Maricopa Community Colleges  ABC142   20032-20045 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 12/10/02
ABC142 20032-20045 LEC 1.50 Credit(s) 1.50 Period(s)
Alternating Current
Production of electricity, including; current, voltage, induction, mutual inductance and capacitance. Calculations using Ohms Law. Operation of a three phase system. Prerequisites: Registered Apprentice status and ABC/MEC120 or permission of the apprenticeship coordinator.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
ABC142   20032-20045 Alternating Current
1. List the properties of alternating current (AC) and compare AC with direct current (DC). (I)
2. Explain terminology and equipment related to electric power generation including: power loss, generator operation, generator drivers, primary and secondary distribution lines and the role of transformers. (II)
3. Describe AC resistive circuits and give examples of "pure resistant circuits". (III)
4. Define inductance and its' relationship to resistive circuits and transformers and describe "inductive reactance" on circuits. (IV)
5. Explain the "Power Factor" in AC resistive circuits, describe the effects of lead and lag power factor corrections and list methods for correction. (IV)
6. Define "capacitive reactance" and explain the effects of current flow, frequency, resistance and voltage. (V)
7. Describe the formula used to determine capacitive reactance and explain the phase angle relationship. (V)
8. Define "impedance" as related to AC current and solve specific impedance problems using the impedance triangle method. (VI)
9. Use Ohm's law for specific AC circuit calculations. (VI)
10. Describe "single phase" alternators and "polyphase" machines and explain the operation of a three phase system including wye and delta systems. (VII)
11. Describe armature reaction, frequency control and voltage regulation. (VII)
12. Discuss transformer construction including types, operational characteristics, and turns and voltage ratios. (VIII)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
ABC142   20032-20045 Alternating Current
    I. Alternating Current
        A. Sinusoid curve (sine wave)
        B. Frequency
        C. Effective voltage
          1. Root-mean-square value (rms)
          2. Peak value
          3. Nominal value
        D. AC vs. DC
      II. Power Generation
          A. Power loss
          B. Elementary generator operation
          C. Generator drivers
            1. Hydro-electric
            2. Steam
          D. Distribution lines
            1. Primary
            2. Secondary
          E. Transformers
            1. Step-up
            2. Step-down
        III. AC Resitive Circuits
            A. Definition
            B. Current and voltage in AC resistive circuits
            C. Power in AC circuits
            D. Power factor in AC resistive circuits
            E. Inductance in AC circuits
              1. Definition
              2. Factors affecting inductance
              3. Units of inductance
              4. Mutual inductance
            F. Inductance in transformers
            G. Inductive reactance
              1. Current wave forms
              2. Effects of frequency
              3. Pure resistance vs. pure reactance
          IV. Power in Inductive Circuits
              A. Definition of power
              B. Apparent and true power
              C. Power factor
              D. Lead and lag
                1. Capacitors
                2. Switched capacitors
              E. Power factor correction
                1. Fixed capacitors
                2. Switched capacitors
            V. Capacitive Reactance
                A. Definition
                  1. Current flow
                  2. Frequency
                  3. Resistance
                  4. Voltage
                  5. Formula
                B. Capacitive circuit
                  1. Phase angle
                  2. Power in a capacitive circuit
              VI. Impedance
                  A. Definition
                  B. Impedance triangles
                  C. AC circuit characteristics - Ohm's law
                  D. Vector diagrams
                VII. Phases
                    A. Single phase
                    B. Poly phase
                    C. Three phase system
                    D. Operation of a three phase system
                      1. Wye or star connection
                      2. Delta system
                      3. Armature reaction
                      4. Frequency control
                      5. Voltage regulation similarities
                  VIII. Transformer Construction
                      A. Types
                      B. Operational Characteristics
                      C. Turns and Voltage Ratios
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