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2024-2025 College Catalog

AVM 208 - Basic Electricity

3 Credits, 6 Contact Hours
1.50 lecture periods 4.50 lab periods
Introduction to basic aircraft electricity. Includes the study of matter, electron theory, current/electron flow, direct and alternating current, Ohm’s Law, Kirchoff’s laws, circuit elements, use of testing equipment, and electrical calculation and measurements. Also includes interpretation of schematics and other wiring diagrams, battery theory and maintenance, aircraft electrical systems, and introduction to communication and navigation radio systems.

Prerequisite(s): AVM 103  
Button linking to AZ Transfer course equivalency guide    button image Prior Learning and link to PLA webpage

Course Learning Outcomes
  1. Recall proficient knowledge of AC/DC theory and circuits
  2. Recall proficient knowledge of voltage generation and control elements
  3. Demonstrate common processes/procedures associated with aircraft electrical systems
Outline:
  1. General Composition of Matter
    1. Matter
    2. Element
    3. Compound
    4. Molecule
    5. Atom
    6. Electrons, Protons and Neutrons
    7. Electron Shells and Energy Levels
    8. Electron Movement
  2. Metric Based Prefixes Used for Electrical Calculations
  3. Static Electricity
    1. Attractive and Repulsive Forces
    2. Electrostatic Field
    3. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Considerations
  4. Magnetism
  5. Types of Magnets
  6. Electromagnetism
  7. Conventional Flow and Electron Flow
    1. Conventional Flow
    2. Electron Flow
  8. Electromotive Force (Voltage)
  9. Current
  10. Ohm’s Law (Resistance)
  11. Resistance of a Conductor
    1. Factors Affecting Resistance
    2. Resistance and Relation to Wire Sizing
  12. Power and Energy
    1. Power in an Electrical Circuit
    2. Power Formulas Used in the Study of Electricity
    3. Power in a Series and Parallel Circuit
    4. Power in a Series and Parallel Circuit
    5. Sources of Electricity
    6. Schematic Representation of Electrical Components
    7. Carbon Composition
    8. Resistor Rating
    9. Color Code Decoding
    10. Wire-Wound
    11. Variable Resistors
    12. Thermistors
    13. Photoconductive Cells
  13. Circuit Protection Devices
    1. Fuses
    2. Current Limiters
    3. Circuit Breakers
    4. Thermal Protectors
    5. Control Devises
  14. Series DC Circuits
    1. Voltage Drops and Further Application of Ohm’s Law
    2. Voltage Sources in Series
    3. Kirchoff’s Voltage Law
    4. Voltage Dividers
    5. Determining the Voltage Divider Formula
  15. Parallel DC Circuits
    1. Voltage Drop
    2. Total Parallel Resistance
    3. Resistors in Parallel
    4. Two Resistors in Parallel
    5. Current Source
    6. Kirchoff’s Current Law
    7. Current Dividers
  16. Series-Parallel DC Circuits
    1. Determining the Total Resistance
  17. Alternating Current (AC) Voltage
    1. AC and DC Compared
  18. Generator Principles
    1. Generators of Alternating Current
    2. Cycle and Frequency
    3. Phase Relationships
    4. Values of Alternating Current
  19. Capacitance
    1. Capacitors in Direct Current
    2. The Resistor/Capacitor (RC) Time Constant
    3. Units of Capacitance
    4. Voltage Rating of a Capacitor
    5. Factors Affecting Capacitance
    6. Types of Capacitors
    7. Ceramic
    8. Electrolytic
    9. Tantalum
    10. Polyester Film
    11. Oil Capacitors
    12. Trimmers
    13. Varactors
    14. Capacitors in Series
    15. Capacitors in Parallel
    16. Capacitors in Alternating Current
    17. Capacitive Reactance Xc
    18. Sample Problem
    19. Solution
    20. Capacitive Reactances in Series and in Parallel
    21. Phase of Current and Voltage in Reactive Circuit
  20. Induction
    1. Characteristics of Inductance
    2. The RL Time Constant
    3. Physical Parameters
