Low Voltage System Wiring

Low voltage systems include but are not limited to: access control, security, CCTV, burglary, fire, PA, intercom, nurse call, network, phone, data, and other local and remote notification systems. While progress has been made in wireless technologies, the primary, and most secure, and reliable installations, if not the most economical, are hard wired systems.

For commercial and industrial low voltage installations, the field wiring, device mounting, and panel installations are a major portion of the installation. While these tasks are required to be completed in accordance with customer specifications, local building, fire, electrical, and other codes, they are typically pretty standard and require little technical knowledge of the specific system terminations, power, testing and operation.

Most commercial and industrial low voltage system dealers, vendors and integrators have invested substantially in training their technicians on the technical aspects of installing, maintaining and operating the systems they promote. Depending on the work schedule, including service calls and maintenance contracts, using technicians for the basic wiring tasks may not be the best scheduling, financial and customer relations option. Unless business is in a slow period, and technicians need to be gainfully employed rather than not working, keep them scheduled on tasks that require their technical abilities and challenges their abilities.

The options for completing the routine wire and field device installation and mounting include hiring skilled but non-technical employees, using electrical contractors, hiring from a temp agency or finding a sub-contractor that knows and understands low voltage systems that can be trusted to install the systems when and the way you want them installed.

As low voltage system technician, project manager, project engineer and finally area manager, I know the importance of the installation of the basics and how it can and will have an impact on the system operation. While hiring general skilled labor for the basic is a good option because it affords the opportunity to control the entire installation, this option drives up the overall cost of labor that can't be recovered when business is slow and these employees have limited project tasks.

Temporary agencies can provide the help required when business is brisk, but this is a crap shoot. You can provide the required abilities you are looking for, but what you get may or may not be able or willing to provide the services you need to accomplish the installation.

Electrical contractors have the knowledge, experience; know the codes, and wiring methods. They can provide the services you need but they may or may not be reasonably priced, provide their best people for your projects, or be able to meet your schedule.

The last and best alternative is to sub-contract with a company that has experience with low voltage systems, knows the requirements of customer satisfaction, building codes, installation methods, understands the relationship you have with your customers and the only cost is for actual services performed and has no additional costs when business is slow. This solution provides the best options of the electrical contractor, temporary agency, and non-technical employees.

While these companies are hard to find, very few exist, one that should be looked at for measuring your local companies is CCW Services. This company provides low voltage services in and around Ohio, and can be reached at:

http://ccwservices.com 20 years experience with low voltage system design, integration, installation and subcontracting prior to starting a new wire and cable venture

Electrical Lineman

What is an electrical lineman? An electrical lineman, sometimes referred to as a utility lineman, electric lineman, journeyman lineman or power lineman (after one completes lineman training and after being an apprentice lineman).

An electrical lineman installs, repairs and maintains transmission and distribution electric power grids. A lineman works on high voltage wires or conductors and must adhere to the most stringent safety rules and protocols, as electrical work is inherently dangerous. It is very popular to be a member of a union, or the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers).

How does one become a One can go to a lineman school or training center and work for a utility company and receive on-the-job-training as an apprentice lineman.

Typically an apprenticeship lasts 3 to 4 years and contains up to 6 or 7 steps. With some companies, you must first be a groundman which is an entry level job. As a groundman, one assists linemen in their duties by driving heavy line trucks or bucket trucks and sorting and organizing line tools, sending linemans tools up power poles by handline to the journeyman linemen and apprentices at work.

During a linemans apprenticeship, one will learn pole climbing, although at times he will ride in a bucket truck. Some linemen don't allow apprentices to use bucket trucks until they top out to journeyman. They will learn rigging techniques, safety and first aid, electrical theory, transformer hook-up and theory, wire stringing techniques, pole setting, covering techniques (primary voltages), use of rubber gloves and rubber protective equipment, and more.

Once one completes apprenticeship training, he becomes a journeyman lineman. A journeyman lineman or power lineman can now find work all over the world, and receive top pay. There are power lineman jobs and utility jobs posted on many different mediums. Various events, such as a linemans rodeo, are out there to showcase a linemans skills.

? 2006 ELINEMAN?, LLC http://www.elineman.com Electrical Lineman's Resource. Where linemen and the internet collide. Are you an E Lineman?

Getting Your Electrician License

One thing you need to know about getting certified and receiving your electrician license is that it’s going to take a lot of hard work on your part. There is quite simply a lot to learn before you could even begin to think about taking the state testing required to receive an electrician license. Whether you take an online course, attend schools, or study by yourself at home, there’s a lot to learn in order to pass the license test.

Here’s an overview of one course that leads to successful licensing. It begins with learning strategies, what type of student you are, and how best to approach the material. It quickly moves into a simple explanation about electricity, house circuits, and electrical distribution. From there it moves on to discuss safety, national electrical codes, federal OSHA requirements, and what to do if you or someone else gets shocked on the job.

After that electrical equipment and supplies are discussed – meters, circuit analyzer tools, conductors, insulators, conduits, resistors, switches, relays, thermostats, remote controls, and fuses.

Once you’re familiar with the tools, basic installation techniques are explored. An interest in math will be very helpful. The math required for high level electrical work can be complex but once you know the formula to solve your problem, it makes things that much easier. And don’t forget the metric system either. Lots of equipment is manufactured in countries where the metric system rules so you have to have a working understanding of the differences.

By the time you completely understand resistance theories, parallel circuits and Ohm’s law you’ll have mastered the basic thinking skills involved with getting your electrician license. From this point forward you’ll have learned enough to take the license test. Courses of study after this can be thought of as graduate courses in that they focus in on specific areas that may not interest you. Right at this point you’ll have the basic knowledge to take the test and if you’ve learned your stuff and studied hard you should have no problem passing the test and receiving your electrician license.

Electricians Info provides detailed information about electrician jobs, schools, training, tools, licenses, and services. Electricians Info is the sister site of Circuit breakers Web.