Electrical Engineer and Electrician Overlap - Electrician Talk - Professional Electrical Contractors Forum

FCR1988 · 02-08-2012, 01:56 AM

I know this has been discussed here quite a few times. I've read whatever topics I've found on this subject so I wont reiterate anything from those discussions.

Throughout school we learned how build an electrical system from the transformer to receptacles, G&B etc. To get your Admin's license in Wa you need to do various Load Calculations on both resi and commercial buildings, which I thought most electricians did anyway.

I enjoyed programming PLC's and designing systems for manufacturing applications. So I searched online to see how I would be able to find a job as a PLC programmer and most of the ones I found required you to be a EE. Some didn't, but those mainly seemed to be "non design" type jobs. And that's pretty much a huge part of what we learned. Both of my instructors are Master Electricians, one being a EE too, and both made a point for us to understand how to design systems or atleast understand why they are designed in such a way.

Anyway, I looked into going to school for a couple more years to get a BA but the description of the degree has a lot of what I've already been taught.

My question is this: At which point does the designing switch from Electrician to EE?

And is it common for Electricians to create blueprints? Or is that solely the role of a EE?

Sorry for the length.

EDIT: I know there are different types of EEs, just like how there are different types of Electricians. I'm pretty much talking about either Commercial buildings or PLC programming.

backstay · 02-08-2012, 02:23 AM

Electricians build electrical systems, as a general statement they do not design them. Engineers never build anything. They only tell others how to.

**MDShunk** · 02-08-2012, 02:37 AM

Don't get too discouraged about the min quals you read in job postings. They're looking for the pie in the sky candidate when they write that stuff. From what you say you've done, and what you like to do, you'd be perfect working for an integrator. They already have EE's on staff.

Wireman191 · 02-08-2012, 06:15 AM

If you want to get into PLC work maybe try a place that builds industrial equipment in your area. We have a place that builds most our apple, cherry lines that also builds the MCCS/PLC in there shop. I wish I could figure out a way to start doing it in my garage, I love that type of work.

If you are wanting to create the electrical systems them you will have to become an EE.
Building the MCCs is passable at some electrical shops, We have built a few, but most the time they are sent to us already made by the builder.

chicken steve · 02-08-2012, 06:59 AM

The state here just wants a stamped print

after that the EE can fall off the planet, end result looking NOTHING like the plan

bureaucracy, not just for breakfast anymore....

~CS~

brian john · 02-08-2012, 09:09 AM

I know quite a few engineers with associates degrees from a community college.

Not sure the title after the name but they work for EE firms.

NJWVUGrad · 02-08-2012, 09:26 AM

[quote=MDShunk;645690]Don't get too discouraged about the min quals you read in job postings. They're looking for the pie in the sky candidate when they write that stuff. From what you say you've done, and what you like to do, you'd be perfect working for an integrator. They already have EE's on staff.[/QUOTE

I wholeheartedly agree, it can be funny working in a particular field, looking at the people you work with and then looking at the qualifications for their job in a posting.

They rarely if ever match.

brian john · 02-08-2012, 09:54 AM

[quote=NJWVUGrad;645792]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDShunk

Don't get too discouraged about the min quals you read in job postings. They're looking for the pie in the sky candidate when they write that stuff. From what you say you've done, and what you like to do, you'd be perfect working for an integrator. They already have EE's on staff.[/QUOTE

I wholeheartedly agree, it can be funny working in a particular field, looking at the people you work with and then looking at the qualifications for their job in a posting.

They rarely if ever match.

My uncle worked as a civil engineer over seeing major projects around the world, airports large infrastructures improvements, the repair of down town Anchorage after the 60's earthquake.

When his firm was bought out the new owners demoted him as he did not have a degree, though he worked with the Army Corp of Engineers and did 3 years of college towards that degree and was the lead in many projects for 20 plus years. The new owners felt it was wrong to have a qualified non-degreed employee directing college grads.