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Maintenance electrician
- Thread starter Glenn Palmer
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Maintenance memories are coming back now .
I was an apprentice for a while on maintenance . They had a line of machines that worked on Elecro & pneumatic control that kept breaking down . Valves kept sticking but were awkward to access.
They shut one down and got the apprentice fitter and myself to modify it. Valves were the size of a tin of beans with a 24V solenoid each end , power to either coil sent compressed air up pipe A or pipe B basically , which did all sorts of stuff on the machine .
Fitter made a long shelf that pulled out , giving better access to the valves . He fitted flexible air lines ..I fitted flexible cables that moved with the shelf .
Halfway through the machine's process the control fuse kept blowing . After using a box of fuses I was told to put a 24V lamp across the fuse carrier or the firm would go bankrupt , when the fault occurred the lamp lit.
In my ignorance , where I'd used what they called back then , choc block connectors for all the control circuits ..I 'd fastened it down with 2BA pins and one one of them was so tight it shorted between two connectors .
300 years later , if ever I screw down a strip of connectors ....I'm suddeny a 16 yr old lad converting this line of machines , making mistakes but learning also .
I keep seeing youngsters now , at age 23 or whatever , still in further education or at "Uni" and thinking I started work at 15 and at their age ..had been an electrician for two years with a 6 yr apprenticeship behind me .
And many of the kids won't be getting work that reflects their education .
I was an apprentice for a while on maintenance . They had a line of machines that worked on Elecro & pneumatic control that kept breaking down . Valves kept sticking but were awkward to access.
They shut one down and got the apprentice fitter and myself to modify it. Valves were the size of a tin of beans with a 24V solenoid each end , power to either coil sent compressed air up pipe A or pipe B basically , which did all sorts of stuff on the machine .
Fitter made a long shelf that pulled out , giving better access to the valves . He fitted flexible air lines ..I fitted flexible cables that moved with the shelf .
Halfway through the machine's process the control fuse kept blowing . After using a box of fuses I was told to put a 24V lamp across the fuse carrier or the firm would go bankrupt , when the fault occurred the lamp lit.
In my ignorance , where I'd used what they called back then , choc block connectors for all the control circuits ..I 'd fastened it down with 2BA pins and one one of them was so tight it shorted between two connectors .
300 years later , if ever I screw down a strip of connectors ....I'm suddeny a 16 yr old lad converting this line of machines , making mistakes but learning also .
I keep seeing youngsters now , at age 23 or whatever , still in further education or at "Uni" and thinking I started work at 15 and at their age ..had been an electrician for two years with a 6 yr apprenticeship behind me .
And many of the kids won't be getting work that reflects their education .
I'm a maintenance electrician in a factory.
I am currently working 60+ hours a week so my appearance on this forum has been sketchy this last while.
When I started as an apprentice there were four electricians, ten years later there is just me.
I have been a one man show, for 18 months now. (I have a 71 year old who actually held my position 30 odd years ago, I pull him in for advice on anything I'm unsure of, he refuses to retire, and rode a motorcycle 1000km across Morocco last October)
You will find yourself having to focus on four jobs at once with different supervisors demanding that they are top of your priorities.
The three phase motors etc are no big deal.
The trickier end is when you will have to be able to handle 24v control circuits and all that comes with it. Why isn't this solenoid or contactor pulling in, which sensor is out of line etc.
My rule of thumb for most breakdowns is, if a machine is running incorrectly (out of sync, mistimed etc), it is most likely a mechanical problem, if the machine fails to run at all, then it is electrical. This is very specific to our plant.
I would concur with Tony's advice, in keeping people on board, the general operators can give you a good insight to the machine.
I would also tell you it is necessary to have a good working relationship with the Production Manager, keep him on your side and you are laughing. If you think of the factory as a dictatorship, then the production manager is il duce.
I remember one of my first meetings with the manager and an assortment of other office staff, he was telling us all how it was going to be. I butted in and told him he was wrong, there were actually some people who inhaled really sharply and averted their eyes expecting a bollocking to come my way. Instead he just said "why?" I told him why, he says good point, "I needed someone to reel me back in".
How you negotiate the palace intrigue of the factory is just as important as the electrical skills you will be expected to bring. (That probably sounds rather Machiavellian of me, but it's true)
I am currently working 60+ hours a week so my appearance on this forum has been sketchy this last while.
