Choosing a professional path that is right for you is a blend of talent and personal ambition. You make judgments depending on your personal preferences the majority of the time. All you have to do now is figure out what you prefer the most. Nonetheless, if you are passionate about a certain subject, you can pursue it. This article is on how to be an electric motor mechanic. If you want to make a decent living, this is a good career route to pursue. If you are still not sure about which path to choose, read this article. Perhaps it will assist you in determining whether or not this is a good job for you.
Electric Motors and Drives: Fundamentals, Types, and Applications 5th Edition
The authors of this book are Austin Hughes and Bill Drury. A beginner or even a specialist in this field can refer to this book. This contains a lot of information about electrical motors. Needless to say, there are improvements and advancements taking place in this sector every single day. So, it is necessary to update yourself accordingly. And this edition of this book perfectly fits the modern conditions. So, this would be an informative read to all of you reading this article.
What do Electric Motor Mechanics do?
Before we talk about how to be an electric motor mechanic, it would be useful to know what an electric motor mechanic does. That is why we thought of telling this to you first.
Electric motor mechanics are the ones who diagnose and repair cars that use electricity or a combination of electricity and gasoline. Because hybrid automobiles employ both gas and electric motors, electric motor mechanics may need to be competent to work on both types of power systems’ parts and components. So, electric motor mechanics would have to get into work from basic to complex levels.
Gas motor mechanics also perform certain duties that electric motor mechanics perform. On hybrid automobiles, they change the oil, replace the air filters, replenish fluids, align the tires, and replace the windshield wipers. When more complicated repairs are there, electric motor technicians typically rely on computer diagnostic tools to help them diagnose the cause of the problem. Because electric cars normally use computer systems to power them up, the car can often detect problems on its own, sometimes.
After identifying the problems, the electric motor technician must make repairs to fix them. Perhaps, they use a wide range of tools to carry out the repairs. Normally, electric motor mechanics utilize simple hand tools, such as wrenches, as well as more complex power tools, such as grinders, and electric repair tools, such as soldering equipment. They may also be necessary to rewire electrical systems, conduct voltmeter tests, remove corrosion from batteries, and replenish acid in battery cells to ensure concentration standards are fulfilled.
So, this is pretty much about what electric motor mechanics do. And we hope that you would be having a good idea of that by now.
Troubleshooting Electric Motors 5th Edition
This book is by Glen A. Mazur. This book offers a step-by-step method to diagnosing motors and equipment in electrical systems, as well as professional advice. Retrofitting motor control circuits, evaluating motor nameplates, motor lubrication intervals, and many more are among the topics that this book discusses. In general, we think that this would be an ideal read for you to go ahead with.
How much do Electric Motor Mechanics earn?
This seems to be an interesting question for those who are anxious to proceed in this field. Well, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, automotive service technicians and mechanics earn a median annual wage of $44050. For the highest 10 percent, it is an annual wage of $71940. And for the lowest 10 percent, it has an annual wage of $25790. As you would understand, this is a decent and good salary. So, you would not have to worry about your income if you choose to go ahead in this field.
Work Schedule of Electric Motor Mechanics
The majority of electric motor mechanics work full-time. Evening and weekend work may be necessary, depending on the sort of repair company they work for. To suit client work schedules, mechanic shops are frequently open for repairs in the evenings and on weekends. Overtime may be requisite in this position to guarantee that no repair and maintenance work is incomplete.
Electric Motor Control 10th Edition
Motor mechanics would benefit from this book’s extensive content and practical knowledge big time. The book begins by presenting the most basic of equipment and then helps you expand on your knowledge by teaching you how to design and analyze motor control schematic diagrams step by step. And the book concludes with troubleshooting strategies that are in use in the real world. So, we think that this would be a good read for you.
Steps to be an Electric Motor Mechanic
From here onwards, you would be able to get to know how to be an electric motor mechanic comprehensively. Here are the steps that we think would help you pursue your career goal.
