Course Title:

Basic Electricity for HVAC

Course Prefix & Number:

HART 1301

Section Number: 

840

Term Code:

Semester Credit Hours:

  3

Lecture Hours:

32

Lab Hours:

32

Course Description (NCTC Catalog):

Principles of electricity as required by HVAC, including proper use of test equipment, electrical circuits, and component theory and operation         

Course Prerequisite(s): Fundamentals of Refrigeration

Course Type: Electrical theory for HVAC systems

o - Academic General Education Course (from Academic Course Guide Manual but not in NCTC Core)

o- Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course

x- WECM Course

Name of Instructor:

Mike Brucia

Campus/Office Location:

Denton High School, Room 342/CTC 2109 Gainesville

Telephone Number:

214-294-9364

E-mail Address:

mbrucia@nctc.edu

Name of Chair/Coordinator:

Darrell Smith

Office Location:

CTC2110

Telephone Number:

940-668-7731, x4426

E-mail Address:

ddsmith@nctc.edu

# of Graded Course Elements

Graded Course Elements

Percentage or Points Values

1

Unit 30 Electrical Safety

Test over unit 30

10%

1

Unit 31- Basic Electricity

Test over unit 31

10%

1

Unit 32- Alternating Current Fundamentals

Test over unit 32

10%

1

Unit 33- Electrical Measuring and Test Instruments

Test over unit 33

10%

1

Unit 34- Electrical Components

Test over unit 34

10%

1

Unit 35- Electric Motors

Test over unit 35

10%

1

Unit 36 – Motor Controls

Test over unit 36

10%

1

Unit 38- Electrical Diagrams

Test over unit 38

10%

1

Unit 39- Control Systems

Test over unit 39

10%

1

Final Exam over all units covered

10%

Student Learning Outcome

Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of electricity, electrical current, circuitry, and air conditioning devices

Perform electrical continuity, voltage, and current tests with appropriate meters

Demonstrate electrical safety

Topic

General Description of Subject Matter

Electrical Safety

Describe the harmful effects of electrical accidents. Recognize the significance of proper electrical safety procedures. Explain the function of ground fault circuit interrupters. Determine of a circuit breaker has tripped and how to reset it. Lockout and tagout and electrical circuit. Test a circuit for voltage to make sure it is de energized. Explain the safety importance of fuse and breaker amperage capacities. Describe why electrical wire types and sizes are important to safety.

Basic Electricity

Explain how the structure of the atom affects electricity. Discuss the difference between a conductor and an insulator. Explain the difference between direct current and alternating current. List the characteristics of electric current that are commonly measured and the units used to measure them. Explain the relationship of potential current and resistance in an electrical circuit. Discuss the three elements required to make an electrical circuit. Explain the difference between series, parallel and series , parallel circuits. Use Ohm’s law and or the power formula to calculate values for volts, amps, ohms, and watts.

Alternating current fundamentals

Identify the different types and categories of electricity and electrical power systems used in the HVACR industry. Explain the basis for magnetic induction in coils and transformers. Explain how capacitors work in AC circuits. Discuss the uses of single phase and three phase power. Describe how electrical power is generated, state the importance of overcurrent protection.

Electrical measuring and test instruments

List the major types of electrical test instruments and explain how they are used. Explain the difference between weighted average meters, true RMS meters, and RMS meters. Identify the CAT rating on meters and explain its importance. Describe the difference between analog and digital meters. Demonstrate how voltmeters, ohmmeters, and ammeters are used. Take measurements on a de energized circuit with a test meter.

Electrical components

Determine the resistance value of a color banded fixed resistor. Provide examples of where and how transformers are used. Identify paper and film, electrolytic, ceramic, and mica capacitors. Identify the different types of thermostats. Explain cut in and cut out and differential on pressure switches. Test transformers, capacitors, contactors, and relays. List the different types of fuses and overloads. Explain the difference between relay logic and solid state logic. Describe how silicon rectifier operates.

Electric motors

Describe the operation of AC induction motors. Explain the importance of torque, speed and power usage for motors. Explain how and why capacitors are often used for single phase motors. List the different types of single phase motors. Describe the differences between single phase and three phase motors. List the different types of motor protection devices. Test a motor circuit for proper operation.

Motors Controls

Explain the difference between light and heavy duty relays,

Test relays. Describe how contractors differ from relays,

List the different types of motor protection devices. Escribe the basic principle of variable frequency drive control

Electrical diagrams

Identify symbols used for common electrical components. Explain the characteristics of different types of electrical diagrams. Interpret different types of electrical diagrams. Trace an electrical circuit on a ladder diagram. Draw a ladder type diagram.

Control systems

Explain the purpose of a control system. List the different types of control systems. Explain the difference between open and closed loop control systems. Identify standard terminal designations in residential HVACR control systems. Use schematic diagrams to describe the operating sequence of standard HVACR equipment.