The My Electric Career Electrician Blog

How Gasoline-Powered Generators Work
9/21/2021
Portable, gasoline-powered generators are useful for a variety of situations. They can come in handy during a power outage, on a camping trip, or to keep the lights on just about anywhere. But have you ever wondered how these nifty gasoline generators actually work to produce energy?
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What is the Difference Between Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC)?
8/31/2021
Electric current is primarily classified into two types based on its ability to deliver power: direct current and alternating current. The way the charge moves through the conductor determines whether the current is direct or alternating.
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How Do Electric Vehicles Work?
8/12/2021
Electric vehicles are not powered by fuel; instead, they work through batteries. These batteries obtain energy to function through the grid or electricity which charges these batteries.
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What Is Ohm's Law?
7/19/2021
According to ohm's law, current must be measured in units of amperes (A), the voltage must be measured in units of volts (V), and resistance must be measured in units of ohms (Ω). The formula for ohm's law is V = IR. If the values are adjusted to SI units, the formula would be I = V/R.
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New Types of Windmills that Will Change the Future of Electricity
7/8/2021
For years humankind has been utilizing the resources provided by nature to fulfill their needs. As we are proceeding towards the developed era, we should discover alternatives and should preserve our resources and the health of the planet for future generations.
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What Will Electricians Be Doing in the Future?
6/18/2021
The electrician will evolve and be a wonderful addition to the new sustainability initiatives that should play a key role in society over the next few decades.
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What Is the Difference Between Amps and Volts?
5/27/2021
Volt refers to the unit of the electromotive force, electric potential, and potential difference. Amp is used to measure the current of electricity.
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How to Read a Multimeter
4/29/2021
A multimeter is a measuring instrument that can calculate multiple electrical properties – and it is an electrician’s best friend. It can measure voltage, resistance, and current.
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The Top Five States with the Higest Demand for Electricians
4/15/2021
From the appliances that store food to the phones that keep us in contact with others no matter where they are, people rely on electricity and that makes an electrician a very valuable and lucrative job. And, depending upon where they live, an electrician salary can nearly rival that of a corporate CEO. Here are the top five states with the highest demand for this occupational specialty.
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What Is Green Energy?
3/23/2021
As toxic emissions continue to warm the earth's atmosphere, green energy solutions are becoming more appealing to businesses and consumers. Find out how it differs from traditional energy in so many ways.
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What Are Microgrids and Why Are They Important?
3/2/2021
A microgrid comprises self-sufficient energy sources within the same geographical area that join the central power grid.
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What Is Electricity?
2/15/2021
Electricity is the movement of electrons along a set path, driven by electromagnetic forces. We explain what that means in this article.
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How Does the Electrical Power Grid Work?
1/20/2021
Also known as the electrical grid, the power grid is basically a network that interconnects the distribution, transmission, and generation unit. This grid is responsible for supplying electrical power, ranging from a generating unit to the distribution unit.
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A Future Electrician's New Year’s Resolution
1/5/2021
Are you interested in becoming an electrician? If so, your New Year’s Resolution should be to pursue that dream. Working in the electrical field can grant you many opportunities.
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The Best Christmas Gifts for Electricians
12/23/2020
You’ve got your holiday shopping almost done, but you still don’t know what to get for the special electrician in your life. If they appreciate practical gifts, surprise them with something thoughtful that makes their tough job a little easier.
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What is Electrical Engineering?
12/16/2020
Electrical engineering is a discipline that focuses on the design, maintenance, and building of electrical devices and equipment.
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The Top Electrical and Construction Industry Links for the Business Week Ending November 20, 2020
11/20/2020
Read the top electrican and construction industry links for the business week ending November 20, 2020.
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2021 Outlook for Electrical Industry
11/2/2020
Despite supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic, the outlook for the electrical industry in 2021 is stable and demand for electricians remains strong.
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What is Power Engineering?
10/21/2020
Power engineering is a subfield of electrical engineering and deals with generating, distributing, and transmitting electrical power. Power engineers that work on the generation spectrum deal with converting other sources of power into electrical power.
