How To Get A Good Electrician

I'm currently 40 years old and am considering going to a trade school for heating and air conditioning. While I think I'd be well suited for this trade, having basic electronic troubleshooting and some mechanical skills, my main concern is age.

I am in good shape but wonder just what niches in this field are more labor demanding and might be a bad choice for older workers. I'm not afraid of hard work but am thinking years down the road.

If I could be sure there are areas of the field that would be more suited to older techs it would greatly help my decision. That way I could migrate to a specific area later on if need be. For instance, commercial versus residential, store cooler work, A/C versus heat, or any other speciality area that I might not be aware of. Even input on geographic location in America would be of help.

Stories of older people going into another trade like the ones listed above as positive examples would also be of help to encourage me. Thanks.

I wish I could give you specifics, but I am not a tradesman. What I will say is that the world needs older people in trades because they are reliable, dedicated, hard-working, and mature. You would bring a lot to this line of work. I would hire an older guy in a second. BTW, 40 is not old!

Also, I would point out that a lot of tradesmen are over 40. They may have started younger, but they work into their 60s and beyond, possibly because the work makes them physically fit and also because, what the hey, who says they cannot do great work? 65 is not dead; it's 65.

My plumber is in his late 50s; my father's carpenter worked until his 70s, and his plumber did not retire until his 60s. I say go for it.

Maybe you can find someone at a trade union who you can talk to. Good luck.

PS I have a leaky PVC pipe in my basement that needs fixing.

Alert electrician escapes gassing in the Midlands Contract Journal, UK - 15 Dec 2008 By Grant Prior A quick-thinking electrician cheated death after being sent down to work in a gas-filled basement. Birmingham magistrates heard how the spark … Risk prevents accidents Abeceder Denso Manufacturing Midlands fined GBP 28000 Health & Safety News all 3 news articles

Read the rest of this entry »

My boss offers profit sharing to employees only on projects exceeding $50,000. Most of these jobs are larger scale commercial type jobs. I work out of the shop and am told my profit sharing is working year round and being close to home. This year I have been layed off due to lack of work for 2+ months, some benefit huh? Most of the commercial guys work year round also, maybe a month or two layed off at the most. They also work within driving distance of their homes. Also, the foreman get to take their vehicles home everynight. In some instances, I believe I could and/or should be considered a residential foreman, I do most of the home wiring for the company. I don't get the luxury of taking the company van home. There are still a lot of responsibilities being a residential FOREMAN. I could ramble on about this topic for hours, but all I would like to know is if there is something that could be done about this mistreatment of a hard working, taken advantage of electrician
Yes, I'm temporarily laid off. No not looking for the easy way out. I just am sick of being s*** on all the time by my boss. No one else in the shop wants to stand up for themselves, so I will if there is something to pursue. Maybe terminating my postition with this company anyway, just want to get the ducks in a row if something can be made of it!!

Well,
sounds like you really know your stuff… and you obviously know the business… so why don't you get yourself bank-rolled, get your own van.. but one that has a catchy jingo… and take that sucker down at his own game!

Who needs bosses anyway right?

This Chicago electrician was an angel Chicago Tribune, United States - 23 Dec 2008 I saw a frumpy, soft-spoken 58-year-old electrician hired to make sure that our kitchen—which I was rehabbing—would have lights that work. …

Read the rest of this entry »

This Chicago electrician was an angel Chicago Tribune, United States - 23 Dec 2008 I saw a frumpy, soft-spoken 58-year-old electrician hired to make sure that our kitchen—which I was rehabbing—would have lights that work. …

Read the rest of this entry »

Specifically looking for work as an Electrician with over 20 years of experience, commercial and residential

Try www.craigslist.com! Click on the state that you want the info from and then read the classifieds there.
Good Luck,
ss4

Engagements: Carol A. Conklin and Janet F. Peck Norwich Bulletin, CT - 15 hours ago Ms. Conklin is employed as an electrician at Riverview Hospital for Children and Youth in Middletown. Ms. Peck is a licensed professional counselor in …

Read the rest of this entry »

I am confused as to whether California and/or the NEC considers track lighting a lamp or a built in fixture. I want to attach the track to the suspended ceiling using t-bar clips and use a live end with a plug (all made by the manufacturer) that will be plugged into a wall socket. I have read that the code simply requires the rating of the track (aka 15 amps) to be equal or more than the supply rating. I assume this is so the track cannot be overloaded without first overloading the branch circuit. Also, what should I expect to pay an electrician if I wanted the wiring attached to the existing fluorescent fixtures and wall switches connected to the track? Some manufacturers refer to their track lighting as "commercial" and others do not. Is there a difference?

According to the NEC the total combined wattages of the luminaires will be the total load for the fixture. This load should not exceed 80 percent of the rated ampacity of the circuit.

According to California's energy code, track lights are figured at a certain wattage per linear foot. It's been a while so I don't remember what the actual number is, but the idea is to discourage track lights unless they are completely necessary.

I don't know if this answers your question.

Electrician to shoot for $1 million prize SportingNews.com - 16 Dec 2008 "Really, it is," said Abbott, who works as an electrician at Quesnel River Pulp. "Basically I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." If he does win, … BC electrician to shoot for a million on TSN TSN.ca all 6 news articles

Read the rest of this entry »

My mom bought a commercial property a few years ago, which is occupied by two business. Currently her nail saloon is one of the business and she has been leasing to a hair stylist with her own hair salon business. Well the hair stylist rents out 3 booths at her business. Well a few days ago there was a problem with the electric in the building. The tenant that owns the hair salon is pulling way to much power on her side of the building because of the 3 booth rentals using power and this is making electrical problems for the building. Well the business owner of the hair saloon hired an electrician to fix the problem and a verbal agreement was made to split the cost between my mom and her. But now all of the sudden the tenant is refusing to pay and wants my mother to pay the electrician. Should she have too? There would be no problem with the electrical parts if she wasn't pulling to much power….???

Ultimately your mom is responsible for "repairs" as she is the owner of the property . . . it doesn't matter who agreed to pay for what . . . legally she is responsible . . . however, after paying the electrician, your mother can take the tenant to small claims court to recoup her portion of the bill