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Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

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

  • Details

  • Work Activities

    • Disconnect voltage regulators, bolts, and screws, and connect replacement regulators to high-voltage lines.
    • Notify facility personnel of equipment shutdowns.
    • Schedule and supervise the construction and testing of special devices and the implementation of unique monitoring or control systems.
    • Consult manuals, schematics, wiring diagrams, and engineering personnel to troubleshoot and solve equipment problems and to determine optimum equipment functioning.
    • Analyze test data to diagnose malfunctions, to determine performance characteristics of systems, or to evaluate effects of system modifications.
    • Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.
    • Open and close switches to isolate defective relays, performing adjustments or repairs.
    • Schedule and supervise splicing or termination of cables in color-code order.
    • Repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators.
    • Inspect and test equipment and circuits to identify malfunctions or defects, using wiring diagrams and testing devices such as ohmmeters, voltmeters, or ammeters.
    • Maintain inventories of spare parts for all equipment, requisitioning parts as necessary.
    • Construct, test, maintain, and repair substation relay and control systems.
    • Test oil in circuit breakers and transformers for dielectric strength, refilling oil periodically.
    • Run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.
    • Schedule and supervise the construction and testing of special devices and the implementation of unique monitoring or control systems.
    • Prepare and maintain records detailing tests, repairs, and maintenance.
    • Repair, replace, and clean equipment and components such as circuit breakers, brushes, and commutators.
    • Construct, test, maintain, and repair substation relay and control systems.
    • Maintain inventories of spare parts for all equipment, requisitioning parts as necessary.
    • Prepare and maintain records detailing tests, repairs, and maintenance.
    • Test insulators and bushings of equipment by inducing voltage across insulation, testing current, and calculating insulation loss.
    • Run signal quality and connectivity tests for individual cables, and record results.
    • Open and close switches to isolate defective relays, performing adjustments or repairs.
    • Schedule and supervise splicing or termination of cables in color-code order.

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
    • Time Management
      • Managing your time and the time of other people.
    • Operation and Control
      • Using equipment or systems.
    • Active Learning
      • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
    • Social Perceptiveness
      • Understanding people's reactions.
    • Monitoring
      • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
    • Installation
      • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
    • Repairing
      • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
    • Complex Problem Solving
      • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
    • Reading Comprehension
      • Reading work-related information.
    • Learning Strategies
      • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
    • Writing
      • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
    • Negotiation
      • Bringing people together to solve differences.
    • Management of Personnel Resources
      • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
    • Technology Design
      • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
    • Equipment Maintenance
      • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
    • Systems Evaluation
      • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
    • Systems Analysis
      • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
    • Judgment and Decision Making
      • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
    • Instructing
      • Teaching people how to do something.
    • Management of Financial Resources
      • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
    • Management of Material Resources
      • Managing equipment and materials.
    • Mathematics
      • Using math to solve problems.
    • Science
      • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
    • Persuasion
      • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
    • Speaking
      • Talking to others.
    • Coordination
      • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
    • Operations Analysis
      • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
    • Equipment Selection
      • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
    • Troubleshooting
      • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
    • Operations Monitoring
      • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
    • Programming
      • Writing computer programs.
    • Quality Control Analysis
      • Testing how well a product or service works.
    • Active Listening
      • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
    • Service Orientation
      • Looking for ways to help people.

