ET - Electrical Technology

This course will provide a basic understanding of electricity and how to prevent common electrical/workplace hazards. Students will be introduced to safety requirements for campus, classroom, lab, and shop environments including the proper use of tools/equipment, and safety procedures. Weekly safety meetings are held and include safety demonstrations showing the correct way to use tools, ladders, and other equipment needed in the electrical trade. A first aid and CPR certificate is awarded after successful completion of the CPR class.

While learning to navigate the National Electrical Code (NEC), students will be introduced to minimum standards for safe installation, maintenance and repair of electrical systems. This course will also cover the Washington Administrative Codes (WAC) that supersede the NEC and Revised Code of Washington (RCW) pertaining to electricians.

Beginning with atomic structures, this course will introduce the basic theory of electricity along with solving for voltage, current, resistance and wattage in different circuit configurations using Ohm’s and Watt’s laws. Students will also identify and draw single-phase and three-phase systems used in industry.

Starting with proper drawing of schematics, students will practice safe and practical application of classroom instruction through wiring residential switch and receptacle labs. Students will also demonstrate proper use of personal protective equipment and tools to install and troubleshoot conductors, switches, receptacles, and fixture wiring.

Building on their electrical theory, students will learn safety relating to energy and various test equipment. The Electrical Department holds weekly safety meetings that include safety demonstrations showing the correct way to use tools, ladders, and other equipment needed in the electrical trade.

This course will review and build upon the code previously covered in the program with the addition of articles relating to reactors such as capacitors and inductors.

This course will examine direct current motors and generators beginning with magnetic fields surrounding conductors and coils. From there, students will move into the generation of alternating current and reactive components such as inductors and capacitors in RLC circuits. Students will learn the theory of transformers, conversions of power, and various semiconductor components.

Students will use electrical components and breadboard to assemble circuits and verify electrical quantities determined in classroom calculations.

Students will explore safety in an industrial setting, covering topics such as proper meter use, personal protective equipment and lock-out, tag-out, try-out. Weekly safety meetings are held and include safety demonstrations showing the correct way to use tools, ladders, and other equipment needed in the electrical trade.

This course will cover NEC requirements for motor circuits. Students will determine sizes of conductors, overloads, overcurrent protection and disconnecting means for motor circuits. Previously covered NEC will be added to these calculations such as proper grounding and bonding.

Industrial I introduces the principles of two- and three-wire control for motor control circuits. The course will identify various control components such as relays, mag-starters, timers and sensors, along with the symbols and ladder diagrams needed to make a successful control installation. Students will learn the theory and operation of AC motors along with proper wiring connections for different voltages and troubleshooting of motors and motor control circuits.

Using ladder diagrams designed in class, students install the wiring to motor control lab stations for various applications and processes. After completion of the lab, the instructor will bug the station and students will apply troubleshooting skills learned in the classroom to locate and repair the malfunctioning process.

Students will explore safety in an industrial setting such as proper meter use, personal protective equipment and lock-out, tag-out, try-out. Weekly safety meetings are held and include safety demonstrations showing the correct way to use tools, ladders, and other equipment needed in the electrical trade.

This course will examine and review previously covered NEC articles.

This course will build upon the material introduced in Industrial I with the introduction of programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Students will learn the parts of a PLC and how to set up communication with the computer along with constructing programs in the PLC software. Students will also examine several digital numbering systems and conversions along with troubleshooting.

Students will develop, use, and create programs. Students will also use logical diagrams to control the desired process by analyzing inputs and updating outputs by monitoring devices and troubleshooting the written program.

Students will explore safety in an industrial setting such as proper meter use, personal protective equipment and lock- out, tag-out, try-out. The Electrical Department holds weekly safety meetings that include a safety demonstration to show the correct way to use tools, ladders, and other equipment needed in the electrical trade.

This course will cover how to calculate the ampacity of service, feeder and branch circuit conductors, and the ampacity rating of the panels they supply. Students will also revisit the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) and Revised Code of Washington (RCW) requirements for the electrical industry including, but not limited to: electrical industry scopes of work, licensing qualifications, exams, fees, penalties, types of certifications, and continuing education requirements.

This course will outline the fundamentals and functions of variable frequency drives (VFDs) and interpreting manufacturer manuals. Students will troubleshoot poor power quality and harmonics along with learning skills to correct these symptoms through the use of power quality analyzers.

Students will use technical manuals to wire variable frequency drives to change the speed of AC motors through the use of various analog components. They will also monitor the power quality on various circuits through the use of analyzers and size capacitors to correct poor power factor.

Students will distinguish safety hazards on a construction job site. The Electrical Department holds weekly safety meetings that include a safety demonstration indicating the correct way to use tools, ladders, and other equipment needed in the electrical trade.

This course will discuss the code requirements for wiring a dwelling unit, photovoltaic system and cover articles relating to commercial wiring methods. The minimum standards of outdoor branch circuits and feeders, services, grounding and bonding, hazardous locations, and pools will also be covered. Students will learn the local utility requirements for electrical installations.

The course will introduce terms, symbols, layout, organization, and structure of plans that are used for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Students will learn how to understand and interpret prints for identification of code violations, conflicts of space, and safety issues. Students will be trained to use hand, hydraulic, and PVC conduit benders. Also covered are solar photovoltaic systems including the array circuit, inverter, and controller.

Students will practice applied wiring techniques in various hands-on exercises and labs including, but not limited to: conduit bending, switch connections, non-metallic cable, metallic cable, wire pulling, panel, box and device installation, and connections.

Students will distinguish safety hazards on a construction job site and the safe handling of electronics. The Electrical Department holds weekly safety meetings that include a safety demonstration showing the correct way to use tools, ladders, and other equipment needed in the electrical trade.

Students will prepare for an effective career search by learning to create a resume, practicing interviewing skills, and reviewing the job application process. This course will also include a comprehensive review of material related to career opportunities.

Students will build a foundation of solid state electronics, printed circuit boards, soldering, and troubleshooting electronics.

Students will have the opportunity to apply the use of training equipment including oscilloscopes, signal generators, and DC power supplies, used with solid state components to determine how and why they operate. Students will also practice soldering for construction and repair of circuit boards.

Students will take part in on-the-job training projects doing hands-on electrical wiring installations in residential and commercial buildings. Students are required to have 100% supervision by a (01) journey level electrician employed by Perry Technical Institute while performing these electrical installations with a ratio of not more than four students to one (01) journey level electrician while working outside the school. All work will comply with the NEC, WAC and RCWs and shall be inspected by the Department of Labor & Industries as required. In addition to holding a current (01) journey level electrician certificate, the (01) journey level electricians must also have training in instruction and meet the minimum requirements of a classroom instructor. Journey level electricians shall not engage in any of the electrical installations.

Students will complete on-the-job training projects doing hands- on electrical wiring installations in residential and commercial buildings. While working for the school, all trainee electrical installations are supervised by a (01) journey level electrician and the work is inspected by the Department of Labor & Industries as required. Students who have a job offer as an electrician may leave the program and work in the field under a training extern agreement with Perry Technical Institute, the employer, and the student. Completion of an externship packet is required. For students that wish to meet the requirements of the Department of Labor & Industries and qualify for credit towards (01) certification, completion of the WAC and RCW compliance form which ensures students are supervised 100% of the time by a (01) journey level electrician at a ratio of no more than one student to one (01) journey level electrician is required in  addition to the externship packet. If the student does not obtain an externship, completion of an electrical capstone project is required.