An Electrician’s Guide to Evolving with Technology

Jan 21, 2019

By Virginia Pohler

“Why did you get into the trade?”

I am asked this question quite frequently, as I’m not what most consider to be a “typical electrician.” For me, it was a rather pragmatic decision. I had been working in a factory as a production worker, doing the same boring thing 800 times a day. I found myself looking forward to the occasions when the machine I ran would break down.

This meant something interesting would happen when the maintenance guys were deployed to troubleshoot and remedy the problem. I always found their job far more interesting than mine, so when I was laid off due to an economic slowdown, I took advantage of the retraining funding available to me and enrolled in an industrial electronics program at Fanshawe College.

At the heart of my decision to pursue a career as an electrician was a desire to do something interesting with my days, something that involved creativity and problem solving, something that would challenge me and allow me to grow over the years. Looking back, I had no idea what I was getting into — but luckily for me, the electrical industry is not short on any of the things I was looking for in a career.

I started my path in this industry in 2001, and have been amazed at the continued and rapid changes in the industry since then. Like many of you, I vaguely remember the time before everyone on the job had a cell phone and when having a “mic” on the job was a luxury. I remember the first time I used my new first-generation iPhone to help me troubleshoot problematic wiring in a motor starter, and how easy it was to snap some pictures to share with a colleague and discuss in real time. We now have every user manual, cut-sheet, code book, blueprint and product spec we could want, in our hand, wherever we are.

The equipment we install and the tools we use are constantly changing too. From the surge in renewable energy, to Power over Ethernet (PoE) and electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment, to pipe benders with more accurate controllers and connectors that snap into boxes without a locknut, to easier “shots” for copper thermite welding — our industry is constantly changing to try and meet the needs of our constantly evolving world.

My career has taken me from field electrician and project foreman, to college professor, to national trainer, to electrical inspector, and now to an electrical trainer and consultant with my long-time mentor and now business partner, Don McNichol. I have the privilege of working with all kinds of electrical professionals across Canada, from designers and engineers to project managers, apprentices, inspectors and teachers.

Regardless of the profession or career stage, I see some commonalities in all of us who have chosen a profession in the electrical industry. We take pride in our work, we like to figure out the best and most efficient way to complete an installation, we get a great deal of satisfaction when the fruits of our labour are complete, and we enjoy telling our friends and family “I built that” as we drive around town. Plus, we all want to get it right the first time.

The downside of the rapid pace of change in our industry is that it can be extremely challenging to keep up with the changes; it’s hard enough to keep up with the workload most of the time. Whether it’s a change in the Code, new products, equipment or technology, learning about changes takes time. Even then, you still have to figure out if it applies to your particular job or line of work. As much as technology has helped make all that information easily accessible, the sheer volume of information makes it daunting to even start sifting through everything that’s new. So, what is the modern and tech savvy electrical professional to do? My advice: go old school.

I’m not suggesting you ditch your smartphone and tablet or go back to only using printed product catalogues — that would be crazy. No, what I’m suggesting is that you go back to the roots of how we used to get information, and that starts with networking with each other. Talk to others who work in this industry. Even if you don’t do the same type of work, you never know what you may learn or what new contact, friend or industry ally you’ll make.

Recently, I was manning our booth at an Ontario Electrical League mini tradeshow in Kitchener and spoke with a contractor who had sent me consulting work in the past. He had questions about conduit fill and I was able to show him smartphone apps to help him verify his calculations, which should save him time in future projects. I also discussed a transformer failure issue with another electrician and recommended ultrasound testing as a good option for diagnosing issues related to power electronics and inductive equipment.

If you ask me, the best resource we have to leverage all the new products, knowledge and technology in our industry is each other. A text message or an email is a great way to get the answers you need, but how do you get the phone number or address? There are so many wonderful and knowledgeable people in our industry, you just have to get out there and meet them. Attend an industry meeting, a tradeshow, barbecue or training event. You never know what you’ll learn, who you’ll meet, or how it will impact your career in the future. I met my current business partner 14 years ago while attending electrical project supervision training, and I have no idea where I would be right now if it hadn’t been for that initial introduction. I know for my part I will continue to attend as many industry events as I can and look forward to meeting you there. You never know what we might be able to teach each other.

Virginia Pohler is an electrical consultant and trainer with Donald R. McNichol Consulting Inc. For more information about the author or company, please visit www.electricalconsulting.ca.

This article was first published in Dialogue, published by the Ontario Electrical League; www.oel.org

Photo source: Panumas Nikhomkhai, on Pexels