Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

Also called: AC/DC Rewinder, Armature Rewinder, Armature Winder Repairer, Automotive Starter Repairer, Battery and Charger Technician

Varies

estimated salary

Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.

  • Inspect and test equipment to locate damage or worn parts and diagnose malfunctions, or read work orders or schematic drawings to determine required repairs.
  • Reassemble repaired electric motors to specified requirements and ratings, using hand tools and electrical meters.
  • Measure velocity, horsepower, revolutions per minute (rpm), amperage, circuitry, and voltage of units or parts to diagnose problems, using ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, and other testing devices.
  • Repair and rebuild defective mechanical parts in electric motors, generators, and related equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Lift units or parts such as motors or generators, using cranes or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to lift heavy parts or subassemblies.
  • Record repairs required, parts used, and labor time.
  • Disassemble defective equipment so that repairs can be made, using hand tools.
  • Adjust working parts, such as fan belts, contacts, and springs, using hand tools and gauges.
  • Lubricate moving parts.
  • Read service guides to find information needed to perform repairs.
  • Inspect electrical connections, wiring, relays, charging resistance boxes, and storage batteries, following wiring diagrams.
  • Scrape and clean units or parts, using cleaning solvents and equipment such as buffing wheels.
  • Weld, braze, or solder electrical connections.
  • Verify and adjust alignments and dimensions of parts, using gauges and tracing lathes.
  • Steam-clean polishing and buffing wheels to remove abrasives and bonding materials, and spray, brush, or recoat surfaces as necessary.
  • Set machinery for proper performance, using computers.
  • Test equipment for overheating, using speed gauges and thermometers.
  • Reface, ream, and polish commutators and machine parts to specified tolerances, using machine tools.
  • Maintain stocks of parts.
  • Cut and form insulation, and insert insulation into armature, rotor, or stator slots.
  • Assemble electrical parts such as alternators, generators, starting devices, and switches, following schematic drawings and using hand, machine, and power tools.
  • Bolt porcelain insulators to wood parts to assemble hot stools.
  • Solder, wrap, and coat wires to ensure proper insulation.
  • Rewire electrical systems, and repair or replace electrical accessories.
  • Clean cells, cell assemblies, glassware, leads, electrical connections, and battery poles, using scrapers, steam, water, emery cloths, power grinders, or acid.
  • Rewind coils on cores in slots, or make replacement coils, using coil-winding machines.
  • Test conditions, fluid levels, and specific gravities of electrolyte cells, using voltmeters, hydrometers, and thermometers.
  • Add water or acid to battery cell solutions to obtain specified concentrations.
  • Pour compounds into transformer-case terminal openings to seal out moisture.
  • Remove and replace defective parts such as coil leads, carbon brushes, and wires, using soldering equipment.
  • Hammer out dents and twists in tools and equipment.
  • Drain and filter transformer oil and refill transformers with oil until coils are submerged.
  • Seal joints with putty, mortar, and asbestos, using putty extruders and knives.
  • Repair and operate battery-charging equipment.
  • Sharpen tools such as saws, picks, shovels, screwdrivers, and scoops, either manually or by using bench grinders and emery wheels.
  • Inspect batteries for structural defects such as dented cans, damaged carbon rods and terminals, and defective seals.
  • Test battery charges, and replace or recharge batteries as necessary.
  • Position and level battery cells, anodes, or cathodes, using hoists or leveling jacks, or signal other workers to perform positioning and leveling.
  • Clean, rinse, and dry transformer cases, using boiling water, scrapers, solvents, hoses, and cloths.
Work Context

Work Context information for this career will be available soon.

Work Activities
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Measure equipment outputs.
  • Maintain repair or maintenance records.
  • Reassemble equipment after repair.
  • Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
  • Repair defective engines or engine components.
  • Rebuild parts or components.
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Knowledge

Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Production and Processing
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills

Repairing
  • Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting
  • Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Equipment Maintenance
  • Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Quality Control Analysis
  • Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
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Abilities

Finger Dexterity
  • The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Manual Dexterity
  • The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Computer aided design CAD software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Hot Technology
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
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