Electrical Maintenance and Automation

The Electrical Program prepares students for work in the Electrical Trades. Electricians install, troubleshoot and maintain electrical equipment for production facilities, hospitals, electrical utilities, schools, commercial and residential buildings - anywhere there is electricity.

Electricians are taught both mechanical and electrical skills and are “high tech mechanics”. This program takes students from learning about electrons to wiring and programming automation equipment and everything in between.

Topics covered

Electrical Theory
Electrical Safety and tools for the trade
Generators and Motors
AC and DC Motor Controls
Construction Materials
Conduit Bending
National Electric Code
Programmable Logic Controllers
Electronic Motor Controls - Variable Frequency Drives

Ardee Ableman

Electrical inspector, City of Spokane

“My job is always challenging because there is always something new to learn—new technologies, new techniques. You need a lot of training to enter this field, and you need to continually upgrade and update your skills and knowledge. This program gave me a broader background and understanding than I would have been exposed to otherwise. That's important, because this is one field where you have to know why you do something, not just what to do."

Tim Loepker

Substation operator, Bonneville Power Administration

"This is the best trade to be in because it's so challenging. Every day, my job brings something different, including new problems to solve. You have to use your head all the time, think on your feet and apply what you learn. It takes effort to learn electrical theory, but when you get into the field, you'll apply everything you've learned. So, study hard; it pays off."

Graduates from the Electrical program usually choose work in one of three main areas

Construction

Construction Electricians install wiring and electrical devices in residential, commercial and industrial buildings and equipment. They are required to be certified through the state. Trainees work under supervision of a journeyman. To become a Journeyman Electrician, you must work 8,000 hours and pass a test. SCC Electrical program graduates are awarded 1524 hours. Construction Electricians do some or all of the below tasks:

Conduit bending
Pipe threading
Pulling wire
Terminating wire
Installing panels, transformers, outlets, lighting, HVAC equipment
Wiring motors and motor controls

Construction Companies

The SCC Electrical Maintenance and Automation department has a good relationship with the union apprenticeship and students are given pay adjustments and class credit for completing the program.

Other places of employment:

IEETT Inland Empire Electrical Training Trust
Employed by numerous Electrical Contractors

Utilities

Utility electricians install, maintain and test transformers ,switchgear, batteries and monitoring equipment for power generation facilities, dams, substations and power distribution equipment. They do some or all of the below tasks:

Repairing and replacing large transformers and substation switchgear
Using electrical test equipment
Working in bucket trucks and lifts
Trained to use high voltage protective clothing and tools
Calibrating and testing power monitoring equipment

Utility Companies

Avista Utilities
Modern Electric
Vera Power
Puget Sound Energy
Seattle City Light
County PUDs
Veterans are eligible to work at Bonneville Power Administration and Army Corps of Engineer hydropower projects

Maintenance

Maintenance electricians install, maintain, perform preventive maintenance, and troubleshoot and repair automated equipment in large commercial buildings and production facilities. Work locations include sawmills, mines, food processing plants, aluminum mills, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, breweries. Maintenance electricians are typically setup to receive and investigate trouble calls and report to production and are often put in charge of entire sections of plants and large complex equipment. They do some or all of the below tasks:

Testing and troubleshooting automated equipment
Inspecting and adjusting equipment
Installing and replacing equipment
Conduit bending
Wire pulling
Terminating wires
Programming and testing automated equipment

Maintenance Companies

DTA Distribution Areas	Distribution Area Outcomes	APLED COURSES	OUTCOME ASSESSMENT
Communication	Prepare and present ideas (verbal and written) clearly, concisely, logically and effectively to communicate in a professional manner	APLED 121	X
	Create, organize, present and adapt effective verbal and nonverbal messages to diverse audiences in diverse contexts	APLED 121 & 123	X
	Access online research related to professional/technical industry topics	APLED 121 & 123
	Demonstrate the ability to critically think: summarize, interpret and evaluate written discourse	APLED 121
	Prepare and write business letters, memos and other documents using instructed technical format	APLED 121	X
	Utilize effective document design techniques to ensure numerical and/or technical data is easily accessible to audience	APLED 121
	Appropriately use college-level language skills (i.e., grammar and punctuation) to draft, revise and edit writing assignments	APLED 121
	Utilize effective communication to lead a group	APLED 123
	Utilize appropriate conflict-management and problem-solving skills while leading or working within a group	APLED 123
	Utilize appropriate customer-relations skills (for both internal and external customers)	APLED 123
	Demonstrate effective listening and responding skills necessary to understand verbal and nonverbal information	APLED 123
Employment Readiness	Analyze personal employment goals and articulate career objectives	APLED 125	X
	Assess professional skills as well as strengths and weaknesses	APLED 125	X
	Develop job search strategies (e.g. research sources of career information and employment opportunities, develop a professional network)	APLED 125
	Demonstrate job interview skills (i.e. presentation skills and effective communication in an interview setting )	APLED 125
	Understand employment and leadership in a diverse workplace	APLED 125
	Prepare an effective employment portfolio including a resume, cover letter and list of references	APLED 125
Math	Apply mathematical concepts and principles to perform computations, as they apply to the student's chosen career	APLED 112	X
	Apply mathematics to solve problems within the student's program	APLED 112
	Apply technology tools (to include calculators) to solve problems as they relate to the student's chosen program	APLED 112
	Use mathematical concepts and techniques in solving practical and applied problems within the student's chosen program	APLED 112
Computer Literacy	Apply skills and concepts for basic use of computer hardware, software and networks in the workplace and in future coursework	APLED 113
	Effectively demonstrate and use the Windows operating system, PC and cloud file management systems	APLED 113
	Effectively demonstrate the use of the school's learning management system	APLED 113	X
	Effectively demonstrate how to email and search the Internet	APLED 113
	Effectively demonstrate and use word processing, spreadsheet and presentation softwares	APLED 113	X
	Use Microsoft Office programs to create personal, academic and business documents following current professional and industry standards	APLED 113