Emergency and Standby Power Systems
Master every layer of emergency and standby power systems, from generator sets and transfer switches to UPS integration and advanced microgrid design. This course gives electrical engineers, facility managers, and power system professionals the technical depth to design, commission, and maintain critical backup power infrastructure. Build the skills that keep hospitals, data centers, and public safety facilities running when the grid goes down.
What your team will master:
You will gain a thorough understanding of emergency and standby power system design, covering load analysis, generator set selection, transfer switch application, and UPS integration. The course walks through installation best practices, acceptance testing procedures, and commissioning documentation for complete power systems. You will also learn how to build preventive and predictive maintenance programs that meet regulatory requirements and extend equipment service life. Advanced topics include paralleled generator plant design, microgrid architecture, battery energy storage, and cybersecurity for power control networks. By the end, you will be equipped to lead power system projects from initial load survey through final owner handover.
How your team learns in practice Emergency and Standby Power Systems
How your team practices Emergency and Standby Power Systems
Professionals from these companies study at Dedika
Course Content
8 Chapters • 39 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)
Chapter 1HideHide detailsSee detailsFoundations of Emergency Power Systems
Foundations of Emergency Power Systems
Lesson 1 • Key Performance Metrics
Introduces reliability, availability, and power quality metrics used to evaluate system performance. Students apply these metrics as evaluation criteria throughout the course.
Lesson 2 • Purpose and Regulatory Framework
Defines emergency vs. standby power and the life-safety codes that mandate them. Connects regulatory intent to real-world system design requirements.
Lesson 3 • System Architecture Overview
Surveys major system topologies from simple transfer switches to complex paralleled generator plants. Builds vocabulary for detailed study in subsequent chapters.
Lesson 4 • Critical Facility Power Needs
Identifies load categories requiring backup power across facility types. Provides context for sizing and prioritization decisions covered in later chapters.
Chapter 2HideHide detailsSee detailsGenerator Sets: Principles and Components
Generator Sets: Principles and Components
Lesson 1 • Generator Set Ratings and Standards
Interprets standby, prime, and continuous power ratings per international standards. Students apply rating knowledge to avoid overloading and warranty violations.
Lesson 2 • Cooling, Exhaust, and Fuel Systems
Covers ancillary systems essential for reliable generator operation in standby applications. Proper ancillary design prevents the most common causes of generator failure.
Lesson 3 • Alternator and Excitation Systems
Explains synchronous alternator construction, excitation methods, and voltage regulation. Links alternator characteristics to power quality outcomes discussed in Chapter 1.
Lesson 4 • Prime Mover Technologies
Compares diesel, natural gas, propane, and dual-fuel engines as generator prime movers. Establishes fuel-type trade-offs that inform selection decisions later in the chapter.
Lesson 5 • Generator Set Selection Criteria
Provides a structured process for matching generator sets to facility load profiles. Integrates prime mover, alternator, and rating knowledge into a practical selection workflow.
Chapter 3HideHide detailsSee detailsTransfer Switches and Switching Equipment
Transfer Switches and Switching Equipment
Lesson 1 • Transfer Switch Fundamentals
Defines open, closed, and soft-transfer switching and their impact on load continuity. Establishes the functional basis for all transfer switch selection decisions.
Lesson 2 • Installation and Wiring Considerations
Addresses physical installation, conductor sizing, and grounding for transfer switch equipment. Proper installation prevents nuisance trips and ensures code compliance.
Lesson 3 • Bypass-Isolation and Maintenance Features
Covers bypass-isolation switch designs that allow maintenance without de-energizing loads. Critical for life-safety systems that cannot tolerate planned outages.
Lesson 4 • Automatic Transfer Switch Control Logic
Explains sensing, timing, and retransfer sequences in automatic transfer switch controllers. Students configure timing parameters to meet code and load requirements.
Lesson 5 • Transfer Switch Application by Load Type
Applies transfer switch selection rules to life-safety, critical, and optional standby loads. Reinforces regulatory load classification from Chapter 1.
Chapter 4HideHide detailsSee detailsUninterruptible Power Supply Systems
Uninterruptible Power Supply Systems
Lesson 1 • UPS Maintenance and Battery Management
Establishes preventive maintenance schedules and battery health monitoring practices. Proactive maintenance is the primary factor in achieving rated UPS service life.
Lesson 2 • Battery Technologies for UPS
Evaluates VRLA, lithium-ion, and nickel-cadmium batteries for standby power applications. Battery selection affects runtime, footprint, maintenance burden, and total cost.
Lesson 3 • UPS Topologies and Operating Modes
Compares offline, line-interactive, and double-conversion UPS topologies by protection level. Topology selection directly affects power quality and transfer time performance.
Lesson 4 • UPS Sizing and Load Analysis
Provides a step-by-step method for sizing UPS systems to actual load profiles. Accurate sizing prevents premature battery failure and inverter overload.
