UEECD0043 - Solve problems in direct current circuits

Students will also be expected to demonstrate the following knowledge:
* electrical concepts, including:
* calculations involving quantity of electricity, velocity and speed
* distribution of electricity from the source to the load via the transmission systems
* principle of conservation of energy
* production of electricity, including:
* renewable and non-renewable energy sources
* static and current electricity
* utilisation of electricity by the various loads
* electrical circuit, including:
* industry standard symbols used to represent components in an electrical circuit diagram
* multiple and sub-multiple units
* purpose of each component in the electrical circuit
* Ohm’s Law, including:
* d.c. single path circuit
* determining voltage, current and resistance in a circuit
* effects of an open circuit, a closed circuit and a short circuit on a d.c. single path
* relationship between voltage and current from measured values in a circuit
* graphical relationships of voltage, current and resistance
* relationship between voltage, current and resistance
* voltage and current levels in a d.c. single path circuit
* electrical power, including:
* effects of power rating of various resistors
* methods for measuring of electrical power in a d.c. circuit
* power dissipated in circuit from voltage, current and resistance values
* power ratings of electrical devices
* relationship between force, power, work and energy
* effects of electrical current, including:
* relevant industry standards relating to fundamental principles for protection against the damaging effects of current
* mechanisms by which metals corrode
* principles by which electric current can result in the production of:
* heat
* magnetic fields
* a chemical reaction
* typical uses of electrical current
* physiological effects of current
* electromotive force (EMF) sources and conversion of electrical energy, including:
* input, output, efficiency and losses of electrical systems and machines
* principles of generating an EMF, including:
* when a mechanical force is applied to a crystal
* when moving a conductor in a magnetic field
* by the application of light falling on the surface of photovoltaic (PV) cells
* from the heating of one junction of a thermocouple
* principles of producing an electrical current from primary, secondary and fuel cells
* resistors, including:
* types and applications of fixed and variable resistors used in the electrotechnology industry
* characteristics of variable resistors used in the electrotechnology industry, including:
* adjustable resistors: potentiometer and rheostat
* light dependent resistor (LDR)
* voltage dependent resistor (VDR)
* temperature dependent resistor
* power ratings of a resistor
* power loss (heat) occurring in a conductor
* resistor colour code tables
* series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits, including:
* applications where these circuits are used in the electrotechnology industry
* characteristics of series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits, including:
* connection of loads
* current path
* voltage drops
* power dissipation
* effects of an open circuit
* diagrams of single source d.c. series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits
* identification of the components of series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits, including power supply, loads, connecting leads and switch
* relationship between voltage drops and resistance in a simple voltage divider network
* techniques for determining voltage, current, resistances or power dissipated from measured or given values (of any two of these quantities)
* relationship between branch currents and resistances in a two-branch parallel and series-parallel current divider network
* factors affecting the resistance of a conductor, including:
* conductor length
* cross-sectional area
* resistivity
* changes in temperature and material
* effect the change in cross-sectional area, length and type of material has on the resistance of a conductor
* effects of resistance on the current-carrying capacity and voltage drop in cables
* effects of temperature change on the resistance of various conducting materials
* effects of measuring devices in a circuit, including:
* advantages and disadvantages of each voltage indicator tester
* calibration and use of the measuring device
* methods for connecting an analogue/digital voltmeter into a circuit ensuring the polarities are correct and taking various voltage readings
* correct techniques to read the scale of an analogue meters and how to reduce the ‘parallax’ error
* hazards associated with the use of measuring devices, including polarity
* hazards involved in using electrical instruments and the safety control measures that should be taken
* instruments used in the field to measure voltage, current, resistance and insulation resistance and the typical circumstances in which they are used
* methods for using insulation resistance measuring devices to relevant industry standards
* loading effect of various voltmeters when measuring voltage across various loads
* methods for measuring resistance using direct, volt-ammeter and bridge methods
* non-contact voltage indicator types and use
* operating characteristics of analogue and digital meters
* connecting an analogue/digital voltmeter into a circuit ensuring the polarities are correct and taking various voltage readings
* operation of various voltage indicator testers
* purpose and characteristics of a voltmeter
* purpose of an ammeter and the correct connection (series) of an ammeter into a circuit
* reasons the internal resistance of an ammeter must be extremely low and the dangers and consequences of connecting an ammeter in parallel and/or wrong polarity
* methods for selecting an appropriate meter in terms of units to be measured, range, loading effect and accuracy for a given application
* types of voltage indicator testers, including light-emitting diode (LED), neon, solenoid, volt-stick and series tester and the purpose of each voltage indicator tester
* methods for using voltage indicator testers to detect the presence of various voltage levels
* capacitors and capacitance, including:
* construction of a standard capacitor
* different types of dielectric material and each dielectric’s relative permittivity
* types of capacitors commonly used in the electrotechnology industry
* industry standard symbol of various types of capacitors, including standard, variable, trimmer and polarised
* terms and units for capacitance, electric charge and energy
* factors affecting capacitance
* behaviour of a series d.c. circuit containing resistance and capacitance components. - charge and discharge curves
* arrangement of a series d.c. circuit containing capacitance and resistor to determine the time constant of the circuit
* capacitors in series and parallel, including:
* application of capacitors in the electrotechnology industry
* common faults in capacitors
* arrangement of capacitors in series and/or parallel configurations to achieve various capacitance values
* equivalent capacitance of capacitors connected in series and parallel
* effects of capacitors connected in parallel by calculating their equivalent capacitance
* effects on the total capacitance of capacitors connected in series by calculating their equivalent capacitance
* hazards involved in working with capacitance effects and the safety control measures that should be taken, including safe handling and the correct methods of discharging various size capacitors, dangers of a charged capacitor and the consequences of discharging a capacitor through a person
* testing of capacitors to determine serviceability.