electrical career

[WhiteCamaro88]

i may be going to school next year for electric i have an apprentice lined up , i was never that great at math but i understand it . I am starting at the bottom of the trade knowing next to nothing, any electricians on MOL or any1 chime in with details of the trade how complicated it is etc . I hear about the electrical code to, im not sure how complicated everything is but ill be sure to find out .

thanks

if any1 knos any electrical forums or any sites with good info about elec. i could use the help

[fletch]

good book to read

buy this book "Wiring a House: for pros by pros" by Rex Cauldwell.

[cydewaze]

Back in the 80's, I spent around 4 years as an electrian with our local union. The way our program worked back then, there was an "R" program and an "A" program. Everyone was in the R program, and the A program was something you had to apply for. And you almost never got in the first try.

If you remain in the R program, you really need only simple math. Math is more important if you want to go into the A program, but then the pay is a lot higher.

It was a lot of unsavory work (digging holes out in the freezing cold, broiling in hot switchgear rooms in the summer) but if you get on a service truck, life is a lot better. One thing that I did that made life better for me was I learned about fire alarm systems. I was on a lot of jobs where the other electricians would not touch fire alarms because they seemed "too complicated" so I got volunteered. It was a lot less grunt work and a lot more brain work, which was fun.

I quit being an electrician because it wasn't for me. Turns out it was a good choice. Your mileage may vary, and all of the above might be different in your home state.

[explore_02xlt]

i'll get my electrical certificate after this next semester

[RamAirV1]

When I went back to school to get my EE degree, a professor told me that, "all that math makes a lot more sense once you start using it in the real world." You won't have that much trouble with the math.

RamAirV1

[Paramedic]

I good friend of mine has a mechanical license for HVAC-R. Not sure in your state, but in Michigan for a plumber, electrician, HVAC-R you need to have have all the schooling and work for 3000 hours under a licensed contractor before you can take your test to get your license! The HVAC consists of a total of 6000 hours, but 3000 are class room hours over a 3 year period.