Electrical work Canada

[Romans99]

For those of you who are interested in coming to Canada i have started this thread to give you an idea of what the work is like over here.

As ever, if you have any questions regarding the differences in methods/terminology etc then please feel free to ask


First three pics are some pipework, 70% of what you do over here is installing EMT and pulling wire through it.

Next are some typical panel shots

Then, me installing rod for cable tray in a 600,000 sq foot building. Thats a lot of rod,
its -30 degrees inside and the ceiling is sheer ice.

Then, an outdoor car park plug, I mounted and wired over 50 of these in temperatures of around -25c

many more to come......

 

[edantrobus]

I am participating in the ICE program later next year. So I can spend one year in canada with a work permit. The trouble is i want to carry on working as a electrician in the barrie/toronto area. I am fully qualified electrician mainly specialising in domestic works.
Do you have any ideas how i could carry on working whilst there as a electrician?
I dont mind sitting an exam but was thinking it might not be worth it for one year?
It is also a bit of a dry run to see if i could move over there eventually permenatly?

I really appreciate your time in reading this and hopefully replying.

Thanks

Ed Antrobus

 

[edantrobus]

I am sooo gonna be reading this thread over and over
Does anyone know of a good vocab guide for english to canadian electrical gear eg like mains board, mcb, conduit, bushes.
I am constanly reading the ontario electrical code simpliefied guide but its a bit of a stuggle when lingo is different.

Thanks to all in advance for your replies.

 

[Romans99]

The vocab is learnt by spending 6 months on site and having people laugh at you.
Alternatively send me a list of words and I will translate.

 

[Nipex83]

Hi roman Im a qualified electrician with 12 years experience in the trade I haven't done much conduit work and I'm just wondering could u get into industrial electrics in canada if u were not the fastest at bending pipe all day.

Any info would be great thanks

 

[Romans99]

Of course you could.
Out west you could work in a mine, factory, mill etc and be a service electrician. Or be the "man in a van" type of mobile maintenance sparkie like in the UK.
It's only the construction industry where pipe work is vital.

My best friend is working in a mine on $54 dollars per hour. He works 7 days on, 7 days off. It's easy work but you have a lot of responsibility and are expected to be very very good with motors, controls, three phase etc

 

[Nipex83]

Cheers thanks for the information.
I'm hopping to bring herself and the 2 kids over eventually when I get set up....ar u from England?do they use a traditional uk/Irish pipe bending machines... The standard here in Ireland for the bends jumps and kicks ar very high If its not 100% it will be ripped of the wall as I say it is in the uk,, is it the same in Canada?

 

[Romans99]

Yes I'm from England.
Although now I'm a - country music listening, pick up truck driving, beer drinking western Canadian!

Nope, we use an EMT bender, which looks like a hockey stick.
Watch some you tube videos and you'll get the idea.
Takes a while to get used to but once you've mastered it, it's an impressive skill and I love it.

And yes the standard is very high and there's so much more of it.
Everything is run in pipe. No tray or trunking.
Nowadays I can do it with my eyes closed but at the beginning there was more than one occasion where the thing would be launched across the room to the sound of swear words.

Always happy to help.

 

[ipf]

Yes I'm from England.
Although now I'm a - country music listening, pick up truck driving, beer drinking western Canadian!

Nope, we use an EMT bender, which looks like a hockey stick.
Watch some you tube videos and you'll get the idea.
Takes a while to get used to but once you've mastered it, it's an impressive skill and I love it.

And yes the standard is very high and there's so much more of it.
Everything is run in pipe. No tray or trunking.
Nowadays I can do it with my eyes closed but at the beginning there was more than one occasion where the thing would be launched across the room to the sound of swear words.

Always happy to help.

That's the reason for the helmet then ?

 

[Nipex83]

Had a look on youtube it looks a lot easyer bending pipe with the hockey stick..but how do uz thread the pipe for bushings etc?

 

[Romans99]

No threading.
Use couplings and connectors with a little screw. Almost like a grub screw which pinches the pipe and tightens. Easy and fast.
Bending pipe is lots of fun.

 

[Nipex83]

Any jobs going in your company?? Lol

 

[Romans99]

Always!

 

[Nipex83]

Happy days I have relations in bc some who ar in the electrical game so going to head there

Thanks for the info

 

[Romans99]

Cool.
Good luck to you.
If you need any advice - just ask.
BC is a good move,
I love where I am but it's minus 19 tonight and this is spring haha!

 

[Nipex83]

Cool.
Good luck to you.
If you need any advice - just ask.
BC is a good move,
I love where I am but it's minus 19 tonight and this is spring haha!

Hi just wondering do u no much about domestic or high rise commerical electrical work and what sort of rate per hour do they pay? Just wondering would it be possible to support a family on a sparks wage,,rent and food etc