MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

ABA102  20046-99999

Electrical Fundamentals

1.

List and define trade terms associated with the fundamentals of electricity. (I)

2.

Identify electrical hazards and describe how to avoid or minimize them in the workplace. (II)

3.

Explain OSHA safety issues concerning lockout/tagout procedures, personal protection using assured grounding and isolation programs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and working on elevated areas. (III)

4.

Define voltage, identify the ways in which it can be produced and explain the difference between conductors and insulators. (IV)

5.

Define the units of measurement that are used to measure the properties of electricity and perform calculations using Ohm's law. (V)

6.

Explain the specific characteristics of series, parallel and series-parallel circuits. (VI)

7.

Using Kirchoff's Current Law, calculate the total current in a parallel and series-parallel circuit. (VI)

8.

Using Kirchoff's Voltage Law, calculate the voltage drop in a series, parallel and series-parallel circuit. (VI)

9.

Calculate the total amount of resistance in a series, parallel and series-parallel circuit. (VI)

10.

Describe the operation of specific types of meters used to measure voltage, current and resistance and explain the importance of proper meter polarity. (VII)

11.

Explain the purpose and history of the National Electrical Code (NEC), its layout and use. (VIII)

12.

Explain the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and describe the role of testing laboratories. (IX)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

ABA102  20046-99999

Electrical Fundamentals

I. Trade terminology

A. Safety

1. fibrillation

2. Ground Fault Circuit-Interrupter (GFCI)

B. Electrical theory

1. ampere

2. circuit

3. current

4. electron

5. insulator

6. ohm

7. resistor

8. voltage

9. watt

10. volt

C. Electrical test equipment

1. alternating current (AC)

2. continuity

3. decibels

4. frequency

5. shunt resistor

6. shunt value

D. National Electrical Code (NEC)

1. article

2. exceptions

3. fine print note (FPN)

4. part

5. section

6. table

II. Electrical hazards

A. Electrical shock

1. current

2. body resistance

B. Risk reduction

1. protective equipment

2. de-energize circuits

3. other precautions

III. OSHA safety regulations

A. Lockout/tagout rule

B. Testing for voltage

C. elevated areas

1. ladders

2. scaffolds

3. lifts, hoists and cranes

4. fall protection

D. PCBs

IV. Electrical theory

A. Voltage

1. definition

2. production

B. Conductors and insulators

1. atom

2. nucleus

3. electrical charges

C. Electromotive force (EMF)

D. Current flow

E. Voltage potential

F. Resistance

V. Ohm's Law

A. Units of measurement

1. resistance - ohms = R

2. current - amperes = I

3. voltage - volts = E

B. Ohm's law circle

C. Calculation exercise

VI. Circuits

A. Resistive circuits

1. resistance in series

2. resistance in parallel

3. resistance in series-parallel circuits

4. voltage and current in series

5. voltage and current in parallel

6. voltage and current in series-parallel

B. Kirchoff's current law

C. Kirchoff's voltage law

D. Loop equations

VII. Electrical test equipment

A. D'Arsonval meter movement

B. Ammeter

1. multirange

2. multirange-one scale

3. multirange-multiscale

4. clamp-on

C. Voltmeter

1. multirange-one scale

2. multirange-multiscale

D. Ohmmeter

E. Volt-ohm-milliammeter

1. specifications

2. use

F. Digital meters

1. features

2. operation

3. maintenance

4. specifications

G. Wattmeter

H. Megohmmeter

1. safety precautions

2. other

I. Frequency meter

J. Power factor meter

K. Continuity tester

1. audio

2. visual

L. Voltage tester

M. Recording instruments

N. Safety

1. high voltage protection equipment

2. testing of electrical equipment

3. meter Loading effects

O. Polarity

VIII. National Electrical Code (NEC)

A. Purpose and history

B. Layout

1. rules

2. Article 90 (introduction)

3. body

4. Article 100 (definitions)

5. reference portion

6. organization of chapters

7. text

C. Navigating the NEC

1. equipment for general use

2. special occupancies

3. special equipment

4. special conditions

5. practice exercise

IX. NEMA, NFPA and testing laboratories

A. National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

B. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

C. Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL's)