About

THE SCHOOL YEARS

Went to my local community college in the Milwaukee Area, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and got my first associates degree in Electrical Engineering Technology (EET). One class I was required to take for my degree was a PLC class focused on RSLogix 500. Enjoyed the class so much took the Advanced PLC’s for RSLogix 5000. Enjoyed the class a lot. Graduated and went looking for a job with my EET degree but nothing was offering more at the time than what I was making as machine operator on a sheet feeder corrugator. Took a job in maintenance at the place I worked, not really by choice, but needing something better than being a machine operator. I was mechanically inclined already from days as a young kid working in the garage with my dad as he rebuilt car engines and whatever else as side jobs in the garage. My dad was in industrial maintenance also, but I really did not understand that as a kid. My dad was in maintenance where I worked, but he is not the reason I got the job in maintenance. So you can say it was is my blood. After being in maintenance for a little while, saw the toll it did to my dad and said I do not want to do this for the rest of my life. Hated the company I worked for, but was on third shift which allowed me the ability to work and support my family and go back to school. Got another associates degree in Electrical Automation. Tried finding another job, but sometimes the grass is not greener on the other side, was allowed to come back after a week and went and got my third associates degree Electrical Engineering Technology. Yes you read that right same degree twice, this was though was used to transfer over to Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) as a Junior. Spent three years at MSOE though cause I was not able to take 18 credits at a time to graduate in two years. Remember that family and fulltime job that we all know is 50+hours a week. People at school said I was crazy and had no idea how I could do it. When you are motivated, anything is possible. Graduated from with honors, quit my job on Friday, graduated on Saturday. Told you I hated the place.

WORK LIFE

I have been in industrial maintenance for over 10 years. My engineering job I told them I wanted to program PLC’s. Got stuck on design detail. Sitting behind a computer do crappy electrical designs sucks. I am not saying my designs all sucked, but is more about how much crap could they fit into a box. And most of the time it is what they called a drive in a box. Boring shit. Plus I had to edit about 100 of drawing sets not in ACADE format for changes done years before. Changing the title block on multiple drawings is a complete waste of time. And if you asked why didn’t I just make them smart drawings with smart title blocks, cause it would have taken me a shit time longer and I did not have paitence. Like I said I want to program PLC’s. Did learn a lot about ACADE like making smart blocks. Learned on my own watching videos and such. After six months I knew I was not staying. Put in a year, put in my two weeks. I swear I could see a tear come out of the manager’s eye. It was like a gut shot. I was putting in 50 hour weeks on salary with a hour drive time to work and an other hour back. Took a job closer to home back in maintenance where I have been since June 2023. Not saying I will stay here forever, but got a place until the kids graduate high school.

THE REASON FOR THIS

Basic electrical trouble shooting goes a long way to be successful. Unfortunately in today’s age, it takes more than basic electrical trouble shooting to get far. PLC’s, VFD’s, DSP’s, robots, safety circuits and safety relays have been implemented to make the industrial faster, reliable and safer. The days of a having a motor run off a start, stop, and contactor no longer exist. Yes, you can find them out there still in the most simplistic situations. Work in an environment where you are the best electrical troubleshooter and the next person in line does not when mode to put the meter in when doing measurements. FUN TIMES!! You all have seen the silly ads where you can make more an extra 30g’s a year knowing about PLC’s. But if you cannot get past the basics of troubleshooting, print reading, and knowing how things work, you are not going to be staying. We wish we could all live in the world of sinking inputs and sourcing outputs, but not all companies make their equipment like that. If you know what I am talking about, this page is probably not for you. I have learned more about automation in my current maintenance job about what can be done, like eliminating a PLC and using a HMI and VFD’s to control a equipment, without PLC code in the VFD’s (I am looking at both Allen Bradley and Lenze for having PLC code in the VFD’s). I am starting with basics and will work my way up to the higher advanced shit. I dedicate this blog to all those kids I have to work with that all they know how to do is pump grease into bearing. If you are in the Greater Milwaukee Area and need help, do not be afraid to reach out. I have a knack for looking at PLC code I have not seen before and making heads and tails form it as long as there is some comments. No comments, just takes me longer.