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How to Become an Electrician in 2020
9/30/2020
We spend most of our time in this blog talking about general issues related to being an electrician or the electrical industry. But today we wanted to circle back around to the main point of this whole site, which is that becoming an electrician is a great career for the following reasons:
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How Much Does an Electrician Make?
9/15/2020
A discussion of what an electrician can expect to make at different points in his or her career, as well as geographic differences.
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Electrical Industry News Links - 9/1/2020
9/1/2020
A list of the top electrical industry news articles with links as of September 1, 2020.
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How to Start a Successful Electrical Business
8/24/2020
Electrical work is something that is likely to always be in high demand. Between people needing repairs in the houses they reside in and new construction projects needing to have fixtures installed, there should not be any shortage of work in the field. There are some requirements to become an electrician and run a business, however.
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Electrical Industry News Articles as of August 1, 2020
8/1/2020
A list of the top electrical industry news articles with links as of August 1, 2020.
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A Day in the Life of an Electrician
7/20/2020
Electricians have extremely important jobs. All electricians have the same job description. They are responsible for maintaining and installing electrical systems. However, the job duties of an electrician can vary.
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High Paying Jobs for Minorities - Try Electrician!
7/1/2020
Even with so many advancements made in the name of equality, the past few decades have shown that minorities have a difficult time accessing equal opportunities in education, career, and income.
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Is There Still a Growing Demand for Electricians?
6/16/2020
The narrative over the last few years has been that the demand for electricians is growing and that the electrical field is a lucrative skilled trade to enter. But is that still the case?
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Electrical Industry News Articles as of June 1, 2020
6/1/2020
A list of the top electrical industry news articles with links as of June 1, 2020.
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More New Electrical Tools that Will Make Your Job as an Electrician Easier
5/15/2020
Here are some more new electrical tools that might help you get your work done better and faster.
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COVID-19 Electrical Industry News
4/30/2020
Here are some recent electrical and construction industry news articles that relate to COVID-19, as of April 30th, 2020.
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How Working Electricians Can Stay Safe from COVID-19
4/16/2020
Some jobs, such as electrical work, require physical meet-ups for repairs and installations. Therefore, an electrician needs to do his part to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the workplace and to others while on the job. Here are some safety measures that electricians should adopt to prevent the spread of viruses.
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How Electricians Can Stay Sharp During the Downtime
4/6/2020
A downtime such as some electricians are experiencing because of the COVID-19 outbreak is the best time for self-improvement. Here are our suggestions on what to do during this time.
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How the Coronavirus is Affecting the Electrical Industry
3/17/2020
The first step in building a successful career in the electrical industry is to become an electrician helper and learn on the job. IEC makes it happen through apprenticeship-based education.
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The Best States for Electrical Jobs
2/28/2020
We researched recent studies from several organizations to answer the question of what are the best states to be an electrician. There was a good bit of consensus among the studies.
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Top Cities for an Electrical Career
2/17/2020
We examine several recent articles that rank the top cities for electricans based on several criteria, including average salary, job density, and cost of living. This will give you a good idea of where you could go to make the most of your career.
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New Electrician Tools that Will Make Your Life Easier
1/31/2020
There are certain tools that are tried and true in the electrician’s toolbox – pliers, wire strippers, screwdrivers, multimeters, etc. But as technology evolves, there are certain to be innovations that will make your job as an electrician easier. This article discusses several new electrician tools that will accomplish just that.
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Is Being an Electrician Hard?
1/17/2020
When you think of an electrician, the first thing that probably comes to mind is how complicated their work seems to be. You may be stuck with the question, is being an electrician hard?
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Why You Should Attend IEC Business Summit 2020
12/30/2019
IEC Business Summit 2020 happens February 3 in Fort Worth, Texas. Here are few reasons you should attend this national event.
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Top 7 Electrican Forums
12/16/2019
Check out our list of the top 7 electrican forums where you can share knowledge and learn from other professionals in the electrical industry.
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How to Become a Certified Electrician
11/25/2019
This article discusses how to become a certified electrician and provides examples of the requirements from two different states.
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High-Paying Jobs For Women - Try Electrician!
