I might be starting a job doing industrial electric, and I want to make sure I can read the blue prints good. I am recently graduated from high school and have a vo-tech background in electrical, only no blue print reading. I know how to read schematics, ladder diagrams, and residential blue prints, but how different are industrial and residential blueprints? Does anyone know a site where I can look at some industrial electric blueprints? I know when i get there they will be able to teach me how to read it, but I figured I would try to save everyone some time and see what I can figure out before I get there.
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What you really need is a good book. Get a copy of Ugly's Electrical References by George V. Hart. You need to know what the symbols mean as to what they physically are. Those blue prints won't be a whole lot different in some respects from what the residential blue prints are. Ugly's will prove to be an invaluable aid to you. When you get the job, if you don't understand something, ask, they expect you to not know a lot of things. You are going in as an apprentice, so you are there to do a lot of hard work, and to learn as you go. If you are given the opportunity to go to any schools, go. If you should get the chance to go to ant schools for fiber optics, go, in fact, seek it out for yourself, even if it means night school. The pay is great, and there is always a demand for those who are trained in fiber optics installation, and repair.
No, you shouldn't;t have any trouble reading Electrical Blueprints. Generally these are referred to as schematics unless they are Incorporated into a building or other design, then they are called blueprints. And the other difference is that a blueprint will layout primary feeds, conduit sizes, step down transformer placements and switchgear sites. Contractor locations and lighting loads and layout. So basically its a building block to help layout the actual wiring and equipment along with technical data to aide in installation and proper load capacities.
