ELT 101: Fundamentals of DC & AC Electrical Systems

Electrical Safety Standards 

 Lockout/tagout

1. Define hazardous energy & describe its associated dangers.
2. Describe lockout/tagout & explain its importance.
3. Describe how to use LOTO to safeguard a machine.
4. Describe the requirements of a lockout tagout device.
5. Describe the requirements of an energy control program.

 NFPA 70E

1. Describe safety related work practices.
2. Define electricity and give an application.
3. Describe two types of electrical current and give an application of each.
4. Describe the function and operation of a circuit tester.
5. Use an AC tester to check a wall outlet for electricity.

Basic Electrical Circuits 

 Segment 1- Fundamentals of Electricity 

 Segment 2- Electrical Circuit Components

1. Describe the function of four basic components of an electrical circuit.
2. Describe the operation of two types of power supplies and give their schematic symbols.
3. Describe the function of and electrical schematic.
4. Connect and operate a power supply.

 Segment 3- Manual input devices

1. Describe the operation of a manual switch.
2. Describe the operation of N.0. and N.C. contacts and give their symbols.
3. Describe the function of three types of manual switch operators.
4. Describe the operation of three manual switch operators and give their schematic symbols.
5. Connect and operate a circuit using three types of manual switches.

 Segment 4- Output Devices

1. Describe the function of five types of electrical output devices and their application.
2. Describe the operation of five types of output devices and give their schematic symbols.
3. Connect and operate an electrical circuit requiring resistors.
4. Connect and operate an electrical circuit with a buzzer.
5. Connect and operate an electrical circuit with a solenoid.
6. Connect and operate an electrical circuit with a motor.

Electrical Measurements

 Segment 1 - Voltage Measurement

1. Define voltage and give its units of measurement.
2. Describe the function of a voltmeter and give its schematic symbol.
3. Describe how to use a voltmeter to measure voltage.
4. Demonstrate how to use an analog voltmeter.
5. Describe the function of two multimeters: analog and digital.
6. Use a DMM to measure voltage.

 Segment 2 - Introduction to Series and Parallel Circuits

1. Define series and parallel circuits.
2. Describe the voltage characteristics in series and parallel circuits.
3. Use a DMM to measure voltage drops in series and parallel circuits.

 Segment 3 - Current Measurement

1. Define current and give its units of measurement.
2. Describe the function of two types of ammeters and give their schematic symbol.
3. Describe how to use an ammeter to measure current.
4. Use a DMM to measure current in series and parallel Circuits.
5. Describe the current characteristics in series and parallel circuits.

 Segment 4 - Resistance Measurement

1. Define resistance and give its units of measurement.
2. Describe the function of two types of Ohm meters and give their schematic symbol.
3. Describe how to use an Ohm meter to measure resistance.
4. Use a DMM to measure the resistance of a component.
5. Describe the resistance characteristics in series and parallel circuits.
6. Measure the resistance in series and parallel circuits.
7. Describe two methods of measuring continuity.
8. Test the continuity of wires using a DMM.

Circuit Analysis

  Segment 1 - Power in Series Circuits

1. State the formula for calculating series resistance and give an application.
2. Calculate series resistance given each load's resistance.
3. State Ohm's Law, explain its importance, and give an application.
4. Use Ohm's Law to calculate voltage, current, and resistance in a series circuit.
5. State Kirchhoff's voltage law for a series circuit and give an application.
6. Define power and give its units of measurement.
7. State a formula for calculating the total power used in an electrical circuit.
8. Calculate the total power used by a series circuit.

 Segment 2 - Power in Parallel Circuits

1. State Kirchhoff's current law and give an application.
2. Calculate the main line current in a parallel circuit.
3. State a formula for calculating total parallel resistance.
4. Calculate the total parallel resistance.
5. Calculate the total power used in a parallel circuit.