11/14/2019
Many women who are searching for a high-paying career do not even consider becoming an electrician. However, there are women out there who are enjoying a great income being a part of the wave of females who joined that industry back in the late 1970s.
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Learn Electricity - Just What Is It?
10/29/2019
This easy-to-understand article explains just what electricity is, and some of the concerns that exist with modern electricity production.
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The Best Jobs You Can Get Without a Degree
10/15/2019
This article describes some of the top-paying and satisfying jobs you can obtain without a college degree.
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Electrical Continuing Education
9/30/2019
We discuss options for electrical continuing education and which options get you out in the field and earning money the fastest.
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What Do Electricans Do?
9/16/2019
A look at what an electrician typically does on a day-to-day basis in the normal course of work.
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Useful Links for Electricians
8/29/2019
Do you work as an electrician? If so, you may find it helpful to bookmark the links on this page. Use these websites to help make your daily projects flow more efficiently.
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How Do You Find Electrician Helper Jobs To Get Your Career Started?
8/15/2019
Electrician helper jobs are the first step in learning how to do the job that a licensed electrician does every day. Someone who would like to learn the trade can start one of these jobs immediately, and you can go to one of the IEC training centers located throughout the United States to begin the process.
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Electrical Industry Trends
7/31/2019
There is a clear movement away from the use of coal to generate power. It is a movement driven by environmental as well as economic concerns. This article discusses the major trends affecting the electrical industry and what they mean for you, the electrician.
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Electrician Hiring Trends
7/15/2019
Electricians play vital roles in the design, installation, and repair of electrical systems in almost all fields of service from communications, industrial and home lighting, and public spaces. It is a growing, in-demand field. According to information released by the U.S Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there were 655,840 people qualified as electricians as of March 2018.
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Electrician Classes - What Can You Learn in an IEC Classroom?
6/17/2019
When you enroll in your first electrician class at IEC, you will soon notice that a well rounded education in the field of electrical wiring is inevitable. The content is backed by professionals and electrical contractors. It is also updated annually to be kept to code! During a four year apprenticeship, you will learn Basic Electrical Theory & Code, Advanced Theory & Code, Motor Controls & Grounding, and, in the final year, Blueprint, Advanced Code, Grounding & Supervision.
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The Seven Best Apps for Electricians
5/29/2019
Anyone who has worked in the electrical field for a significant amount of time will know that any and all tools that you can use to help get the job done more efficiently are totally worth the investment. Here's a list of seven of the absolute must-have best apps for electricians.
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Adult Electrical Apprenticeships - How Old is Too Old?
5/21/2019
An electrical apprenticeship can be an important step in launching a career in the field. However, when it comes to pursuing an adult electrical apprenticeship, the question can arise as to how old is too old.
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What is an Apprenticeship?
5/13/2019
What is an apprenticeship? Very simply stated, an apprenticeship is on-the-job-training. A person who gets trained while being paid, and learns a particular craft or skill, is an apprentice.
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The Top Five States for Electricians
4/29/2019
We review an article from the jobsearch website Zippia that ranks the states in terms of which are best for electrician jobs, and reveal the top five states based on that research.
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How Long Does it Take to Become an Electrician?
3/29/2019
We answer the question how long does it take to become an electrician, discussing both journeyman as well as master electrician levels.
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Master Electrician Salary by Region
3/26/2019
Master electricians rank at the top of their field. To become a master electrician, there are prerequisites to consider. This article discusses those prerequisites and average master electrician salaries by region.
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Electrician Jokes
3/6/2019
Have a laugh at our expense! Enjoy this collection of electrican jokes.
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Residential Electrical Apprenticeship - What You Need to Know to Work on Home Electrical Systems
2/26/2019
To become an electrician, you will need to go through a residential electrical apprenticeship. This will teach you everything you need to know about how to work on home electrical systems. You will be taught by either a journeyman or master electrician. They will take you out and show you how to do every aspect of the job. You will learn the trade well, and be expected to help install electrical systems and more.
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Electrician Qualifications - What Does It Take to Become an Electrician?
