Print this page Plant Electrical Troubleshooting
Thomas Mason, P.E.
Course Outline
This two-hour
course discusses the methods of troubleshooting commercial and industrial electrical
problems. General principles and examples are presented, along with safety considerations.
An Appendix contains catalog information on test equipment.
This course includes
a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding
of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- be familiar with the basic logic of troubleshooting, applicable to a wide range of problems;
- be familiar with the hazards of energized and de-energized electrical equipment and appropriate personal protection equipment and techniques;
- be familiar with common and specialized electrical test equipment and its use for rapid diagnosis of underlying problems; and
- share a range
of common and uncommon troubleshooting experiences gleaned from a 30-year
career as a PE assigned to maintenance support and special projects.
Troubleshooting consists of carefully applying a few simple rules. Quick success cannot be promised, but the data gathering stage is invaluable when the problem must be passed on to another specialist. Formal troubleshooting consists of five steps -
1) listening carefully
to a description of the perceived problem;
2) first
hand observation of the situation and measurements, when possible;
3) talking with the person who observed the problem;
4) postulating a solution or course of action, based upon knowledge and experience;
5) testing and implementing the course of action.
Alternatively,
the troubleshooter can respond to the problem by initially explaining the solution
which worked on a similar problem. Both methods require a collection of experience,
which will be simulated by this course.
Course Content
The course content is in a PDF file (200 KB) Plant Electrical Troubleshooting. You need to open or download this document to study this course.
Course Summary
This
course covers the logical approach to troubleshooting plant electric systems.
The emphasis is on methodic approach, collecting necessary data and applying
experience. Sample experiences are offered. Following successful completion
of this course, the student should be able to ask essential questions regarding
an electrical system problem and actively participate in the solution of the
problem. Appendices contain test equipment catalog information.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:
CR Magnetics - http://www.crmagnetics.com/newprod/indicatorsg.asp
NETA, Electrical testing association - http://www.netaworld.com/item.cfm?ItemsID=143
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.com or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
