Electronics Service Technicians Job Outlook

Electronic service technicians support and repair consumer electronics such as televisions, DVD players, radios and audio recorders as well as garage door openers, microwave ovens and kitchen appliances. Some electronic service technicians work on PCs and peripheral devices. Others can operate home security systems, antennas, satellite receivers, electronic organs, and amplifiers for other electrified musical instruments.

Technicians can repair devices that work properly. They also diagnose and repair defective devices. They usually start by gathering information from customers about the problems they have with their equipment. Because today's consumer electronics are so highly developed, consumers often don't know how to operate the machine. After talking to the customer, the technician performs a preliminary inspection of the equipment. This inspection may reveal a loose connection or other simple problems and the technician may be able to complete repairs quickly. In other cases, a problem can be more complicated and require that the equipment be brought to a store for more thorough testing and installation of new components.

Electronic service technicians are classified as internal or external technicians, although some jobs are internal and external technicians. Outside or on site, technicians call customers, collect information and carry out preliminary inspections of defective devices. You can also install new devices. An in-house technician works in a workshop to further investigate the problems using test equipment and hand tools such as pliers and sockets to disassemble the sets and perform repairs. Test devices such as voltmeters, oscilloscopes, signal generators, monitoring testers, analyzers and frequency counters are used.

The activities of internal and external technicians include reading service manuals and circuit diagrams, operating test equipment, replacing defective parts, installing solid-state electronic components, regulating electronic controls, cutting and connecting wires, and soldering metal parts together. Technicians also write reports of service or repair work performed and calculate parts and labor costs.

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