2/22/2019
Making the decision to become an electrician can be overwhelming. You know what you want the end goal to be - to become a well-paid professional electrician - but how do you get there? What are the electrician qualifications? What needs to be done before you get your license? What should you study?
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College for Electricians - Is It Better than a Paid Apprenticeship?
2/19/2019
Today many people are faced with the decision of going to college to receive a degree or taking a different path by seeking out vocational or trade school training. Seemingly there is a benefit to both, and the route chosen solely depends on personal preference. There are some things to consider when deciding if going to college or vocational training is the right choice such as time, money, and the reputation of the institute.
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What Is an Auto Electrician?
2/13/2019
The electrical field is broad and gives one the opportunity to specialize. Automotive electricians go through specialized training to work with electrical systems found in cars, buses, trucks and other vehicles. Fixing faulty headlights, alarm systems, circuit boards, starter motors and diagnostic lights all fall under an automotive electrician’s job description. What exactly qualifies one to become an auto electrician?
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Necessary Electrical Tools for Apprentices
1/30/2019
Every fully-fledged electrician usually glows with pride when his toolbox is full of the the tools needed for his work. Below are some of the necessary electrician apprentice tools needed by every electrician to carry out general electrical work.
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Top Electrician Books for Wannabe Electricians
1/16/2019
Because of the serious risk factors involved with electrical work, it requires a strong knowledge of electrical theories. In other words, to become the best you must read and study like the best. There are many books on the market that provide resourceful information. Here are a few suggestions that will help you maintain your title as the do-it-yourself king.
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Electrical Safety Tips
1/15/2019
When dealing with electric systems in your home or business, it’s important to be up to speed on electrical safety. With more than 31,000 home electrical fires occurring each year and over 180 shock or electricity related injuries occurring, safety while dealing with electricity is often mistakenly neglected.
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Can You Become an Electrician without an Apprenticeship?
12/14/2018
An apprenticeship to become an electrician involves working under the supervision of a licensed electrician for four to five years. Most apprenticeships include at least 144 hours of classwork and at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job training. Can you become an electrician without an apprenticeship? Doing so is nearly impossible if you live in the United States.
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Basic Electrical Training - What You Will Learn in Your First Year as an Apprentice
12/11/2018
During the first year in as an electrician's apprentice, there will be both field work and seminar training. Field work, "hands-on" training, is an immersion method for basic electrical training.
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Highest Paying Apprenticeships
12/4/2018
There is more opportunity than ever to pursue a career that peaks your personal interests, plus provides an attractive income. Many trades require an apprenticeship period. Normally, this means working for a time on a lower pay scale. Fortunately, the highest paying apprenticeships are now found within industries that are thriving.
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Electrician Apprentice Salary - How Much Can You Expect to Make?
11/19/2018
Starting a new career in the electrical trade comes with a lot of questions, particularly about electrician apprenticeship salary. How much will I make? How long before I can move to the next level? Does my location make a difference in pay?
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Electrical License Test - What to Expect
10/16/2018
Electrical license testing is very similar from state to state. This article discusses what you can expect from your electrical licensing in terms of pass rate, what you are allowed to bring with you, and more.
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Electrical Exam Prep
10/3/2018
IEC provides all the training you need to begin a career as a professional electrician. However, sometimes it is helpful to have some extra help specifically with passing the electrical exams. Here are some of our recommended resources for extra help with electrical exam prep.
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Electrician Training Books
9/19/2018
If you want to become a professional licensed electrician, you will have to obtain the necessary education and training in a formal apprenticeship (such as those provided through training with IEC). But if you are looking to build your own library of reference material, or just want to learn for your own edification, then these books may be what you are looking for.
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Electrical License Requirements
9/18/2018
Learn about the process of getting your electrical license. Requirements will vary somewhat from state to state, but the core requirements will be very similar.
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Electrician Salary per Hour Breakdown
9/12/2018
An analysis of average electrician salaries on an hourly basis based on nationwide average electrician salaries for different experience levels.
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How to Become a Master Electrician
9/11/2018
Although the exact requirements for becoming a master electrician vary by state, this article will tell you the general path to becoming a master electrician and how to get started.
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