7 Reasons Why You Should Learn Electrical Troubleshooting

The modern world runs on electricity from homes to hospitals, schools to skyscrapers. 

As an electrician or homeowner, your core responsibility is keeping critical systems up and running through expert installation, maintenance, and quick troubleshooting when issues inevitably arise.

But why exactly is troubleshooting such a vital competency for electricians? Let’s see why!

Key Benefits of Learning Electrical Troubleshooting

There are many advantages to developing electrical troubleshooting skills. 

Let’s explore the top 7 benefits.

1. Prevents Injuries and Fires

Electrical issues often lead to dangerous situations if not addressed properly. For example:

• Faulty wiring can overheat and cause fires in walls or equipment. Learning to spot problems early prevents catastrophic damage.
• Exposed wires or malfunctioning appliances can shock or electrocute people. Proper troubleshooting keeps people safe.

Learn fundamental troubleshooting skills to identify potential hazards that could cause electrical problems in your home. 

Also, learn about location-specific issues. For example, if you live in Saint Louis, understand the causes of electrical problems in St. Louis. If you live in Dallas, learn what issues commonly arise there.

Early detection and repair prevent fires and injuries.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), an average of 332,000 electrical fires occur annually in American homes, causing 2,890 civilian deaths, 10,190 civilian injuries, and $11 billion in property damage. 

Knowing how to inspect electrical systems and diagnose issues thoroughly would significantly reduce these incidents.

2. Avoids Costly Damages

Electrical faults can damage expensive equipment like appliances, electronics, and tools. The sooner problems are identified, the less likely major damages will occur. 

Some examples include:

• Motors in appliances burning out due to electrical surges/spikes
• Electronics being fried due to voltage fluctuations
• Excess energy consumption from inefficient wiring

Power anomalies are estimated to cost industrial facilities thousands of dollars annually. Commercial operations likely experience similar relative costs. 

Learning proper troubleshooting methodology would minimize this financial risk.

3. Optimizes Energy Efficiency

As electrical systems degrade over time, they become less efficient, requiring more energy usage to power equipment. 

Troubleshooting identifies degraded components. Replacement restores optimal energy efficiency. 

Additional benefits include:

• Reduces Energy Bills: Optimized electrical systems use less electricity, saving money month-to-month.
• Increases Equipment Life Spans: Components experience less stress when operating efficiently.
• Improves Power Quality: Reliable, steady voltage/current prevents damage to electronics.

4. Minimizes Downtime & Losses

Faulty electrical systems lead to power outages and equipment failures, which cause costly business disruptions and production downtime. 

A recent study by the Electric Power Research Institute estimated that industrial facilities lose between $25k and $100k per hour during power outages. 

Proactively identifying and resolving electrical issues prevents losses.

5. Fulfills Compliance Requirements

Regulations like the National Electrical Code (NEC) require electrical installations and equipment to adhere to strict safety standards. 

Non-compliant systems pose legal liabilities. 

Troubleshooting skills allow the identification of problem areas, which helps fulfill compliance requirements.

6. Provides Useful Life Skills

Even for non-professionals, electrical troubleshooting abilities provide useful life skills. 

People can inspect their own homes more thoroughly, diagnose issues in appliances/equipment, and avoid safety hazards. 

For example, you can evaluate whether installing an indoor electric fireplace makes sense or if an existing one needs electrical troubleshooting. 

Other useful scenarios include:

• Spotting outdated/unsafe wiring that needs replacement
• Checking electrical loads before installing additional lights/appliances
• Identifying malfunctions in equipment before they lead to permanent damages
• Evaluating if an appliance needs repair vs replacement

These self-help skills save money and give people greater autonomy in maintaining their electrical infrastructure securely.

7. Creates Career Opportunities

Those specializing in electrical troubleshooting are greatly valued across industries, even though hands-on electrical work is considered one of North Carolina’s least desired jobs. 

Some lucrative career paths include:

• Electricians: Service/repair wiring, breaker panels, lighting systems
• Electrical Technicians: Maintain/repair equipment like generators, motors, transformers
• Field Service Technicians: Diagnose issues onsite across various facilities
• Preventive Maintenance Experts: Inspect functionality & efficiency of electrical infrastructure

Professionals with these critical skills earn competitive salaries while working across various sites and projects. 

There is an increasing demand for those committed to this complex but essential field.