- Get a high school diploma
- Complete a certificate program
- Complete an associate’s degree program
- Get on-the-job training
- Get certifications
- Advance in your career
Here are the steps that tell you how to be an electric motor mechanic. Now, let us tell you each of the above steps comprehensively. Go on reading!
1. Get a high school diploma
You would need a high school diploma in the first place. An equivalent, a GED, or a General Education Development test would also be okay. You have a foundational understanding of the great majority of topics if you have graduated from high school. Graduation from high school, in particular, indicates that you have a fundamental understanding of arithmetic, science, reading, and writing. That is why it is necessary to have a high school diploma for you to start up your career. You do not have to be an expert in any of these, though. It is just necessary to have a basic grasp of the subject.
The most crucial skill you would need to work in this field is mathematical understanding. You would almost always need to use your core math skills to perform a variety of things. We have already explained what electronic motor mechanics do. And you may have undoubtedly noticed that some fundamental math abilities are necessary for such tasks. Without too much trouble, you should be able to remedy a problem. However, it is simply fundamental information. You do not have to be an expert in maths.
On the other hand, a high school certificate or GED will not teach you anything about this profession in particular. To do so, you must make a conscious effort to advance in your field with this objective in mind. In the next parts of this article, we can go over it in further depth.
2. Complete a certificate program
Alright. Next in the list of steps on how to be an electric motor mechanic is completing a certificate program. It is critical to have a thorough understanding of the trade. You would have to master the fundamental repair abilities you would need in your job. Technical education programs, postsecondary trade or vocational schools, and community colleges are all good places to develop these abilities. These certificate programs provide both theoretical and practical knowledge. Students learn how electric motors function, how to fix and maintain them, and how to understand their fundamental components through these kinds of certificate programs.
Of course, it is this basic knowledge that you need to get in the main to kickstart your career. Afterward, you can make yourself a perfect professional in this career with experience. Needless to say, you cannot possibly learn everything in a single program. It takes time. And you need to get experience. So, with experience and with more qualifications, certifications, and knowledge, you can gradually progress in your professional life.
3. Complete an associate’s degree program
It is perfectly fine even if you choose not to follow an associate’s degree program. You would still be able to get on-the-job training and joining this profession of electric motor mechanics. But completing an associate’s degree adds value to your professional life and career. Even without an associate’s degree, you can still call yourself a professional electric motor mechanic. But you might never be able to get the value this type of qualification adds to your profession.
These programs take longer to finish than certificate programs; typically two years of full-time study. But they give more comprehensive training in the maintenance of electric and gas engines. Even without prior professional experience, students who get an associate’s degree may be more competitive for available electric motor mechanic positions and may qualify for higher-paying jobs.
Of course, the salary you get matters a lot, right? With an associate’s degree, you can certainly get a higher-paying job. They would be willing to pay you more than they would usually pay an ordinary electric motor mechanic simply because you have more knowledge and training. That is why completing an associate’s degree is of importance. So, we think that you would also consider this option.
Automotive Wiring and Electrical Systems (Workbench Series) Paperback – Illustrated, April 2, 2009
This is a book by Tony Candela. In this book, the author explains a lot of things about automotive wiring and electrical systems. And that would be useful for someone who is willing to become an electric motor mechanic. Voltage, amperage, resistance, and Ohm’s law are all explained in clear and simple detail in this book. Also, this book explains all of the necessary tools and equipment for automobile electrical work. This comprehensive book also covers more complex topics including adding new circuits, installing aftermarket electronics, fixing existing circuits, and troubleshooting. This would, therefore, be a good read for you.
4. Get on-the-job training
The next step is to get on-the-job training. You would learn and master the trade mostly via on-the-job training. You would discover what you should do and how to go about doing it. Perhaps your employer will give you on-the-job training. As an employee, you should most likely act in the best interests of your company. You would, however, be under the supervision of a qualified expert at this time. When you’re obtaining on-the-job training, you would not get the freedom to work on your own.
