. I am a licensed Unlimited Electrical Contractor. I am considered a very good electrical estimator. I am an Electrical Project Manager. I am a second year Electrical Apprenticeship instructor I am good with my hands, so I can install with the best of them. Albeit slower every year. On one front, installation, there are those with far less of the other "talents" who can run circles around me in the field. None of this makes me and electrician, if I am applying at Boeing. Not because I'm not an electrician, but because I'm not and AIRCRAFT electrician.
 

Sea Nile

Senior Member
Location
Georgia
Occupation
Electrician
I have over 20 years experience in electronics and networking. I've been studying Mike Holt's ultimate training library for 2 years. I have 11 months experience wiring new construction residential. I'm obviously not licensed or credentialed. I'm currently between jobs, so I am not currently working under an electrical contractor. Am I an electrician?
 

Little Bill

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Tennessee NEC:2017
Occupation
Semi-Retired Electrician
Bubba and Leroy were looking for jobs. They answered an add at airport but didn't see, or notice the requirements.
Bubba went in first and was interviewed. He got the job and went out and told Leroy to go on in.

Leroy went in to be interviewed and when asked what his specialty was he replied "I'm a wood cutter"
Interviewer "Sorry, we can't hire you."
Leroy: "Well you hired Bubba"
Interviewer: "He is a pilot"
Leroy: Well, he can't pile-it till I cut it!"
 

Sea Nile

Senior Member
Location
Georgia
Occupation
Electrician
Bubba and Leroy were looking for jobs. They answered an add at airport but didn't see, or notice the requirements.
Bubba went in first and was interviewed. He got the job and went out and told Leroy to go on in.

Leroy went in to be interviewed and when asked what his specialty was he replied "I'm a wood cutter"
Interviewer "Sorry, we can't hire you."
Leroy: "Well you hired Bubba"
Interviewer: "He is a pilot"
Leroy: Well, he can't pile-it till I cut it!"
Jerry Clower joke if memory serves
 

Dennis Alwon

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Chapel Hill, NC
Occupation
Retired Electrical Contractor
Did you get to administer ECT?

No, we were basically glorified child care workers but paid well for that job back in 1972.

Btw, I believe when people asked me what I do for a living I usually say I do electrical work.
I have over 20 years experience in electronics and networking. I've been studying Mike Holt's ultimate training library for 2 years. I have 11 months experience wiring new construction residential. I'm obviously not licensed or credentialed. I'm currently between jobs, so I am not currently working under an electrical contractor. Am I an electrician?

Imo, I am not an electrician... I was an electrician. Therefore, if you are not working in the trade then you are not an electrician.

If a doctor retires and doesn't do any doctoring, is he a doctor?
 
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