 Segment 3 - Circuit Protection Devices

1. Describe the function of two types of circuit protection and give an application of each.
2. Describe the operation of a fuse and give its schematic symbol.
3. Operate a circuit using a fuse.
4. Test and replace a fuse.
5. Describe the operation of two types of circuit breakers and give their schematic symbols.
6. Operate a circuit using a circuit breaker.
7. Test and reset a circuit breaker. 

Inductance and Capacitance

 Segment 1 - Electromagnetism

1. Define electromagnetism and give an application.
2. Test an electromagnetic field.
3. Describe the function of four electromagnetic devices.
4. Connect and operate a relay in a circuit.

 Segment 2 - Inductance

1. Define Inductance and give its unit of measurement.
2. Describe the operation of an Inductor and give its schematic symbol.
3. Describe the effect of an inductor in a DC circuit and give an application.
4. Describe the effect of an inductor in an AC circuit and give an application.
5. State the formulas for calculating total series inductance and inductive reactance.
6. State the formulas for calculating total parallel inductance and inductive reactance.
7. Calculate the total load on an AC circuit with Inductors.

 Segment 3 - Capacitance

1. Define capacitance and give its units of measurement.
2. Describe the operation of a capacitor and give its schematic symbol.
3. Describe the functions of three types of capacitors.
4. Discharge a capacitor.
5. Test a capacitor with a DMM.

 Segment 4 - Characteristics of Capacitance

1. Describe the effect of a capacitor in a DC circuit and give an application.
2. Measure the voltage across a charged capacitor.
3. Describe the effect of a capacitor in an AC circuit and give an application.
4. State the formulas for calculating total series capacitance and capacitive reactance.
5. State the formulas for calculating total parallel capacitance and capacitive reactance.
6. Calculate the total load on an AC circuit with capacitors.

 Segment 5 - Inductor and Capacitor Applications

1. Describe how inductors & capacitors are used in the function of a fluorescent light fixture.
2. Describe the function of an RC timing circuit in a time-delay relay.
3. Calculate the time to charge and discharge a capacitor.
4. Describe the function of capacitors and Inductors in an electric power supply.

Combination Circuits   

 Segment 1 - Characteristics

1. Define a series-parallel circuit.
2. Describe a method for Identifying the series and parallel sections of a circuit.
3. Trace the current path in a combination circuit.
4. List the seven steps for solving a combination circuit.
5. Solve a combination circuit.

 Segment 2 - Lighting Circuits

1. Describe how switches are used in combination circuits and give an application.
2. Connect and operate a basic lighting circuit.
3. Connect and operate a ceiling fan circuit.
4. Describe the Function of a variable resistor and give an application.
5. Connect and operate a rheostat as a light dimmer.

 Segment 3 - Voltage Dividers

1. Describe the function of a voltage divider and give an application.
2. Describe the operation of three types of voltage dividers.
3. Design a voltage divider network.
4. Connect and operate a voltage divider network.

 Segment 4 - Troubleshooting

1. Explain the effect of a short circuit.
2. Describe the four steps for troubleshooting a short circuit.
3. Locate a short circuit.
4. Describe the three basic steps for troubleshooting an open circuit.

5. Locate an open circuit.

    

Transformers

  Segment 1 - Introduction to Transformers

1. Describe the function of a transformer and give an application.
2. Describe the operation of a transformer and give its schematic symbol.
3. Connect and operate a transformer.
4. Describe how to calculate the output voltage of a transformer.
5. Calculate the secondary coil voltage of a transformer.
6. Describe how to troubleshoot a transformer.
7. Troubleshoot a transformer by measuring continuity.

Segment 2 - Sizing a Transformer

1. Describe how to size a transformer.
2. Size a transformer.
3. Describe a transformer’s input and output power relationship and explain its importance.
4. Describe how to calculate the current load of a transformer.
5. Calculate the current load on a transformer.

 Segment 3 - Transformer Types

1. Describe the function of two basic categories of transformers.
2. Describe the function of a control transformer.
3. Design a control transformer circuit to provide a given output voltage.
4. Describe the function of a tap on the secondary of a transformer and give an application.