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
      • Listening and understanding what people say.
    • Written Comprehension
      • Reading and understanding what is written.
    • Fluency of Ideas
      • Coming up with lots of ideas.
    • Problem Sensitivity
      • Noticing when problems happen.
    • Static Strength
      • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
    • Dynamic Flexibility
      • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Near Vision
      • Seeing details up close.
    • Dynamic Strength
      • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
    • Sound Localization
      • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
    • Depth Perception
      • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
    • Speech Recognition
      • Recognizing spoken words.
    • Rate Control
      • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
    • Speech Clarity
      • Speaking clearly.
    • Far Vision
      • Seeing details that are far away.
    • Category Flexibility
      • Grouping things in different ways.
    • Perceptual Speed
      • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
    • Finger Dexterity
      • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
    • Control Precision
      • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
    • Written Expression
      • Communicating by writing.
    • Originality
      • Creating new and original ideas.
    • Reaction Time
      • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
    • Wrist-Finger Speed
      • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
    • Speed of Limb Movement
      • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
    • Night Vision
      • Seeing at night or under low light.
    • Hearing Sensitivity
      • Telling the difference between sounds.
    • Extent Flexibility
      • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
    • Gross Body Equilibrium
      • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
    • Deductive Reasoning
      • Using rules to solve problems.
    • Explosive Strength
      • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
    • Auditory Attention
      • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
    • Glare Sensitivity
      • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
    • Inductive Reasoning
      • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
    • Number Facility
      • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
    • Flexibility of Closure
      • Seeing hidden patterns.
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
      • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
    • Response Orientation
      • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
    • Visualization
      • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
    • Multilimb Coordination
      • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
    • Mathematical Reasoning
      • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
    • Memorization
      • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
    • Speed of Closure
      • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
    • Spatial Orientation
      • Knowing where things are around you.
    • Manual Dexterity
      • Holding or moving items with your hands.
    • Time Sharing
      • Doing two or more things at the same time.
    • Selective Attention
      • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
    • Oral Expression
      • Communicating by speaking.
    • Trunk Strength
      • Using your lower back and stomach.
    • Visual Color Discrimination
      • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
    • Peripheral Vision
      • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
    • Stamina
      • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
    • Information Ordering
      • Ordering or arranging things.
    • Gross Body Coordination
      • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.

    Knowledge

    • Foreign Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
    • Philosophy and Theology
      • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
    • Customer and Personal Service
      • 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.
    • Personnel and Human Resources
      • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
    • Mathematics
      • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
    • Medicine and Dentistry
      • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
    • Telecommunications
      • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
    • Transportation
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
    • Chemistry
      • 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.
    • History and Archeology
      • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
    • Therapy and Counseling
      • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
    • Public Safety and Security
      • 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.
    • Computers and Electronics
      • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
    • Communications and Media
      • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
    • English Language
      • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
    • Administration and Management
      • 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.
    • Geography
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
    • Mechanical
      • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
    • Biology
      • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
    • Food Production
      • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
    • Engineering and Technology
      • 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.
    • Administrative
      • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
    • Physics
      • 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
      • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
    • Sales and Marketing
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
    • Design
      • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
    • Production and Processing
      • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
    • Economics and Accounting
      • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
    • Sociology and Anthropology
      • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
    • Psychology
      • 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.
    • Fine Arts
      • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
    • Education and Training
      • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
    • Law and Government
      • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

    Education

    Education
    Postsecondary certificate
    Work Experience
    Less than 5 years work experience
    Training
    1 to 12 months on-the-job training

    Pay

    Washington Annual Salary
    109210/yr
    Washington Hourly Wage
    52.51/hr

    Washington Employment Trends

    Currently Employed
    300
    Yearly Projected Openings
    30

    Personality

    Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They do well at jobs that need:
    • Attention to Detail
    • Analytical Thinking
    • Cooperation
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Tools

    • Adjustable wrenches
    • Alternating current AC arc welder
    • Ammeters
    • Bench drilling machine
    • Bench vises
    • Calipers
    • Claw hammer
    • Cold chisels
    • Die stocks
    • Drill bit set
    • Electronics pliers
    • Fire extinguishers
    • Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus
    • Hacksaw
    • Insulation resistance meters
    • Jigsaw
    • Ladders
    • Locking pliers
    • Manlift or personnel lift
    • Metal shearing machine
    • Micrometers
    • Multimeters
    • Ohmmeters
    • Oscilloscopes
    • Phasemeters
    • Portable data input terminals
    • Power drills
    • Power grinders
    • Power riveter
    • Power saws
    • Precision file
    • Pullers
    • Punches or nail sets or drifts
    • Radiation detectors
    • Ratchets
    • Reamer
    • Relay tester
    • Saws
    • Screwdrivers
    • Sockets
    • Soldering iron
    • Spanner wrenches
    • T handle tap wrenches
    • Thermal imager
    • Threading taps
    • Tinners snips
    • Voltage and current meter calibrator
    • Voltage or current meters

    Technology

    • Analytical or scientific software
    • Compliance software
    • Computer aided design CAD software
    • Electronic mail software
    • Industrial control software
    • Internet browser software
    • Office suite software
    • Operating system software
    • Spreadsheet software
    • Word processing software