When I started as an apprentice there were four electricians, ten years later there is just me.
I have been a one man show, for 18 months now. (I have a 71 year old who actually held my position 30 odd years ago, I pull him in for advice on anything I'm unsure of, he refuses to retire, and rode a motorcycle 1000km across Morocco last October)
You will find yourself having to focus on four jobs at once with different supervisors demanding that they are top of your priorities.
The three phase motors etc are no big deal.
The trickier end is when you will have to be able to handle 24v control circuits and all that comes with it. Why isn't this solenoid or contactor pulling in, which sensor is out of line etc.
My rule of thumb for most breakdowns is, if a machine is running incorrectly (out of sync, mistimed etc), it is most likely a mechanical problem, if the machine fails to run at all, then it is electrical. This is very specific to our plant.
I would concur with Tony's advice, in keeping people on board, the general operators can give you a good insight to the machine.
I would also tell you it is necessary to have a good working relationship with the Production Manager, keep him on your side and you are laughing. If you think of the factory as a dictatorship, then the production manager is il duce.
I remember one of my first meetings with the manager and an assortment of other office staff, he was telling us all how it was going to be. I butted in and told him he was wrong, there were actually some people who inhaled really sharply and averted their eyes expecting a bollocking to come my way. Instead he just said "why?" I told him why, he says good point, "I needed someone to reel me back in".
How you negotiate the palace intrigue of the factory is just as important as the electrical skills you will be expected to bring. (That probably sounds rather Machiavellian of me, but it's true)
oh so true, I don't miss factory politics what so ever. Trouble is some customers think they can pull rank on me, :shakehead :shakehead :shakehead , they forget I am head honcho in my own little self employed world, and usually regret it :innocent
Glenn Palmer
Junior Member
Thank you all for the great advice, I’ve got a friend that works in a similar position at another distillery so I am going to have a wee chat with him also. I’d really like to add this type of work to my experience.
I’ll have a good think about it and see if I’m ready for this kind of job. A lot of good advice for and against me doing it from you all for me to think about!
Thanks again
I’ll have a good think about it and see if I’m ready for this kind of job. A lot of good advice for and against me doing it from you all for me to think about!
Thanks again
Well, to add fuel, I'm a freelance maintenance engineer, I do mechanical, electrical, and fluid power on anything any time, so I never know what I am going to be called to.
However, I have had going on for 30 years at it.
I have also a very good underpinning knowledge from being trained by machine & controls OEM's s an employee.
I also have the ability to design machinery, both mechanically and electrically, so I understand the first principles of how it's needs to work, and the first principles of what is there to make it work.
As far as house bashing goes, I've never wired a new build, nor done a lived in rewire! In fact, I don't think I've ever done a total rewire on my own.
I have my regular customers, but I always get odd ball calls.
I am also an approved repairer for a couple of machinery OEM's and a controls company.
There is a massive difference between wiring houses basically to the OSG, and the freeform thinking needed to keep a factory running.
Get the interview and be honest. Read up from the link Tony posted. Plus there are loads of other resources on the web, stick to the reliable ones though.
Also, forget BS7671 when it comes to the machines, it's irrelevant, you've EN 60204-1, ISO 13849, ISO 62061, ISO 13850, maybe a little bit of EN 61439-2 & -3 possibly, a couple of others that slip my mind now. All backed up by legislation in the form of PUWER & EAWR.
You will need to make sure that your work keeps your employer compliant.
Funnily enough I am in Scotland next weekend at a global alcoholic drinks company plant they have a massive portfolio of household name brands, and it's a big plant. We are doing an EN 60204-1 suite of tests on a pair of new machines, from the USA, the original tests were lost.
I'll have another forumite with me too.
(Apparently they have over 200 brands, sold in 180 countries around the world, & they make 6.5 billion litres of booze of their assorted brands a year!)
Mind after over 30 years I'm cutting back on it and moving over onto machinery and electrical consulting it's easier on the knees!
However, I have had going on for 30 years at it.
I have also a very good underpinning knowledge from being trained by machine & controls OEM's s an employee.
I also have the ability to design machinery, both mechanically and electrically, so I understand the first principles of how it's needs to work, and the first principles of what is there to make it work.
As far as house bashing goes, I've never wired a new build, nor done a lived in rewire! In fact, I don't think I've ever done a total rewire on my own.
I have my regular customers, but I always get odd ball calls.