Nevertheless, observing and assisting seasoned experts is one of the best ways to get hands-on maintenance and repair experience. Because of that, gaining on-the-job experience is essential. Of course, a single day or a couple is not adequate for you to master everything in the trade. This takes time. And you need to gain experience. So, you need to spend a considerable amount of time to get your on-the-job training.
However, after your complete your on-the-job training, you would be able to become a confident professional. Then, you would know all that you need to know about electric motor mechanics. Also, you would be able to find out certain small, but significantly important factors in terms of electric motor mechanics. All these make you a true electric motor mechanic. But you need to gradually progress.
Bosch Automotive Electrics and Automotive Electronics: Systems and Components, Networking and Hybrid Drive (Bosch Professional Automotive Information) 5th ed. 2014 Edition
This book contains all you need to know about automobile electronics and electrics. And this book addresses different subjects in a brief yet descriptive manner. There are diagrams, graphs, photos, and tables in this book to help the reader better understand the subject. It also contains a discussion of the hybrid drive idea, which is an interesting issue in the present because of its capacity to cut fuel usage and CO2 emissions. Automotive engineers and design engineers, as well as automotive technicians in training and mechanics and technicians in garages, can benefit from this book. So, this would be particularly useful for you.
5. Get certifications
Now, we have told you how to be an electric motor mechanic. And now, you may have the essential knowledge to work as a building maintenance worker in some cases. You may also possess the requisite abilities. Nonetheless, you cannot advance in your career as an electric motor mechanic if you do not have certifications and licenses. So, obtaining certifications is really important for a professional of this sort.
After a few years of work, you can take exams by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). If you pass this test, you will receive formal certification, which will help you obtain and keep high-paying employment in the industry. Yes, that is the point. With these types of certifications, you would easily be able to get high salaries than you would get if you do not have these certifications. Hence, this is also something that can add immense value to your professional career.
How to Diagnose and Repair Automotive Electrical Systems (Motorbooks Workshop) First Edition
The author of this book is Tracy Martin. With an emphasis on vehicles from the classic eras, this book explains the concepts behind automotive electrical systems and shows how they function. This is actually a comprehensive overview. So, it would be vital for an electric motor mechanic to know what this book says. So, we recommend this book to you to refer to.
6. Advance in your career
Of course, now you know how to be an electric motor mechanic. And now, you can advance in your career. In fact, while you are employed, this is what you should be thinking of. You should continuously consider how you may advance in your professional career and achieve new heights. So, even if you begin your career as an electric motor mechanic, the heights you may achieve with this job are far more than you might think.
Perhaps, you would be able to get into managerial positions in this sector. Yes, those types of executive positions are for those who have plenty of experience in the field. So, you can surely get there over the course of time.
Sometimes, you can think of starting your own business. If you start your own business, you can keep on improving it. Perhaps, you would be able to generate a lot of profits from your business. And that might be staggering amounts that you would never even dream of. But anyway, in the first place, you must complete your studies and training, and become an electric motor mechanic by profession. Afterward, there would be a lot of options for you to move forward.
Important Qualities of an Electric Motor Mechanic
As we told you, it is not merely the skills and knowledge that matter. You need to have certain important qualities in order to excel in this field as a professional, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. What could they be? Let us take a look.
- Customer service skills
- Detail-oriented
- Dexterity
- Mechanical skills
- Organizational skills
- Physical strength
- Troubleshooting skills
In the next part of this article, we hope to discuss each of these important characteristics in particular. Keep reading!
1. Customer service skills
You must be really nice to your customers. You must possess exceptional customer service skills. Of course, you must adhere to the methods of conducting business. You must realize that the client is the king of the business. So, you must act in such a way that people are satisfied with how you work. Actually, there is not much to do here. You need to be polite, courteous, and generous to your customers.
Customer Service Skills for Success – Standalone Book 6th Edition
Robert Lucas wrote this book. If you use this book as a guide, you will see a significant improvement in your customer service abilities. We believe that this is an excellent option for anyone interested in working as an electric motor mechanic in general. This book has received a lot of favorable feedback from readers on Amazon. So, this would surely be a good read for you.
