Who Is The Plant Electrician?

A plant electrician is the expert who maintains electronic equipment and circuit boards inside factories and industrial plants. He often travels around power plants or factories in order to perform repairs or routine maintenance work. If the plant is in need of a troubleshooter for any electrical problem, then he is also the right person to call. A few plant electricians are even assigned to work right on the factory floor while others stay in repair workshops.

The Job

Plant electricians often work with industrial-sized machines and equipment. These are the ones that are usually used to generate electricity. The BLS or Bureau of Labor statistics states that plant electricians are the ones that are tasked to maintain electrical equipment and offer electrical component routine repairs.

There are two chief categories for power plant electrician field and bench technicians. The field technician is actively involved in handling electronic parts as well as maintenance on the plant floor. Bench technicians, on the other hand, normally work inside workshops. At times, the field technicians removes non-working components and sends them to bench technicians when the repair is impossible to be done right on the plant floor.

Requirements for a Plant Electrician

This kind of electrician normally works inside factories that are likely to have loud noise and chaotic workspaces. A few of the physical abilities that are required of this professional is to work while in an awkward position, have the physical strength to lift heavy tools and equipment, and be able to remain seated or standing for hours at a time.

The job growth for this kind of electrician is projected at 20% from 2012 till 2022. This means that electricians of this type can enjoy one of the most stable employment conditions. The median salary is recorded at $49,840 as of the month of May in 2012.

Electricians in the Country’s Power Plants

Power plants are there to provide fuel to today’s technology. There are various techniques in generating electricity including generators, turbines and green energy technology.

PPEs or power plant electricians are there to regulate the equipment that conduct and distribute electricity. They are also responsible for the diagnosis and maintenance of circuit boards.

Every state comes with a different set of regulations for their PPEs. The BLS records that electricians who work with nuclear power should undergo an additional licensing process. Majority of power plants need PPEs to take specific tests that ca verify their knowledge on safety procedures and electronic equipment.

Before they get employed as a PPE, these electricians often go through some formal education. They have often served as an apprentice for 2-4 years.

Manufacturing Plant Electricians

MPEs work hand-in-hand with computer technicians in updating electronic systems. Many employers want to have MPEs that have finished at least an Associate’s Degree in Electronics. Those who have graduated from an industrial equipment certification course may also be qualified as an MPE.

With many manufacturing plants using computerized equipment these days, additional degrees and certification in Computer Science and Technology may be required by some employers. An MPE with 3-4 years of experience and a license can easily land a job.

If you finished a different degree in college but are dying to become a plant electrician, you can train in-house. In-house trainings often teach about plant safety, emergency protocol, industrial engineering basics and the job benefits.

The second stage of in-house training requires the new hires to be paired with senior employees that can teach the day-to-day responsibilities of the job.

Plant electricians are crucial experts that can keep huge power plants and factories running. Without them, these industries are sure to fail.

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