Common Causes of Electrical Problems

Let’s overview some widespread sources of electrical faults:

Step-By-Step Electrical Troubleshooting Methodology

Here is a step-by-step methodology to solve most electrical faults quickly and methodically:

1. Define the Exact Problem

“The lights flickered” or “some outlets lost power” seem like decent issue descriptions – but they omit the precise details we need for quick trouble isolation. 

Sharpen your investigative skills with these prompting questions:

• When specifically does the problem occur? Under what conditions or system load?
• Where exactly does the issue manifest? Which specific equipment or downstream loads?
• What are the early warning signs, visible symptoms, sound cues or smell indicators?
• How long do the symptoms persist? Is it intermittent or chronic?
• How severe is the problem? Nuisance tripping breakers or potential fire hazard?

Document detailed trouble characteristics before hypothesizing root causes. You can’t solve what you don’t understand.

2. Reproduce the Issue

If possible, personally observe the fault occurring in real-time. Sometimes, end-user descriptions miss key nuances. 

With your own eyes on the issue as it unfolds, update your diagnostics notes with any additional problem details.

3. List Likely Fault Causes

With a crystal clear picture of the specific problem and its characteristics, catalog the most probable root cause hypotheses. 

Consider these factors in your list:

• Recent electrical work or equipment changes on the affected circuit(s)
• Environmental/external damage possibilities (vermin, weather, accidents)
• Age, condition, and maintenance records of conductor insulation, connection,s and terminations
• Quality and ratings of overcurrent safety devices (breakers, fuses)
• Geological activity, grid stability, and other power company delivery factors
• End-user behavior changes with high current draw equipment

Listing probable causes stops troubleshooting from deteriorating into random guessing games.

4. Test Most Likely Fault Candidates First

With an informed root cause hypothesis list, prioritize testing the higher probability options before less likely faults. 

This helps avoid endless procedure trials, wasting precious minutes and hours.

5. Isolate the Problem Zone

Section your wiring system physically and logically to pinpoint exactly where the anomaly occurs. 

This highlights the trouble with specific portions of the system for further diagnostic focus. 

Useful isolation tactics include:

• Physically examining connections and insulation integrity at key circuit nodes
• Using DMM voltage measurements to scan across loads from the panel, searching for anomalies
• Testing cables, transformers, and other mid-run equipment as divide points
• Selectively toggling discreet system segments online/offline to identify the problem child

Each test result brings you one step closer to the source.

6. Replace Components Selectively

As anomalies pinpoint to specific suspect equipment based on troubleshooting explorations, conduct targeted replacements of only those components to definitively determine the faulting piece for repair/replacement. 

This prevents premature wholesale part swaps from wasting substantial money and effort.

7. Verify Correct System Operation

After isolating and correcting an electrical issue, validate proper functionality across all known prior fault trigger conditions. 

For example, recreate high equipment loads, moisture exposure scenarios and other real-world use cases to ensure robust resolution. 

Also, scan for any secondary problems created upstream/downstream by your repair procedures.

Ensuring Electrical Safety

While inspecting and testing electrical systems during troubleshooting, strict precautions are necessary to avoid injuries. 

Having the proper protective gear and essential tools for appliance repair also minimizes risk. 

Follow these guidelines:

• De-energize circuits via panel/switch before touching
• Validate circuits are de-energized before working using a multimeter or tester
• Avoid contact with adjacent energized components
• Wear insulating gloves and footwear
• Never work alone in case emergency help is needed
• Clear floor spaces when using ladders/stools
• Ensure tools have insulated grips and are UL-certified
• Avoid touching face/skin afterward to prevent cross-contamination

Investing in personal protective equipment greatly minimizes risk. Stay alert and fully focused when interacting with electrical systems.

Hiring a Professional Electrician

Learning fundamentals prepare homeowners to conduct basic troubleshooting safely. 

However, complicated electrical issues or installations are best handled by licensed electricians, given the expertise involved. 

Consult professionals when:

• The cause of electrical faults is uncertain/complex
• Problems originate in-wall wiring or main panels
• Issues require working with high voltage levels > 120V
• Electrical code compliance confirmation is needed
• Rerouting home circuits or new construction/upgrades are desired

Final Thoughts

We hope we could help you understand the importance of learning electrical troubleshooting. Highly capable troubleshooting by seasoned professionals provides homeowners with peace of mind.

Hiring certified electricians ensures workmanship according to industry best practices. Before hiring, check the license status at www.necanet.org.