This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to diagnose and rectify faults in renewable energy (RE) control systems.

It includes preparing to diagnose and rectify faults,diagnosing and rectifying faults in RE control systems, and completing and reporting fault-finding and repair activities.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1

Prepare to diagnose and rectify faults

1.1

Work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) processes and procedures for relevant work area are identified and applied in accordance with workplace procedures

1.2

Risk control measures are applied in accordance with workplace procedures prior to commencing work

1.3

Extent of work to be undertaken is determined from fault/breakdown reports and/or discussions with relevant person/s

1.4

Instructions for coordinating work with others is obtained from relevant person/s and applied

1.5

Materials required for the work are identified and accessed in accordance with workplace procedures

1.6

Tools, equipment and testing devices required to locate faults are obtained in accordance with workplace procedures and checked for correct operation and safety

2

Diagnose and rectify faults in RE control systems

2.1

Workplace risk control measures and procedures are applied

2.2

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

2.3

Circuits/machines/plant are isolated in accordance with WHS/OHS requirements and workplace procedures

2.4

Safety hazards resulting from the fault or breakdown are documented and risk control measures identified and implemented in consultation with relevant person/s

2.5

Fault finding of RE systems and interconnecting circuits is approached methodically using measured and calculated values of circuit/apparatus parameters

2.6

Circuit/apparatus components are dismantled, as required, and parts stored to protect against loss or damage

2.7

Faulty circuits/components are rechecked and their fault status confirmed

2.8

Materials/replacement parts required to rectify faults are sourced and obtained in accordance with workplace procedures

2.9

Effectiveness of repair is tested in accordance with workplace procedures

2.10

Apparatus is reassembled, tested and prepared for return to service

2.11

Unexpected events are dealt with safely and with approval of authorised person/s

2.12

Fault-finding and repair activities are completed without damage to apparatus, circuits, the surrounding environment and services using sustainable energy practices

3

Complete and report fault-finding and repair activities

3.1

Workplace risk control measures and procedures are applied

3.2

Work area is cleaned and made safe in accordance with workplace procedures

3.3

Justification for repairs to apparatus is documented in accordance with workplace procedures

3.4

Work completion is documented 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, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and include:

envisaging the likely extent of work from fault/breakdown reports and discussions with appropriate person/s

using methodical fault-finding techniques

finding faults efficiently

rectifying faults effectively

completing documentation correctly

dealing with unplanned events

applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and workplace procedures and practices, including the use of risk control measures

applying sustainable energy principles and practices

checking isolation of circuits/machines/system

determining live electrical testing/measurement requirements

dismantling and reassembling circuit/apparatus components

identifying and accessing materials, tools, equipment and testing devices

testing repairs.

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

renewable energy (RE) system electronics, including:

fault-finding techniques encompassing:

factors to consider in clarifying the nature of a fault:

initial fault report

confirmation of symptoms of the fault

comparison of symptoms with normal operation

effect to cause reasoning — assumptions of possible causes

methods for testing assumptions:

visual inspection

sectional testing

split-half tests

component isolation

dealing with intermittent faults

semiconductor components encompassing:

symbols for common semiconductor components, including rectifier diodes, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), zener diodes, bipolar transistors, darlington pairs, MOSFETs, IGBTs, SCRs and triacs

basic function of these devices above

major rating parameters of devices above

applications for each device

I-V curve characteristics of diodes and the current gain characteristic of bipolar transistors

linear regulated direct current (d.c.) power supplies encompassing:

label circuit diagrams for half wave and full wave, single phase and three phase rectifiers

voltage and current waveforms for these rectifier circuits with and without capacitor filtering

peak output voltages from single phase and three phase rectifier circuits

block diagram showing the structure of a regulated d.c. power supply

main features of linear integrated circuit and voltage regulator integrated circuits

each of the major components and their physical location in a regulated power supply

switching power control circuits encompassing:

power dissipation of a transistor when operated as a switch

how pulse width modulation (PWM) can provide a variable output voltage from a switch mode regulator

advantages and disadvantages of switch mode power circuits compared with linear power circuits

block diagram of a basic photovoltaic (PV) switching voltage regulator for battery charging

applications of switch mode circuits found in RE systems

how power control in alternating current (a.c.) circuits is achieved using SCRs and triacs

methods used to reduce radio frequency interference (RFI) in d.c. and a.c. circuits utilising high-speed switching

digital electronic circuits encompassing:

characteristic features that distinguish analogue and digital devices and circuits

how numbers or text information can be represented using binary numbers and how these are represented in digital circuits

operation of voltage comparators, analogue to digital (A-D) converters, and digital to analogue (D-A) converters, and examples of each one's use in a RE application

basic function of microcontrollers, volatile and non-volatile memory devices

operation of a solar hot water (SHW) system pump differential controller as an example of the use of logic in digital circuits

inverters encompassing:

basic function of inverters and d.c converters and their use in RE systems

the operation of an inverter bridge and half-bridge

output voltage waveforms for square wave, modified square wave and synthesised sine wave inverters showing typical voltages and timing

the function of PWM techniques in modified square wave and synthesised sine wave inverters

block diagrams showing the structure of common forms of d.c converters and inverters used in RE applications

maintenance encompassing:

safety procedures for work on electronic systems, circuits and apparatus

hazards that may be encountered when performing tests on inverters, battery chargers or other equipment containing low voltage (LV) circuits

functionality of electronic equipment through appropriate client questioning and application of systematic tests and observation

various types of common faults and their causes in RE electronic equipment

typical test equipment used to repair electronic and electrical equipment

safe and correct use of tools and test equipment to locate electronic equipment faults under the direction of an electronics technician

replacement of circuit boards, observing appropriate handling precautions for static sensitive devices

replacement of socketed integrated circuits such as EPROMs or microprocessors using appropriate tools and methods

relevant manufacturer specifications

relevant safe work method statements (SWMS)/job safety assessments or risk mitigation processes

relevant WHS/OHS legislated requirements

relevant workplace documentation

relevant workplace policies and procedures

RE control systems.

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 suitable workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in suitable 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 and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry

resources that reflect current industry practices in relation to diagnosing faults in RE control systems

applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, equipment specifications, 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.

RE system fault finding and repairing must include at least four of the following:

open circuit

short circuit

incorrect connections

insulation failure

unsafe condition

apparatus/component failure

related mechanical failure

Electrotechnology

Renewable Energy