An electrical drafter is a professional who creates technical drawings of electrical systems and wiring. Drawings laying out everything from automotive electrical system schematics to skyscraper wiring diagrams are examples of this. Electrical drafters work on projects in a variety of industries, collaborating with people like electrical engineers and general contractors to create accurate, useful, and helpful technical drawings. Electrical drafter drawings, along with other supporting schematics and plans, are filed with permit and patent applications.
Electrical systems, like all other aspects of a project, are drawn up on paper before being installed. Technical drawings serve as a road map for workers, as well as a record that can be used when a system needs to be updated, maintained, or repaired in the future. An electrical drafter, for example, could draw a wiring diagram for a house that an electrician could use to figure out which electrical outlets are connected to the same circuit. Similarly, wiring diagrams for vehicles are used in vehicle repair, and emergency responders may use diagrams of electrical systems in large buildings to assess safety before entering a building.
Electrical drafters, like all other drafters, must attend school to learn their trade. Electrical drafters learn how electrical systems are built in school and may gain special skills that enable them to work on projects like laying out generating, transmission, and distribution facilities. The majority of electrical drafters learn to use computer-aided design (CAD) drafting systems as well.
An electrical drafter had to work on a technical diagram hand in the past. The use of a computer for drafting has become more common in recent years. There are several benefits to using CAD systems, including the ability to make changes quickly and easily without having to redo the entire draft, as well as the ability to allow the computer to perform calculations that will ensure the system is safe and meets industry standards.
Electrical drafters do things like costing systems, checking systems for code compliance, determining how long it should take to install a system, and calculating the specifications and limitations of a system, such as the maximum load a system can handle before it fails, in addition to laying out electrical schematics. An electrical drafter has a broad knowledge base and must keep up with industry standards, available equipment, and changes in code requirements through continuing education.