Module 3
Module 3: Electrical Fundamentals
A B1 B2 B2L B3
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/989 amending Regulation (EU) No 1321/2014, Annex III (Part-66), Appendix I 12 June 2024
Knowledge Level Overview
| Section | Topic | A | B1 | B2 | B2L | B3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Electron Theory | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3.2 | Static Electricity and Conduction | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.3 | Electrical Terminology | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.4 | Generation of Electricity | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3.5 | DC Sources of Electricity | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.6 | DC Circuits | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.7 | Resistance/Resistor | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.8 | Power | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.9 | Capacitance/Capacitor | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.10 | Magnetism | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.11 | Inductance/Inductor | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.12 | DC Motor/Generator Theory | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.13 | AC Theory | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.14 | Resistive (R), Capacitive (C) and Inductive (L) Circuits | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.15 | Transformers | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.16 | Filters | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.17 | AC Generators | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 3.18 | AC Motors | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Knowledge levels: 1 = basic familiarisation, 2 = general knowledge, 3 = detailed knowledge.
1 Basic familiarisation
2 General knowledge
3 Detailed knowledge
Examination
| Category | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| A | 20 | 25 min |
| B1 / B2 / B2L | 52 | 65 min |
| B3 | 24 | 30 min |
Detailed Syllabus
3.1Electron Theory
- Structure and distribution of electrical charges within: atoms, molecules, ions, compounds
- Molecular structure of conductors, semiconductors and insulators
3.2Static 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
3.3Electrical Terminology
- The following terms, their units and factors affecting them: potential difference, electromotive force, voltage, current, resistance, conductance, charge, conventional current flow, electron flow
3.4Generation of Electricity
- Generation of electricity by the following methods: light, heat, friction, pressure, chemical action, magnetism and motion
3.5DC Sources of Electricity
- Construction and basic chemical action of: primary cells, secondary cells, lead-acid cells, nickel-cadmium cells, other alkaline cells
- Cells connected in series and in parallel
- Internal resistance and its effect on a battery
- Construction, materials and operation of thermocouples
- Operation of photo-cells
3.6DC Circuits
- Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Voltage and Current Laws
- Calculations using the above laws to find resistance, voltage and current
- Significance of the internal resistance of a supply
3.7Resistance/Resistor
- Resistance and affecting factors
- Specific resistance/resistivity
- Resistor colour code, values and tolerances, preferred values, wattage ratings
- Resistors in series and in parallel
- Calculation of total resistance using series, parallel and series-parallel combinations
- Operation and use of potentiometers and rheostats
- Operation of Wheatstone Bridge
- Positive and negative temperature coefficient of resistance
- Fixed resistors, stability, tolerance and limitations, methods of construction
- Variable resistors, thermistors, voltage-dependent resistors
- Construction of potentiometers and rheostats
- Construction of Wheatstone Bridge
3.8Power
- Power, work and energy (kinetic and potential)
- Dissipation of power by a resistor
- Power formula
- Calculations involving power, work and energy
3.9Capacitance/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 colour coding
- Calculations of capacitance and voltage in series and parallel circuits
- Exponential charge and discharge of a capacitor, time constants
- Testing of capacitors
3.10Magnetism
- Theory of magnetism
- Properties of a magnet
- Action of a magnet suspended in the Earth's magnetic field
- Magnetisation and demagnetisation
- 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
3.11Inductance/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 induced voltage
- 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
- Uses of inductors
3.12DC Motor/Generator Theory
- Basic motor and generator theory
- Construction and purpose of components in a DC generator
- Operation of, and factors affecting output and direction of current flow in DC generators
- Operation of, and factors affecting output power, torque, speed and direction of rotation of DC motors
- Series wound, shunt wound and compound motors
- Starter-generator construction
3.13AC Theory
- Sinusoidal waveform: phase, period, frequency, cycle
- Instantaneous, average, root mean square, peak, peak to peak current values and calculations of these values, in relation to voltage, current and power
- Triangular/square waves
- Single/three-phase principles
3.14Resistive (R), Capacitive (C) and Inductive (L) Circuits
- Phase relationships of voltage and current in L, C and R circuits, parallel, series and series-parallel
- Power dissipation in L, C and R circuits
- Impedance, phase angle, power factor and current calculations
- True power, apparent power and reactive power calculations
3.15Transformers
- Transformer construction principles and operation
- Transformer losses and methods of overcoming them
- Transformer action under load and no-load conditions
- Power transfer, efficiency, polarity markings
- Calculation of line and phase voltages and currents
- Calculation of power in a three-phase system
- Primary and secondary current, voltage, turns ratio, power, efficiency
- Auto transformers
3.16Filters
- Operation, application and uses of the following filters: low pass, high pass, band pass, band stop
3.17AC Generators
- Rotation of loop in a magnetic field and the produced waveform
- 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
- Permanent Magnet Generators
3.18AC Motors
- Construction, principles of operation and characteristics of: AC synchronous and induction motors, both single and polyphase
- Methods of speed control and direction of rotation
- Methods of producing a rotating field: capacitor, inductor, shaded or split pole