Electrical System Design Course

Lesson 1 • Electrical Quantities and Units

Defines voltage, current, resistance, and power with SI units. Establishes the measurement language used throughout all subsequent design work.

Lesson 2 • AC Circuit Fundamentals

Covers sinusoidal waveforms, frequency, phase, and RMS values. Prepares students for power factor and load analysis in distribution design.

Lesson 3 • Ohm's Law and Circuit Relationships

Applies Ohm's Law to series, parallel, and combination circuits. Provides the analytical backbone for load calculations in later design chapters.

Lesson 4 • Electrical Safety Principles

Establishes shock hazard thresholds, grounding concepts, and lockout/tagout procedures. Safety awareness is integrated into every design decision going forward.

Lesson 1 • Schematic Symbols and Conventions

Identifies standard symbols for components, conductors, and connections. Correct symbol use ensures drawings are universally readable by engineers and technicians.

Lesson 2 • Single-Line and Riser Diagrams

Explains how single-line diagrams simplify three-phase systems for planning. Students draft riser diagrams showing power distribution from source to loads.

Lesson 3 • CAD Tools for Electrical Design

Introduces computer-aided drafting workflows for electrical drawings. Students produce professional-grade schematics using industry-standard CAD environments.

Lesson 1 • Future Load Growth Planning

Incorporates growth margins into load calculations to extend system service life. Students balance initial cost against long-term capacity needs.

Lesson 2 • Power Factor and Reactive Power

Explains real, reactive, and apparent power relationships using the power triangle. Students identify power factor correction opportunities to reduce system losses.

Lesson 3 • Demand Factor and Diversity Analysis

Applies demand and diversity factors to reduce over-sizing of feeders and panels. Students calculate realistic peak demand for residential and commercial projects.

Lesson 4 • Harmonic Loads and Distortion

Identifies harmonic-generating loads and their effect on system capacity. Students apply derating strategies to protect conductors and transformers.

Lesson 1 • Cable Installation Methods

Covers conduit, cable tray, direct burial, and free-air installation methods. Installation method determines the applicable ampacity and protection requirements.

Lesson 2 • Conductor Materials and Insulation Types

Compares copper and aluminum conductors and common insulation ratings. Material selection affects ampacity, cost, and installation method.

Lesson 3 • Special Cable Applications

Addresses high-voltage, fire-rated, and instrumentation cable requirements. Students select appropriate cable types for demanding or safety-critical environments.

Lesson 4 • Ampacity and Correction Factors

Uses ampacity tables with temperature and conduit fill correction factors. Correct application prevents overheating and premature insulation failure.

Lesson 1 • Selective Coordination Principles

Designs protection schemes where only the nearest upstream device operates on a fault. Selective coordination preserves power to unaffected circuits during fault events.

Lesson 2 • Short-Circuit Current Calculations

Calculates available fault current at each point in a distribution system. Accurate fault current values are required for device interrupting rating verification.

Lesson 3 • Overcurrent Protection Sizing Rules

Applies sizing rules for branch circuits, feeders, and motor circuits. Correct sizing protects conductors without nuisance tripping under normal operation.

Lesson 4 • Ground Fault and Arc Fault Protection

Covers ground fault circuit interrupters and arc fault circuit interrupters for personnel and property protection. Students identify required locations and select appropriate devices.

Lesson 1 • Grounding System Design

Distinguishes system grounding from equipment grounding and sizes each conductor. A properly designed grounding system limits touch voltage during fault conditions.

Lesson 2 • Transient Voltage Surge Suppression

Explains surge origins, suppressor types, and installation locations. Surge protection preserves sensitive equipment and reduces downtime from transient events.

Lesson 3 • Power Quality Monitoring and Mitigation

Covers sags, swells, flicker, and interruptions and their mitigation strategies. Students select monitoring equipment and corrective devices for sensitive facilities.

Lesson 1 • Switchgear and Panelboard Design

Designs switchgear lineups and panelboards for load distribution and protection. Students produce panel schedules with circuit assignments and spare capacity.

Lesson 2 • Transformer Selection and Sizing

Sizes transformers based on connected load, demand factor, and future growth. Transformer selection affects voltage regulation, losses, and system reliability.

Lesson 3 • Emergency and Standby Power Systems

Designs legally required standby and optional standby systems with transfer switching. Students select generator or UPS solutions based on load criticality and transfer time.

Lesson 4 • Service Entrance and Utility Interface

Covers utility metering, service entrance equipment, and point-of-delivery requirements. Correct service design ensures safe interconnection with the utility supply.

Lesson 1 • Motor Branch Circuit Design

Sizes conductors, disconnects, and overcurrent devices for motor branch circuits. Correct sizing accounts for starting inrush without sacrificing overload protection.

Lesson 2 • Motor Types and Electrical Characteristics

Compares induction, synchronous, and DC motor characteristics relevant to circuit design. Motor nameplate data drives all downstream protection and conductor sizing.

Lesson 3 • Motor Starter and Contactor Selection

Selects across-the-line, reduced-voltage, and soft-start methods for motor starting. Starter selection balances starting torque requirements against inrush current limits.

Lesson 4 • Control Circuit Design and Interlocks

Designs ladder logic control circuits with safety interlocks and status indication. Students produce complete control schematics for multi-motor process systems.