Electrical Fundamentals such as; Electron Theory, Electrical Terminology, DC Circuits, Electrical Components, Motors / Generators, and other topics as required in EASA 66 Module 3 syllabus. The student will come away with a working knowledge of electrical fundamentals and their applications
- 3.1 Electron Theory
- Structure and distribution of electrical charges within: atoms, molecules, ions, and compounds Molecular structure of conductors,semiconductors and insulators
- 3.2 Static Electricity and Conduction
- Static electricity and distribution of electrostatic charges;
- Electrostatic laws of attraction and repulsion;Units of charge, Coulomb's Law;Conduction of electricity in solids, liquids, gases and a vacuum
- 3.3 Electrical Terminology
- The following terms, their units and factors affecting them:potential difference, electromotive force,voltage, current, resistance, conductance, charge,conventional current flow, and electron flow
- 3.4 Generation of Electricity
- Production of electricity by the following methods:light, heat, friction, pressure, chemical action,magnetism, and motion
- 3.5 DC Sources of Electricity
- Construction and basic chemical action of:primary cells, secondary cells, lead acid cells,nickel cadmium cells, and other alkaline cells Cells connected in series and parallel Internal resistance and its effect on a battery Construction, materials and operation of thermocouples
- Operation of photo-cells
- 3.6 DC Circuits
- Ohms Law
- Kirchoff's Voltage and Current Laws
- Calculations using the above laws to find resistance, voltage and current
- Significance of the internal resistance of a power supply
- 3.7 Resistance / Resistor
- Resistance and affecting factors;Specific resistance;Resistor color code, values & tolerances,preferred values, wattage ratings;
- Resistors in series and parallel;Calculation of total resistance using series, parallel and series parallel combinations;Operation and use of potentiometers and rheostats;Operation of Wheatstone Bridge;Construction of potentiometers and rheostats;Construction of Wheatstone Bridge.Positive and negative temperature coefficient conductance;Fixed resistors, stability, tolerance and limitations,methods of construction;Variable resistors, thermistors, voltage dependent resistors;
- 3.8 Power
- Power, work and energy (kinetic and potential)
- 3.9 Capacitance / Capacitor
- Operation and function of a capacitor;Factors affecting capacitance area of plates, distance between plates, number of plates,dielectric and dielectric constant, working voltage, voltage rating;
- Capacitor types, construction and function;Capacitor color coding;Calculations of capacitance and voltage in series and parallel circuits;Exponential charge and discharge of a capacitor, time constants;Testing of capacitors
- 3.10 Magnetism
- Theory of magnetism;Properties of a magnet;Action of a magnet suspended in the Earth's magnetic field;Magnetization and demagnetization;Magnetic shielding;Various types of magnetic material;Electromagnets construction and principles of operation;Hand clasp rules to determine: magnetic field around current carrying conductor;Magnetomotive force, field strength, magnetic flux density, permeability, hysteresis loop, retentivity,coercive force reluctance, saturation point, eddy currents;Precautions for care and storage of magnets
- 3.11 Inductance / Inductor
- Faraday's Law Action of inducing a voltage in a conductor moving in a magnetic field;Induction principles;Effects of the following on the magnitude of an induced voltage: magnetic field strength, rate of change of flux, number of conductor turns;Mutual induction;The effect the rate of change of primary current and mutual inductance has on Factors affecting mutual inductance: number of turns in coil, physical size of coil, permeability of coil, position of coils with respect to each other;Lenz's Law and polarity determining rules;Back emf, self induction;Saturation point;Principle uses of inductors
- 3.12 DC Motor / Generator Theory
- Basic motor and generator theory;Construction and purpose of components in DC generator;Operation of, and factors affecting output and direction of current flow;Operation of, and factors affecting output power,torque, speed and direction of rotation of C motors;Series wound, shunt wound and compound motors;Starter Generator construction
- 3.13 AC Theory
- Sinusoidal waveform: phase, period, frequency, cycle;Instantaneous, average, root mean square, peak, peak to peak current values;Triangular/Square waves;Single / 3 phase principles
- 3.14 Resistive(R), Capacitive(C) & Inductive(L) Circuits
- Phase relationship of voltage and current in L, C and R circuits Parallel, series and series parallel circuits Power dissipation in L, C and R circuits Impedance, phase angle, power factor and current calculations True power, apparent power and reactive power calculations
- 3.15 Transformers
- Transformer construction principles and operation;Transformer losses and methods for overcoming them;Transformer action under load and no-load conditions;Power transfer, efficiency, polarity markings;Primary and Secondary current, voltage, turns ratio, power,efficiency;Auto transformers
- 3.16 Filters
- Operation, application and uses of the following filters:low pass, high pass, band pass, band stop
- 3.17 AC Generators
- Rotation of loop in a magnetic field and waveform produced;Operation and construction of revolving armature and revolving field type AC generators;Single phase, two phase and three phase alternators;Three phase star and delta connections advantages and uses;Calculation of line and phase voltages and currents;Calculation of power in a three phase system; Permanent Magnet Generators
- 3.18 AC Motors
- Construction, principles of operation and characteristics of:AC synchronous and induction motors (single and polyphase) Methods of speed control and direction of rotation Following methods of producing a rotating field:capacitor, inductor, shaded or split pole