Electrical Inspection and Testing Workshop Course

Course Overview:

This course aims at improving participants’ ability to inspect, test and troubleshoot electrical appliances, with a view to achieving lower operational costs as well as improved safety.

The course provides knowledge concerning modern electrical appliances such as transformers, generators, motor control centers, and PLCs, as well as practical training in diagnostic test equipment. 

Participants will build competency in reading electrical drawings, fault diagnostics as well as developing an effective and practical troubleshooting strategy bearing in mind the applicable safety codes like NEC. 

This course is aimed at engineers, supervisors, and technicians from various industries and it seeks to train them towards the safe and correct operation of electrical systems.

Course Objectives:

Participants attending this program will:
Return to their respective organizations equipped with new or refreshed skills to ensure that electrical equipment is inspected, tested, and operated in a fashion that ensures reduced costs.

On successful completion of this workshop, participants will have:

• A better understanding of inspection and testing methods
• A better understanding of troubleshooting procedures
• An improved capability in the use of test equipment
• A refreshed outlook on reading electrical drawings
• A refreshed awareness of electrical safety concerns

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is intended for Electrical Engineers, Electrical Supervisors and Electrical Technicians engaged in the inspection and testing of Electrical Equipment. Because the methods and examples are generic, personnel from all industries will benefit. Participants require a good understanding of electricity and magnetism and possess some relevant experience.

Course Outlines:

The Technology of Electrical Equipment

• Transformers
• Power supplies (UPS)
• Batteries
• Generators
• Switchgear
• Motor control centers (MCC)
• Disconnect switches
• Neutral ground resistors (NGR)
• Variable frequency/speed drives (VFD/VSD)
• Programmable logic controllers (PLC)
• Power monitoring
• Control relays/timers/switches
• Motor/feeder protective devices
• Motors (AC & DC)
• Miscellaneous equipment - heaters, solenoid valves and electric valve actuators

The Use of Test Equipment

• Digital voltmeter (DVM)
• Oscilloscopes
• Megger
• Frequency meter
• Temperature probes/pyrometers
• Ammeters
• Power meters
• Load banks
• Digital hydrometers
• Cable fault locators

Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment

• Methods
• Terminology
• Principles
• Special techniques
• Troubleshooting of Electrical Equipment
• Methods
• Terminology
• Principles
• Special techniques
• Case studies/examples
• Single line drawings
• Group exercises

The Necessity for Inspection and Testing

• Common mode failures
• Phase imbalance
• Contact pitting/arcing
• Electronic component failure
• Fusing
• Motor windings/bearings/brushes
• Ballasts
• Excitation circuits
• Battery cells
• Inverters/rectifiers
• Bushings
• Switches
• Control circuits
• Ground faults
• Open session: Case Studies, Questions and Answers

The Interpretation and Use of Drawings and Safety

• Single-line electrical drawings
• Control schematics
• Wiring lists
• P&ID’s
• Logic and standard symbols.
• The Development of a Job Plan
• Identification of the troubleshooting step-by-step sequence
• Procedure preparation
• Documentation
• Safety considerations and training
• A review of Safety Requirements
• Area classifications
• NEC electrical codes