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49-2095.00 - Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay


Inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
22,700
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
21,700
Estimate
Change in Employment
-1,000
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-4.5%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.
  • Consult manuals, schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems and to determine optimum equipment functioning.
  • Notify facility personnel of equipment shutdowns.
  • Open and close switches to isolate defective relays, performing adjustments or repairs.
  • Prepare and maintain records detailing tests, repairs, and maintenance.
  • Analyze test data to diagnose malfunctions, to determine performance characteristics of systems, or to evaluate effects of system modifications.
  • Repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators.
  • Run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.
  • Maintain inventories of spare parts for all equipment, requisitioning parts as necessary.
Supplemental
  • Construct, test, maintain, and repair substation relay and control systems.
  • Test insulators and bushings of equipment by inducing voltage across insulation, testing current, and calculating insulation loss.
  • Disconnect voltage regulators, bolts, and screws, and connect replacement regulators to high-voltage lines.
  • Schedule and supervise the construction and testing of special devices and the implementation of unique monitoring or control systems.
  • Schedule and supervise splicing or termination of cables in color-code order.
  • Test oil in circuit breakers and transformers for dielectric strength, refilling oil periodically.
  • Set forms and pour concrete footings for installation of heavy 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
  • 86%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Mathematics
  • 78%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 78%
    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.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 77%
    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.
 English Language
  • 76%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Design
  • 75%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 75%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Physics
  • 71%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Building and Construction
  • 69%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Education and Training
  • 65%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Telecommunications
  • 59%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 56%
    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.
 Administration and Management
  • 54%
    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.
 Clerical
  • 53%
    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.
 Law and Government
  • 52%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Chemistry
  • 51%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Psychology
  • 51%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 51%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
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.
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Adjustable pin spanner wrenches
  • Bearing pullers
  • Heavy duty die stocks
  • Ratchet sets
  • Slot screwdrivers
  • Socket wrenches
  • T handle tap wrenches
 Welding machinery
  • Alternating current AC electric welders
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Analog ohmmeters
  • Bench ammeters
  • Bench voltmeters
  • Clamp ammeters
  • Digital multimeters
  • Digital ohmmeters
  • Digital oscilloscopes
  • Insulation resistance testers
  • Light emitting diode LED voltage tester
  • Neon voltage testers
  • Phase rotation indicators
  • Relay test sets
  • Series solenoid voltage testers
  • Universal calibrators
  • Volt-ammeters
 Metal drilling machines
  • Bench drills
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Bench vises
  • Diagonal cutting electronics pliers
  • Multigrip pliers
  • Vise grip pliers
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Digital micrometers
  • Vernier calipers
 Fire fighting equipment
  • Electrical fire extinguishers
 Rough and finishing tools
  • Hand guard cold chisels
  • Precision file sets
 Computer data input devices
  • Handheld dataloggers
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Handheld thermal imagers
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Heavy-duty hacksaws
  • Pin punches
  • Tin snips
  • Wood saws
 Aerial lifts
  • Lifting platforms
 Forming tools
  • Nailing hammers
 Welding and soldering and brazing accessories
  • Oxyacetylene welders
 Power tools
  • Pop riveters
  • Portable electric drills
  • Portable electric grinders
  • Portable electric jigsaws
  • Portable electric saws
 Metal cutting tools
  • Precision reamers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Radiation meters
 Metal cutting machines
  • Sheet metal guillotines
 Soldering machines
  • Soldering guns
 Ladders and scaffolding
  • Stepladders
 Tool attachments and accessories
  • Tap sets
  • Twist drill bits
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
  • Fluke Corporation FlukeView Forms
  • Megger PowerDB
  • OMICRON Test Universe
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
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.
 Advanced
 Core
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
Blue Ridge Community College
 Programs
Brightpoint Community College
 Programs
Central Virginia Community College
 Programs
Danville Community College
 Programs
Eastern Shore Community College
 Programs
Germanna Community College
 Programs
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
 Programs
Laurel Ridge Community College
 Programs
Mountain Empire Community College
 Programs
Mountain Gateway Community College
 Programs
New River Community College
 Programs
Norfolk State University
 Programs
Patrick & Henry Community College
 Programs
Paul D. Camp Community College
 Programs
Piedmont Virginia Community College
 Programs
Rappahannock Community College
 Programs
Southside Virginia Community College
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Southwest Virginia Community College
 Programs
Tidewater Community College
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Virginia Highlands Community College
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Virginia Peninsula Community College
 Programs
Wytheville Community College
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