2. Detail-oriented
Of course, electric motor mechanics must pay attention to detail. While on the job, an electric motor mechanic must pay close attention to even the smallest details. It is the simple things that really matter. If you do not make use of them, it might have a detrimental influence on the overall work that you do. So, it is indeed necessary for professionals like electric motor mechanics to be perfectly detail-oriented. Most of the time, after you make a mistake, you would not be able to rectify it. Because of that, you must be highly detail-oriented if you want to work as an electric motor mechanic. Sometimes, it might cost a lot for you to reverse a mistake that you make. So, keep in mind all the time that you need to pay the highest level of attention to even the slightest detail.
Improve Attention To Detail: A straightforward system to develop attention to detail in yourself, employees, and across an organization. Paperback – April 17, 2019
As we told you, being attentive to even the slightest detail is pretty important in a profession like electric motor mechanics. And we think that this book would help you with that. The author of this book is Chris Denny. In this book, you would find tips to improve your level of being attentive to detail. So, we are suggesting you read this book. This has impressed a lot of its readers and impressed them. So, you should surely read this.
3. Dexterity
Obviously, you would need a good level of dexterity. The ability to do a range of tasks with your hands is what we refer to as dexterity. It is with the hands that electric motor mechanics do the majority of the work. Therefore, you must understand the importance of dexterity. Of course, you cannot make excuses for your physical health at work. You must have the ability to battle through hardships and tolerate the difficult situations of this profession if you happen to face any. However, it is important to have dexterity at a good level.
4. Mechanical skills
As this article is on how to be an electric motor mechanic, it is pretty obvious that we need to tell you that you need to have a good amount of mechanical knowledge. Doubtlessly, mechanical skills are of immense importance. Of course, there are many things that you would learn through the certificate programs and other training programs that you follow to become an electric motor mechanic. Also, you would be able to master certain mechanical skills when you are undergoing your on-the-job training. In addition, you would get a superb perfection of the mechanical skills when you go on working as a professional.
5. Physical strength
It is quite apparent that an electric motor mechanic should be physically strong. In general, there can be a number of instances in which electric motor mechanics would have to lift heavy loads. And that would basically be engine and body panels. Needless to say, you cannot ask your clients to lift them for you. You must have the capability of doing such maneuvers. And for that, you need to have physical strength at a good level. If not, this profession would not be a suitable one for you. Notwithstanding, most comparing professions demand physical strength. Hence, it is pretty vital that you need to be physically fit and strong. We are not implying that you need to be a muscular man or so. But in the simplest words, you must be physically strong.
Science and Practice of Strength Training Hardcover – April 9, 2020
The authors of this book are Vladimir M. Zatsiorsky, William J. Kraemer, and Andrew C. Fry. Physical strength and fitness are necessary for electric motor mechanics, as you are undoubtedly aware. This does not need a high level of physical strength. But what this means is that you must be physically capable of performing the tasks that you have to perform. If you want to enhance your physical strength, this book is a really good one for you to refer to.
6. Troubleshooting skills
In order to discover and correct issues in complex mechanical and electrical systems, you would have to utilize diagnostic equipment on engine systems and components. So, you must be knowledgeable about electronic control systems as well as the equipment necessary to repair and maintain them. Basically, you need to have the requisite troubleshooting skills to identify where the problem is in order to solve it. Of course, that is what you would mainly have to do. First, you need to understand what the problem is. Then, you can solve it.
Think Smarter: Critical Thinking to Improve Problem-Solving and Decision-Making Skills Hardcover – April 7, 2014
This book is written by Michael Kallet. As we previously stated, troubleshooting skills are critical if you want to work in the sector of electric motor mechanics. Here is a handy guide to help you out. This book will help you enhance your critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. This book has earned positive reviews and ratings, so it is a solid choice for you.
Conclusion
In this article, we told you pretty much about how to be an electronic motor mechanic. If you like, you can read about the pathway to become an aircraft mechanic and marine mechanic as well. We wish you the very best in your career in eclectic motor mechanics.
