An auto electrician can specialise in re-wiring, maintenance, or repair work of motor vehicles and their complicated computers.
Electricians are responsible for the installation of all electrical products, including various appliances found in homes and commercial buildings, both large and small. An electrician's job might include installing fixtures like light switches, repairing fire alarm devices, testing power circuits for shorts or open circuits, replacing fuses, circuit breakers, and outlets. Electricians with specialised skills install and repair electrical components such as air conditioning.
Many mechanics cover the electrical aspects of cars as part of their overall service. Their work is likely to include troubleshooting electrical faults and the maintenance or replacement of faulty components like alternators and voltage regulators. After the testing process, an auto mechanic can also carry out installation work like fitting mobile phone chargers, sound equipment, cabling for alarms, and anti-theft systems.
An auto electrician can specialise in rewiring, maintenance, or repair work of motor vehicles. The former might include fault finding of car's computer-based equipment, component replacement, and system upgrades involving wiring, systems for alarms, radio communication, sound equipment. Necessary repairs may involve replacing faulty components like starters or alternators. Other tasks would include diagnosing electrical or electronic faults, installing lighting systems, changing broken brake lights, and cabling for audio equipment, including speakers, radios, and CD players. With additional apprenticeship and training, automotive electricians also extend their services to customers who own heavy vehicles such as specialised trucks and equipment used in mining, construction, and excavation activities.
In order to repair a car, an auto electrician needs to diagnose the problem. In most cases, this means carrying out tests with a multimeter to establish whether a component is faulty or there is a break in the wire somewhere. Once the broken part has been located, it can be replaced, and repairs carried out to ensure the smooth running of systems, including ignition and start-up.
Certification and accreditation are requirements for those who want to engage in the testing and repair of car electrical systems. Auto electricians must have achieved the competency requirements to be licensed or certified. Automotive electricians must undertake structured training. The education process includes a combination of both practical and theory modules and a period of placement working with a qualified auto electrician. In order to meet certification requirements, an individual must complete several years of apprenticeship before they are considered competent enough to go it alone. To become a certified or qualified auto electrician, you will need to undertake either a Certificate course in Vehicle Technology or Automotive Electrical Technology. The course will combine both theory and practical modules carried out at TAFE colleges across Australia, which are approved training providers for this particular discipline. Besides having minimum qualifications, you must be physically fit to be an auto electrician or an auto mechanic. These two careers involve a lot of manual work, lifting, and long standing hours. There are many job opportunities after completing electrician programs and the necessary apprenticeship.
The majority of electricians have completed electrician programs. They are not trained or qualified to carry out the work of automotive electricians on cars. It is possible for an electrician to carry out diagnostics and repair work if they have completed the automotive electrician certification process needed for accreditation as outlined above. However, in order to call themselves an auto electrician, individuals must undertake years of intensive training combined with real-world experience doing automotive electrical work alongside other qualified professionals.
Tradies with knowledge of electrical systems as well as mechanical issues can offer emergency roadside assistance. Such a technician can use his auto mechanical knowledge to fix vehicle electrical systems and carry out oil changes and fit brake pads.
For an average automotive electricians work, an electrical wiring mechanic can charge anywhere from $60 to $100 per hour depending on factors like location, skills, and experience. Those who have completed accreditation will generally be able to charge more. It's possible to ask for quotes in advance of work being carried out, but this depends largely on the knowledge of the individual auto electrician. Someone dealing exclusively with rewiring or replacement systems rather than diagnostics may be able to offer a quote after looking at the car and assessing it in person.
Auto electricians will need a basic tool kit to carry out diagnostics and repairs containing a multimeter, hand tools like pliers and screwdrivers; wiring looms and terminals etc. An auto electrician might also use specialised equipment such as oscilloscopes for testing various electronics on the car, including solenoids, ignition systems, fuel pumps, etc. They could also use advanced diagnostic tools like peak and trace meters and digital multimeters.
This time it takes depends on the nature of the electrical wiring or repair work required. Some jobs could take as little as one hour; other jobs could require a complete strip-down and rebuild, which would obviously be a lot more time-consuming. Automotive electricians need to be as precise as possible when it comes to quoting a cost for a job because the time taken can have a significant impact on the overall price.
Some auto electricians are qualified to flash ECUs. However, it's important to double-check whether this is included in the price for repairs before getting any work done on your car because you could be paying for something which has already been carried out. This may also depend on who works on the the ECU as it needs to be flashed with a suitable key by someone who understands the process and how it works.
The most basic tool is the wire stripper. This can be used to remove insulation from wires, but it's also handy for removing tags on connectors or terminals. A basic side cutter or diagonal pliers can be used for cutting and bending wires, but if you intend to do more serious work, then you might want to invest in a pair of combination pliers which offer even greater versatility. You'll need some cable crimps so that you can fix your connections securely with insulated grips. If you've got access to a workshop, then it makes sense to purchase an electrician's kit so that everything is gathered in one place rather than having to rummage around for each individual piece of equipment when it comes time to carry out repairs or installation work.