Lesson 5 • UPS and Generator Interaction
Addresses compatibility issues between UPS rectifiers and generator voltage/frequency transients. Proper coordination prevents generator overload and UPS faults during transfer.
Chapter 5HideHide detailsSee detailsSystem Design and Load Analysis
System Design and Load Analysis
Lesson 1 • Single-Line Diagram Development
Guides creation of single-line diagrams showing source, transfer, and distribution equipment. Single-line diagrams are the primary communication tool for design and maintenance teams.
Lesson 2 • Generator and UPS Sizing Calculations
Integrates load survey data with derating factors to produce final generator and UPS sizes. Students validate sizing against regulatory minimums and reliability targets.
Lesson 3 • Fuel Storage and Supply Design
Covers fuel quantity calculations, tank sizing, and supply piping for required runtime. Fuel system design ensures generators can sustain operation through extended outages.
Lesson 4 • Load Survey Methodology
Teaches systematic data collection for connected, demand, and starting loads across facility systems. Accurate load data is the foundation of every sizing and selection decision.
Lesson 5 • Coordination and Protection Design
Applies overcurrent coordination principles to emergency power distribution systems. Proper coordination isolates faults without unnecessarily de-energizing critical loads.
Chapter 6HideHide detailsSee detailsInstallation, Commissioning, and Testing
Installation, Commissioning, and Testing
Lesson 1 • Acceptance Testing Procedures
Defines load bank testing, transfer time verification, and power quality measurement at acceptance. Test results establish the performance baseline for ongoing maintenance programs.
Lesson 2 • Site Preparation and Equipment Placement
Covers foundation design, vibration isolation, and clearance requirements for generator sets. Correct placement prevents structural damage and ensures safe maintenance access.
Lesson 3 • Electrical Installation Best Practices
Details conduit routing, conductor termination, and grounding for emergency power equipment. Proper installation prevents premature failures and ensures code-compliant operation.
Lesson 4 • Commissioning Documentation and Handover
Covers as-built drawing updates, O&M manual compilation, and owner training at project closeout. Complete documentation enables effective long-term operation and maintenance.
Lesson 5 • Pre-Commissioning Inspections
Establishes a structured checklist process for verifying installation before energization. Catching deficiencies before startup prevents equipment damage and safety incidents.
Chapter 7HideHide detailsSee detailsOperations, Maintenance, and Reliability
Operations, Maintenance, and Reliability
Lesson 1 • Preventive Maintenance Programs
Builds time-based PM schedules for generators, transfer switches, and UPS systems. Structured PM reduces unplanned failures and extends equipment service life.
Lesson 2 • Troubleshooting Common Failures
Provides systematic fault-isolation procedures for generator, transfer switch, and UPS failures. Rapid diagnosis minimizes downtime during actual power emergencies.
Lesson 3 • Predictive Maintenance Techniques
Introduces condition-monitoring tools including thermography, vibration analysis, and oil analysis. Predictive data allows maintenance to be performed before failures occur.
Lesson 4 • Regulatory Maintenance Requirements
Identifies mandatory testing and inspection intervals imposed by life-safety and electrical codes. Compliance with these intervals is a legal obligation for facility operators.
Lesson 5 • Reliability-Centered Maintenance Concepts
Applies reliability-centered maintenance principles to optimize maintenance task selection. RCM analysis ensures resources are focused on failure modes with the greatest consequence.
Chapter 8HideHide detailsSee detailsAdvanced System Configurations and Resilience
Advanced System Configurations and Resilience
Lesson 1 • Energy Storage in Standby Applications
Evaluates battery energy storage systems as supplements or alternatives to generator sets. Storage systems reduce generator runtime and improve power quality during transitions.
Lesson 2 • Microgrid and Islanding Concepts
Introduces microgrid architecture, islanding detection, and grid reconnection for facilities with distributed energy resources. Microgrids extend resilience beyond traditional backup power.
Lesson 3 • Switchgear and Paralleling Gear
Examines low-voltage and medium-voltage switchgear used in paralleled generator applications. Proper switchgear selection ensures safe operation and maintenance of complex plants.
Lesson 4 • Paralleled Generator Plant Design
Covers synchronization, load sharing, and protection for multiple generators operating in parallel. Paralleling increases capacity and redundancy beyond what a single unit can provide.
Lesson 5 • Resilience Planning and Risk Assessment
Applies risk assessment frameworks to identify vulnerabilities and design mitigation strategies. Resilience planning ensures systems perform under worst-case scenarios including extended outages.
Your valid completion certificate
This course is for you:
Electrical engineer: ready to specialize in critical power infrastructure design.
Facilities manager: responsible for keeping mission-critical buildings continuously operational.
Mechanical engineer: expanding scope to include backup power system responsibilities.
Power systems technician: seeking deeper engineering knowledge behind the equipment they service.
Construction project manager: overseeing complex electrical installations at critical facilities.
Energy consultant: advising clients on resilience strategies and backup power investments.
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