I am also an approved repairer for a couple of machinery OEM's and a controls company.
There is a massive difference between wiring houses basically to the OSG, and the freeform thinking needed to keep a factory running.
Get the interview and be honest. Read up from the link Tony posted. Plus there are loads of other resources on the web, stick to the reliable ones though.
Also, forget BS7671 when it comes to the machines, it's irrelevant, you've EN 60204-1, ISO 13849, ISO 62061, ISO 13850, maybe a little bit of EN 61439-2 & -3 possibly, a couple of others that slip my mind now. All backed up by legislation in the form of PUWER & EAWR.
You will need to make sure that your work keeps your employer compliant.
Funnily enough I am in Scotland next weekend at a global alcoholic drinks company plant they have a massive portfolio of household name brands, and it's a big plant. We are doing an EN 60204-1 suite of tests on a pair of new machines, from the USA, the original tests were lost.
I'll have another forumite with me too.
(Apparently they have over 200 brands, sold in 180 countries around the world, & they make 6.5 billion litres of booze of their assorted brands a year!)
Mind after over 30 years I'm cutting back on it and moving over onto machinery and electrical consulting it's easier on the knees!
ruston
Well-known member
Like SideWinder I was an indentured apprentice, we didn’t just learn electrical, we learnt mechanical.
Most “electrical” faults are process based and you have to get to the root cause. A conveyor won’t run, according to the operator it's faulty overloads, its got nothing to do with the XXX tones of spillage on tail end of the conveyor.
I loved going in to the control room with “banjos” over my shoulder, “time to get digging lads”.
Most “electrical” faults are process based and you have to get to the root cause. A conveyor won’t run, according to the operator it's faulty overloads, its got nothing to do with the XXX tones of spillage on tail end of the conveyor.
I loved going in to the control room with “banjos” over my shoulder, “time to get digging lads”.
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ruston
Well-known member
There was Police Officer had a bird sanctuary at the end of the causeway when I was there . It had an eerie feel about it , so did the abandoned quarry in Holyhead itself. I expect they are long gone now.
The Police officer was Ken Williams who looked after the nature reserve for many years. It is still there but is reduced to woodland walks and a coastal path. I used to volunteer there in the summer holidays as a lad. The quarry is now a tourist attraction and is known as the breakwater country park. The old machinery and workings are still there with the addition of a coffee shop and car park.
ruston
Well-known member
Thanks for letting me know .
I spent a lot of time at the nature reserve . There was a beautiful eagle owl there , it was amazing.
I loved it there , there was a feeling about that place , almost spiritual.
When I lived there the quarry looked as though they had just downed tools and gone home , I used to walk through there and go up the South Stack. There was a track of sorts. It is an amazing place and I have a lot of fond memories of it.
Both my parents are in Mount Pleasant cemetery, I would like to get back before my time is up too.
Thank you for replying it has brought back emotional , but pleasant memories.
I spent a lot of time at the nature reserve . There was a beautiful eagle owl there , it was amazing.
I loved it there , there was a feeling about that place , almost spiritual.
When I lived there the quarry looked as though they had just downed tools and gone home , I used to walk through there and go up the South Stack. There was a track of sorts. It is an amazing place and I have a lot of fond memories of it.
Both my parents are in Mount Pleasant cemetery, I would like to get back before my time is up too.
Thank you for replying it has brought back emotional , but pleasant memories.
I'm trying think of what you have been missing all these years .....................
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.......I'll get back to you on that .
There must be something ............ what about crawling through lofts with the latest quantity of loose fibreglass insulation up there , the air is full of floating particles , you don't know where to put your feet and the wiring is below 5 layers of the **** !
No ? Kneeling down all day chopping KO boxes into brickwork with a lump hammer & bolster . Theres tidy look you !!
No ? Kneeling down all day chopping KO boxes into brickwork with a lump hammer & bolster . Theres tidy look you !!
Oh, I've done the chopping in of boxes, just not as much as others!!!
Probably only 100 in my life.
I've crawled through a few mucky lofts too, but again no where near as much as others will have.
Probably only 100 in my life.
I've crawled through a few mucky lofts too, but again no where near as much as others will have.
Well make sure you keep it that way Sidey , you can't beat a nice quiet drop stamping factory , warming yourself on red hot Morris Minor half shafts . :Salute
shame we dont have any of that left in this country. we have plenty office staff who wouldnt know what work is or want to get their hands dirty though
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