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Career Details

49-2092.00 - Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers


Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
19,300
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
20,000
Estimate
Change in Employment
700.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+3.6%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Measure velocity, horsepower, revolutions per minute (rpm), amperage, circuitry, and voltage of units or parts to diagnose problems, using ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, and other testing devices.
  • Record repairs required, parts used, and labor time.
  • Reassemble repaired electric motors to specified requirements and ratings, using hand tools and electrical meters.
  • Repair and rebuild defective mechanical parts in electric motors, generators, and related equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Inspect electrical connections, wiring, relays, charging resistance boxes, and storage batteries, following wiring diagrams.
  • Read service guides to find information needed to perform repairs.
  • Inspect and test equipment to locate damage or worn parts and diagnose malfunctions, or read work orders or schematic drawings to determine required repairs.
  • Lubricate moving parts.
  • Disassemble defective equipment so that repairs can be made, using hand tools.
  • Lift units or parts such as motors or generators, using cranes or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to lift heavy parts or subassemblies.
  • Weld, braze, or solder electrical connections.
  • Adjust working parts, such as fan belts, contacts, and springs, using hand tools and gauges.
  • Scrape and clean units or parts, using cleaning solvents and equipment such as buffing wheels.
Supplemental
  • Maintain stocks of parts.
  • Rewire electrical systems, and repair or replace electrical accessories.
  • Solder, wrap, and coat wires to ensure proper insulation.
  • Assemble electrical parts such as alternators, generators, starting devices, and switches, following schematic drawings and using hand, machine, and power tools.
  • Remove and replace defective parts such as coil leads, carbon brushes, and wires, using soldering equipment.
  • Reface, ream, and polish commutators and machine parts to specified tolerances, using machine tools.
  • Clean cells, cell assemblies, glassware, leads, electrical connections, and battery poles, using scrapers, steam, water, emery cloths, power grinders, or acid.
  • Rewind coils on cores in slots, or make replacement coils, using coil-winding machines.
  • Cut and form insulation, and insert insulation into armature, rotor, or stator slots.
  • Set machinery for proper performance, using computers.
  • Drain and filter transformer oil and refill transformers with oil until coils are submerged.
  • Position and level battery cells, anodes, or cathodes, using hoists or leveling jacks, or signal other workers to perform positioning and leveling.
  • Verify and adjust alignments and dimensions of parts, using gauges and tracing lathes.
  • Test equipment for overheating, using speed gauges and thermometers.
  • Bolt porcelain insulators to wood parts to assemble hot stools.
  • Pour compounds into transformer-case terminal openings to seal out moisture.
  • Test conditions, fluid levels, and specific gravities of electrolyte cells, using voltmeters, hydrometers, and thermometers.
  • Clean, rinse, and dry transformer cases, using boiling water, scrapers, solvents, hoses, and cloths.
  • Inspect batteries for structural defects such as dented cans, damaged carbon rods and terminals, and defective seals.
  • Steam-clean polishing and buffing wheels to remove abrasives and bonding materials, and spray, brush, or recoat surfaces as necessary.
  • Test battery charges, and replace or recharge batteries as necessary.
  • Repair and operate battery-charging equipment.
  • Add water or acid to battery cell solutions to obtain specified concentrations.
  • Sharpen tools such as saws, picks, shovels, screwdrivers, and scoops, either manually or by using bench grinders and emery wheels.
  • Seal joints with putty, mortar, and asbestos, using putty extruders and knives.
  • Hammer out dents and twists in tools and equipment.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mechanical
  • 85%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Production and Processing
  • 65%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 English Language
  • 64%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Administration and Management
  • 61%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 60%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Mathematics
  • 60%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Education and Training
  • 57%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 52%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 51%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Clerical
  • 50%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Metal deburring machines
  • Abrasive blasting machines
  • Dry ice blasters
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Cabinet-tip screwdrivers
  • Conduit-fitting and reaming screwdrivers
  • Keystone-tip screwdrivers
  • Nut wrenches
  • Square-recess tip screwdrivers
 Pneumatic tools
  • Air grinders
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Alignment lasers
  • Armature air gap gauges
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Analog ohmmeters
  • Bench ammeters
  • Bench voltmeters
  • Clamp ammeters
  • Clamp voltmeters
  • Core-loss testers
  • Digital multimeters
  • Digital ohmmeters
  • Digital oscilloscopes
  • Insulation resistance testers
  • Light emitting diode LED voltage tester
  • Meggers
  • Neon voltage testers
  • Phase rotation indicators
  • Series solenoid voltage testers
  • Surge testers
  • Volt-ammeters
 Coating systems
  • Armature winders
  • Electric coil winders
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Automatic wire strippers
  • Electricians' knives
  • Hand saws
  • Handheld wire strippers
  • Rubber-grip hacksaws
  • Twin wheel wire strippers
  • Utility knives
  • Winder's shears
  • Wire cutters
 Vehicle testing and measuring equipment
  • Bar-to-bar testers
  • Growler armature testers
  • Winding testers
 Tool kits
  • Bearing puller sets
  • Bearing setting tools
 Welding machinery
  • Brazing machines
  • Electric welders
  • Gas welders
 Vehicle servicing equipment
  • Carburetor synchronizers
 Metal cutting machines
  • Coil cut-off machines
  • Threaders
 Rough and finishing tools
  • Commutator grinders
  • Slot cleaning brushes
 Power tools
  • Commutator undercutters
  • Handheld power grinders
 Soldering machines
  • Cordless soldering irons
 Forming tools
  • Dead blow hammers
  • Lamination tooth straighteners
  • Nylon hammers
  • Rawhide mallets
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Diagonal-cutting pliers
  • Longnosed pliers
  • Pump pliers
  • Side cutting pliers
 Coating or plating machines
  • Electro-brush platers
 Hydraulic tools
  • Hydraulic wire crimpers
 Metal cutting machine attachments
  • Knurling tool attachments
 Measuring and layout tools
  • Measuring tapes
  • Torpedo levels
 Paint systems
  • Paint booths
 Computers
  • Personal computers
  • Tablet computers
 Mechanical instruments
  • Power dynamometers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Commutator profiling software
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
  • Motor testing software
 Data management and query software
  • Data entry softwareHOT
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Tidewater Community College