Megger Personas: Ryan Mayfield

10 January 2023

 

Ryan Mayfield

Founder & CEO, Mayfield Renewables

Years of Experience in the Electrical Power Industry: 23

 

Ryan has been working in the renewable energy field since 1999. His career has blended technical expertise with an affinity for writing and education. Ryan was also the PV systems technical editor for SolarPro magazine from 2010 to 2018, where he regularly wrote feature articles, and was a regular contributor to Home Power magazine. Ryan holds a degree in environmental resources engineering and is a Limited Renewable Energy Technician (LRT) license holder in Oregon.

 

Explain some of the work you’re doing or have done with Megger and its testers.

Mayfield Renewables has been using Megger tools as part of its solar industry education for over ten years. Recently, we’ve partnered up with Megger to help inform the solar industry about their tools and applications through technical articles, videos, and trainings. We’ve helped introduce the DCM1500S to the industry and have helped educate technicians on using the MIT2500 in solar applications.

 

Did you always want to be an engineer (or what your current job is)? If so, why?  If not, how’d you wind up here?

Far from it. Early in my college career, I was lucky enough to meet a friend’s father who was an engineer. He described some of the projects he was involved in and piqued my interest. When I returned to school the next term, I enrolled in some intro to Environmental Engineering classes and was sold. I was lucky to have a path within the degree to focus on energy and the courses in renewable energy set me down the path I’m still on today.

 

What has surprised you the most about the work you do with electrical testing? (or engineering in general)

I would say for both testing and engineering as much as they are scientifically and factually based, they can both be very interpretative. You must consider different factors that impact your results and analyze them separately to draw your best conclusions.

 

What is one of the biggest issues currently facing engineers (or whatever your job is)?

For me in the solar industry, it’s staying on top of the technology and how to properly apply codes. It is too easy to put your head down and do the work at hand and lose sight of the changes around you. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy being active in education, I get to research and present on new topics and as a result, talk to others who are doing the same.

 

What is the best thing about working in the industry you are in?

I think the best thing is making a positive impact in the world. I believe in renewable energy and the overall benefits it has for our society. That was the main reason I was drawn to the industry out of college, and it remains a driving force for me today.

 

What advice would you give to someone looking into this field of work?

Prepare yourself for constant learning opportunities. As so many aspects of electrical design are merging, you must be ready to know about multiple topics and how they interrelate.

 

What is your favorite joke?

Somebody recently said to me, “if you’re so smart, name two structures that hold water”. And I was like, “well, damn”. *insert drum riff here