Control panel wirer

[lee_240]

hi all.i have been looking into to a job that is being advertised control panel wirer.it caught my eye as its close by.now the job decription states that must have electrical experience able to read from drawing and have driving license.but doesnt say that any electrical qualifcations are needed.now im at college studying electrical installation but dont want to apply for something out of my depth like having to have 10 years electrical engineering behind me :/. i just wondered if anyone here has been into this type of work and what does it involve. plus how qualified/knowledgeable do you have to be?


cheers lee

 

[lee_240]

Any help would be great

 

[stef]

You need to now about wire selection eg cross section and colour, also interprete wiring diagrams to the panel lay out. I assume you only prepare the panels so no formal qualifications needed. Experience is desirable, especially use of hand and power tools, drill sixes for taps and so on.

 

[Knobhead]

Can you follow a schematic drawing and wiring schedule?

 

[lee_240]

Ive not had really had experience in reading technical drawings.does it take a long time to master? im trying to read up on it now but not finding a great deal. cheers guys

 

[Jimsparky]

It does take a little while yes. It does all depend on what they build. If its one off large bespoke automation systems then maybe you may struggle. If they build exactly the same small panels with pre drilled backplates and pre made door legends you'll be able to pick it up a bit quicker. Perhaps be honest with them see if they want someone to train up.

 

[lee_240]

cheers jim.i was thinking of going that way, it just seems people are so reluctant these days.no experience no job.no job no experience.just need a chance

 

[ayjay]

get yourself down there and have a look, they maybe quite simple they maybe more complicated it doesn,t really matter
i used to build panels in sorell enclosures for sewage pumping stations

 

[Guest55]

apply for the job
accept the job if its offered
they will give you the training needed to work on their product.
any work experience in a technical field will be an advantage.
And workshops are a nice place to work compared to a building site in winter :-D

 

[MatthewC]

Give it ago mate, I was in the same boat as you a couple of years ago and now love it. The main components that you will find are Contactors, Relays, and Timers if you understand how they work then you won't have a problem.

 

[spark 68]

It is a difficult question to answer, as it can vary so much between panel builders.

I have worked for several different panel building firms over the years from the multinationals to the very small firms , usually as agency to fill in for the quiet patches.
At some you build everything from scratch, including the frames and copper work to punching doors etc.., and at others purely wiring and containment, It is usually somewhere in between these two extremes though.

Go for it, you have to start somewhere.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Panel building can be very easy, or very hard.
It all depends on the information you are provided with and the complexity of the panel.
Even if you are building different be-spoke panels every time, you will find it becomes as boring and soul destroying as PAT testing.
Give it a go, and stay as long as you can stand it.
You may find that it could lead onto other things such as commisioning which is often quite well paid.

 

[spark 68]

^^^^^

Too true Spin,
If I never saw another CT in my lifetime it would be too soon lol.
I find it soul destroying, at least on production, unless you are on testing or fault finding duties, in which case it can be quite interesting.

 

[lee_240]

cheers for the advice guys!

 

[johnboy6083]

the problem with panel building is that often, the drawings show items next to each other, but in the actual layout, the will be a tdifferent ends of the panel. It takes experience in working out the easiset and neatest way of wiring them.
I dont build panels(ive build a few smaller ones), but i often have to carry out alterations and repairs, and i enjoy the fault finding aspect of it.
To spend hours drilling/tapping and punching holes in doors must be boring. Especially as you are often in a workshop with the management breathing down your neck