Want to become a commercial or a residential electrician? Didn’t even know you had the option? At Lamson in San Antonio, we’ll prepare you for both.
Late last year, we focused on the job tasks of a commercial electrician in our blog post, “Real Life”- Job Tasks of an Electrician. There, we discussed the various work settings commercial electricians find themselves in, their specific job tasks, and how their influences on one another.
With a new year underway, we wanted to continuing offering insight into the expanding opportunities available for trained and certified electricians by highlighting the specific jobs tasks of a residential electrician. In this way, we hope to better prepare you in your training ahead.
Firstly, and maybe the most obvious point, is the different work environments these two types of electricians find themselves. Commercial electricians focus on the installation and maintenance of electrical power in commercial buildings (warehouses, large businesses and office buildings, etc). Residential electricians focus on the installation and maintenance of electrical power in people’s homes. By checking out this video, you will see how the residential work environment influences the job tasks required of a residential electrician. Then, you can be on your way to better determining which type of electrician could be the right one for you.
In the video, you will see demonstrated the following job tasks of a residential electrician:
- Materials Handling
- Prepping Wooden Wall Studs
- Pulling Wire
- Installing Light Fixtures (Rough-In Phase)
- Installing Light Fixtures (Finishing Phase)
- Installing Wall Plugs (Rough-In Phase)
- Installing Wall Plugs (Finishing Phase)
- Installing Breaker Box Panels (Rough-In Phase)
- Installing Breaker Box Panels (Finishing Phase)
- Connecting Residential Services
- Conduit and Junction Box Installation
- Pulling Wire Through Conduit
If you are familiar with the list of tasks of a commercial electrician, then you may notice that one clear difference between that list and the one above are the types of working “phases.” Above is listed a “Rough-In Phase” and the “Finishing Phase.” The “Rough-In Phase” includes laying out the basic electrical lines without making the final connections, before the walls are up and the drywall installed (see the picture to the left). The “Finishing Phase” includes making the final connections and installing all switch boards and external electrical items (see the picture below). As you begin your training, these phases will become clearer.
Yet, no matter which type of electrician you hope to become, there are common themes across the board. For example, problem solving, communication, working hands-on, gaining your certification through an Electrical Technician Training School in San Antonio, and beginning under an electrical contractor or through an apprenticeship program are all part of the preparation required in becoming a licensed electrician. Then, you are on your way to making a difference.
We believe the opportunity of starting your journey towards becoming an electrician could never be better. Choose to make a difference at NCE today.
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