This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to determine correct operation of single source direct current (d.c.) series, parallel and series-parallel circuits and provide solutions to various electrotechnology work functions.

It includes working safely; using voltage, current and resistance measuring devices; and providing solutions to measurement and calculation problems derived from single and multiple path circuits.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit require a licence or permit to practice in the workplace where work is carried out on electrical installations which are designed to operate at voltages greater than 50 volt (V) alternating current (a.c.) or 120 V d.c.

Competency development activities in this unit are subject to regulations directly related to licensing. Where a licence or permit to practice is not held, a relevant contract of training, such as an apprenticeship, may be required.

Additional and/or other conditions may apply in some jurisdictions subject to regulations related to electrical work. Practice in the workplace and during training is also subject to work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Identify d.c. electrical circuits

1.1

Nature of the circuit problem is obtained from relevant documentation, electrical drawings or personnel to determine the scope of work to be undertaken

1.2

Work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and workplace procedures for a given work area are identified and applied

1.3

Tools, equipment and circuit measuring devices required for the electrical work are obtained and checked for correct operation and safety in accordance with workplace procedures

1.4

Electrical apparatus is visually inspected, and components and circuits are identified

2

Determine electrical d.c. circuit problem

2.1

Electrical hazards are identified, risks are assessed and control measures are implemented

2.2

Need to test or measure live electrical work is conducted in accordance with WHS/OHS workplace safety procedures and regulatory requirements

2.3

Circuits are checked and isolated in accordance with workplace procedures and regulatory requirements

2.4

Expected circuit parameters are calculated from relevant component ratings/specifications

2.5

Circuit parameters are measured in accordance with industry standards and checked against expected values

2.6

D.c. circuit problems are assessed from measured and calculated values using established methodologies as they apply to circuits

2.7

Circuit solutions are determined from measured and calculated values of resistance, voltage, current and power in series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits in accordance with industry standards

2.8

Solutions are tested in accordance with workplace procedures and industry standards

2.9

Problems are resolved without damage to apparatus, circuits, the surrounding environment or services using sustainable energy practices

2.10

Unplanned situations are responded to in accordance with workplace procedures in a manner that minimises risk to personnel and equipment

3

Complete work and document problem-solving activities

3.1

WHS/OHS work completion risk control measures and procedures are followed

3.2

Worksite is cleaned and made safe in accordance with workplace procedures

3.3

Justification for solutions used to resolve circuit problems is documented

3.4

Work completion is documented, electrical drawings are updated, and relevant person/s notified in accordance with workplace procedures

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least two separate occasions and include:

altering an existing circuit to comply with specified operating parameters

applying Ohm’s Law to solve problems in direct current (d.c.) single path circuits

applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements, including identifying risks and applying risk control measures

calculating resistance of a conductor from factors such as conductor length, cross-sectional area, resistivity and changes in temperature and material

connecting analogue/digital ammeter into a circuit ensuring the polarities are correct to take current readings

connecting a series d.c. circuit containing capacitor and resistor to determine the time constant of the circuit

calculating quantities from given information to determine capacitance, energy and voltage

calculating one time constant as well as the time taken to fully charge and discharge a given capacitor

calculating equivalent capacitance of capacitors connected in series and parallel circuits

dealing with unplanned events in accordance with workplace procedures in a manner that minimises risk to personnel and equipment

demonstrating graphical relationships of voltage, current and resistance

calibrating and using measuring device in accordance with manufacturer specifications

determining the operating parameters of an existing circuit

developing circuits to comply with a specified function and operating parameters

identifying and applying electrical industry standard symbols to represent electrical components in circuit diagram

identifying fixed and variable resistors, including:

determining resistance of a colour coded resistor from colour code tables and confirming the value by measurement

measuring resistance of variable resistors under varying conditions of light, voltage and/or temperature

selecting a resistor for an application

solving problems in series and series-parallel circuits, including:

developing, setting up and connecting a single source d.c. series-parallel circuit

measuring voltage and current

calculating resistance, voltage, current and power from measured and/or given values of any two of these quantities in a single source series-parallel circuit

using test equipment to confirm the effect of material length, cross-sectional area and temperature on the resistance of conductive materials

selecting an appropriate meter in terms of units to be measured, range, loading effect and accuracy for a given application

using measuring devices to Solve problems in direct current circuits

using meters for problem solving, including measuring resistance using direct, volt-ammeter and/or bridge methods

using methodical techniques to solve d.c. circuit problems from measured and calculated values.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

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.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment (including single source series, parallel and series-parallel d.c. circuits) and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry

applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, equipment specifications, manufacturer instructions, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the UEE Electrotechnology Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Electrotechnology

Cross Discipline