    4. Self-Inductance
    5. Types of Inductors
    6. Units of Inductance
    7. Inductors in Series
    8. Inductors in Parallel
    9. Inductive Resistance
  21. AC Circuits
    1. Ohm’s Law for AC Circuits
    2. Series AC Circuits
    3. Parallel AC Circuits
    4. Resonance
    5. Power in AC Circuits
    6. True Power Defined
    7. Transformers
    8. Current Transformers
    9. Transformer Losses
    10. Power in Transformers
  22. DC Measuring Equipment
    1. D’Arsonval Meter Movement
    2. Current Sensitivity and Resistance
    3. Damping
    4. Electrical Damping
    5. Mechanical Damping meter
    6. A Basic Multirange Ammeter
  23. The Voltmeter
    1. Voltage Sensitivity
    2. Multiple Range Voltmeters
    3. Voltmeter Circuit Connections
    4. Influence of the Voltmeter in the Circuit
  24. The Ohmmeter
    1. Zero Adjustment
    2. Ohmmeter Scales
    3. The Multirange Ohmmeters
    4. Megger (Megohmmeter)
  25. AC Measuring Instruments
    1. Electrodynamometer Meter Movement
    2. Moving Iron Vane Meter
    3. Inclined Coil Iron Vane Meter
    4. Varmeters
    5. Wattmeter
    6. Frequency Measurement/Oscilloscope
    7. Horizontal Deflection
    8. Vertical Deflection
    9. Tracing a Sine Wave
    10. Control Features on an Oscilloscope
    11. Flat Panel Color Displays for Oscilloscopes
    12. Digital Multimeter
  26. Basic Circuit Analysis and Troubleshooting
    1. Voltage Measurement
    2. Current Measurement
    3. Checking Resistance in a Circuit
    4. Continuity Checks
    5. Capacitance Measurement
    6. Inductance Measurement
    7. Troubleshooting Open Faults in a Series Circuit
    8. Tracing Opens with the Voltmeter
    9. Tracing Opens with the Ohmmeter
    10. Troubleshooting Shorting Faults in a Series Circuit
    11. Tracing Shorts with the Ohmmeter
    12. Tracing Shorts with the Voltmeter
    13. Troubleshooting Open Faults in a Parallel Circuit
    14. Tracing an Open with an Ammeter
    15. Tracing an Open with an Ohmmeter
    16. Troubleshooting Shorting Faults in Parallel Circuits
    17. Troubleshooting Shorting Faults in Series-Parallel Circuits
    18. Tracing Opens with the Voltmeter
  27. Basic Circuit Analysis and Troubleshooting
    1. Primary Cell
    2. Secondary Cell
    3. Battery Ratings
    4. Continuity Checks
    5. Life Cycle of a Battery
    6. Lead-Acid Battery Testing Methods
    7. Lead-Acid Battery Charging Methods
  28. Nickel-Cadmium Batteries
    1. Chemistry and Construction
    2. Operation of Nickel-Cadmium Cells
    3. Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Batteries
  29. Lithium-Ion Batteries
  30. Inverters
    1. Rotary Inverters
    2. Permanent Magnet Rotary Inverter
    3. Inductor-Type Rotary Inverter
    4. Static Inverters
  31. Semiconductors
    1. Doping
    2. PN Junctions and the Basic Diode
    3. Forward Biased Diode
    4. Reverse Biased Diode
  32. Rectifiers
    1. Half-Wave Rectifier
    2. Full-Wave Rectifier
    3. Dry Disk
    4. Types of Diodes
    5. Diode Identification
  33. Introduction to Transistors
    1. Classification
    2. Transistor Theory
    3. PNP Transistor Operation
    4. Identification of Transistors
    5. Field Effect Transistors
    6. Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor FET (MOSFET)
    7. Common Transistor Configurations
  34. Vacuum Tubes
  35. Filtering
    1. Filtering Characteristics of Capacitors
    2. Filtering Characteristics of Inductors
    3. Common Filter Configurations
    4. Basic LC Filters
  36. Amplifier Circuits
    1. Classification
    2. Methods of Coupling
    3. Feedback
    4. Operational Amplifiers (OP AMP)
  37. Saturable-Core Reactor
    1. Classification
  38. Logic Circuits
    1. Logic Polarity
    2. Pulse Structure
    3. Basic Logic Circuits
    4. The Integrated Circuit
    5. Microprocessors

Effective Term:
Fall 2024