▲ 1 r/IBEW
Took the IBEW placement test yesterday. Any former field engineers, military techs, or industrial maintenance guys make the jump into the IBEW?
I took the IBEW placement test yesterday and I’m curious if anyone here came into the IBEW from a field engineer, industrial maintenance, military electronics, engineering technician, or similar technical background.
A little about me: I’m a former Navy submariner and currently work as a Field Engineer on high-speed currency processing equipment. My day-to-day work involves troubleshooting electrical, electronic, mechanical, PLC, sensor, motor, and control system issues. I have a strong troubleshooting background, but I don’t have years of commercial electrical construction experience.
The test had both a hands-on and written portion.
The hands-on stations included conduit bending (90s, offsets, and a saddle), wiring a motor control circuit with a start/stop station, wiring a 3-way/4-way lighting circuit, and wiring a transformer.
My honest assessment is that I did okay on the conduit bending but didn’t finish everything. I struggled the most with the motor controls. I had the 3-way/4-way mostly figured out but got twisted up toward the end and didn’t complete it. I actually felt best about the transformer, even though I’ve never wired one before. Everything was neat and organized, but I definitely wasn’t the fastest guy in the room.
The written exam was 50 questions with three hours allowed. It ended up being mostly NEC, fault-finding, tools, and electrical knowledge. I was expecting a lot more math than there actually was. I finished in about an hour and a half.
The Training Director told me beforehand that it was more of
a placement test than a pass/fail test, and he’s supposed to call me today to discuss the results and next steps.
For anyone who came from a similar background:
Where did they place you?
Did they start you above first year?
What skills transferred well?
What knowledge gaps surprised you the most?
Looking back, was the transition worth it?
I’m 35 with a wife and two kids, so I’m trying to get a realistic idea of what the transition looked like for others who weren’t coming straight from electrical construction. Any insight would be appreciated.
u/Spiderman4409 — 2 months ago
▲ 92 r/GREEK
Found my great-grandfather's 1924 official document from Piraeus, Greece need help with translation and family history
Hi everyone,
I recently came across what appears to be an official Greek municipal document from Piraeus dated November 1924 belonging to my great-grandfather, who I believe was named Theodoros Chrysochoou (Χρυσοχόου), born around 1908.
The document includes:
• Official municipal stamps and seals from Piraeus
• Two revenue stamps
• What appears to be a small portrait photo of him
• Signatures from what looks like the Mayor and Civil Registrar of Piraeus
I’ve done a rough translation using AI assistance but the handwriting is old Greek cursive and heavily damaged in places, so I’d love help from a native Greek speaker who can read period handwriting.
I’m hoping someone can help with:
1. A more accurate line-by-line translation
2. Any information about the Chrysochoou family name and its origins in Piraeus
3. Advice on where to look for more records in Greece
4. Any contacts at Greek archives who might help trace the family further back
My family has been in the US for generations but we are originally from the Piraeus/Athens area. This document is a treasured piece of family history and I want to learn as much as possible about where we came from.
I’ve attached a high resolution photo of the document. Any help at all is deeply appreciated!
Thank you 🙏
u/Spiderman4409 — 3 months ago