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How to be a electrical technician:

To be a electrical technician you will need to have a strong background in electrical principles, architecture and engineering. Here are some steps you can take to pursue this career choice:

#1 Education:

Good education is critical to starting a career as an electrical technician. Obtain a degree (required for design and engineering roles) or certificate in electrical engineering. This will give yourself a solid foundation in electrical principles and practices. These are essential for working with motorsport hardware and electrical harnesses. High level motorsport tend to use what is known as MIL spec connectors and it is important to have a good understanding of how to read wiring/pin out diagrams and terminate connectors to the highest standard. Below is an example of a MIL spec autosport connector terminated to the highest level of precision.

Outside of mainstream education there are additional courses you can take to boost you electrical skillset and understanding. One notable course available is run by the HP Academy. Website link – found here. They have courses that cover wiring harness construction at grass roots level all the way up to professional motorsport.

#2 Understand Vehicle Mechanics and Fabrication:

Motorsport electrical technicians often work closely with mechanical components on race cars, so it is helpful to have experience in this area as well. If a job role includes electrical integration or harness building there may be a requirement to fabricate brackets or enclosures for things like mounting bulk head connectors or housing PCB boards.

#3 Understanding of Electrical Systems:

You will need to have a good understanding of all motor vehicle electrical systems and sensors, particularly those used in motorsport. Such as ignition systems, telemetry systems, and data acquisition systems. You can gain this knowledge through coursework, research, and hands-on experience. As you progress up the motorsport ranks you will be required to have a deeper understanding on how more complex sensors operate, calibrated and maintained. Examples of these include damper pots, rotary steering angle sensors and speed over ground sensors.

#4 Fault Diagnosis and CAN:

Being able to diagnose electrical faults efficiently is a key skill for any electrical technician. Having experience with diagnostic equipment like multimeters, current clamps, oscilloscopes and data loggers is key. Most modern automotive vehicles use a CAN Bus system so It is important to know how to trace a fault in the system. CAN (Controller Area Network) is a communication protocol used for high-speed communication between electronic control units (ECUs) in vehicles and other industrial applications.

#5 Networking

Attend industry events, join professional organisations, and connect with other motorsport professionals to build your network and learn about job opportunities. In addition, It is helpful to have experience working in the motorsports industry. This can be aquired through work experience, internships or entry-level jobs. This will give you a better understanding of the unique challenges and demands of motorsport electrical work.

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