How to Become an Electrical and Electronics Installer and Repairer

By Remington College Posted November 9, 2017

Do you like electronics and have a natural curiosity as to how they function, how they are put together, and how they can be taken apart? Do you also have an interest in circuitry and how electricity runs throughout equipment? Would you like to not only repair damaged equipment, but also work in an environment in which you help others on a daily basis?

If you answered yes, then you should consider a diploma in electronics technology and a career as an electrical and electronics installer and repairer.⁽¹⁾

What does an Electrical and Electronics Installer and Repairer Do?

An Electrical and Electronics Installer and Repairer has a long and extensive list of duties they go through every single day, and while most of the time it involves working on electronics and equipment, they have some administrative duties as well.

An electrical and electronics installer and repairer is usually responsible for:⁽²⁾

• Estimating and preparing costs of repairs and services for clients.
• Identifying damages and defections in equipment and products, and refers to service guides, schematics, and manufacturer specifications in order to identify possible solutions.
• Deconstructing and reconstructing equipment and tests them for functionality after repairs are made.
• Keeping accurate and detailed record of parts used, the time it took to deconstruct, repair, and reassemble equipment, and the changes made to the product.

Modern day technical facilities such as manufacturing plants and transportation systems use a great deal of electrical and electronic equipment on a day-to-day basis, and it is up to certified installer and repairers to keep these complex systems and electronics repaired and running.

While most of the time an installer and repairer will have standard tools like, pliers, screwdrivers, and wrenches to manually repair equipment, they often use software in order to diagnose malfunctions in automated electronic control systems. Some of their diagnostic tools include multimeters that measure voltage, current, and resistance and an advanced version of the multimeter, which measures the capacitance, inductance, and current gain of transistors.⁽²⁾

Where Do Electrical and Electronics Installers Work?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers work in a variety of technical industries and have numerous job titles, here are a few:

• Powerhouse, substation, and relay electrical and electronics repairers: Examines, maintains, and tests electrical equipment used in power substations, generating stations, and in-service relays. Repairers who specialize in this industry also go by the titles of powerhouse electricians, relay technicians, or power transformer repairers.
• Electronic equipment installers and repairers of motor vehicles: Repairs, installs, and diagnoses motor vehicles' sound, security, and navigation systems. Installers and repairers in this particular industry handle a wide range of electronic equipment such as: digital audio and video players, navigation systems, and passive and active security systems.⁽²⁾

What are the Educational Requirements for an Electrical and Electronics Installer and Repairer?

To be considered as an Electrical and Electronics Installer and Repairer, you should have taken related courses at a community college or technical school, or have graduated with a degree or certificate that specializes in electronics and electrical equipment.

Overall, a career as an electrical and electronics installer and repairer may be ideal if you enjoy electronics, and not only getting into the core of electrical equipment, but taking pride in being able to solve the issues that you find there.⁽¹⁾

⁽¹⁾ Employment is not guaranteed for students or graduates.
⁽²⁾http://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/electrical-and-electronics-installers-and-repairers.htm#tab-2