Light Current Systems Course

Lesson 1 • Safety and Regulatory Fundamentals

Introduces electrical safety practices, personal protective equipment, and compliance frameworks applicable to low-current work. Establishes non-negotiable safety habits before hands-on tasks.

Lesson 2 • Reading Schematics and Wiring Diagrams

Teaches interpretation of symbols, line types, and notation conventions used in low-current drawings. Enables accurate field installation from engineering documents.

Lesson 3 • Electrical Fundamentals for Low-Current Work

Covers voltage, current, resistance, and power relationships specific to low-current ranges. Provides the quantitative baseline needed for all subsequent system analysis.

Lesson 1 • Connector Types and Termination Methods

Covers RJ-45, BNC, fiber LC/SC, and terminal block connectors with correct termination techniques. Ensures reliable signal transmission at every connection point.

Lesson 2 • Cable Installation Best Practices

Addresses bend radius, pulling tension, separation from power cables, and labeling requirements. Translates manufacturer and code requirements into repeatable field habits.

Lesson 3 • Cable Types and Specifications

Examines twisted-pair, coaxial, fiber optic, and shielded cable constructions and their electrical properties. Connects cable selection to signal integrity and system performance.

Lesson 1 • Initiating Devices and Placement

Covers smoke, heat, and manual pull station types with spacing and placement rules. Ensures detection coverage meets life-safety performance requirements.

Lesson 2 • Fire Alarm System Architecture

Explains conventional vs. addressable topologies, zone layouts, and panel-to-device communication. Establishes the structural framework for all fire alarm installation tasks.

Lesson 3 • Panel Programming and System Testing

Guides configuration of addressable panels, point mapping, and acceptance test procedures. Prepares students to commission and document a fully functional fire alarm system.

Lesson 1 • System Integration and Testing

Addresses integration of intrusion and access control with video and fire systems, plus acceptance testing. Validates that all subsystems communicate and respond correctly under test conditions.

Lesson 2 • Intrusion Alarm System Components

Identifies control panels, keypads, sensors, and communicators and their interconnections. Provides the component-level knowledge required for correct system assembly.

Lesson 3 • Access Control Fundamentals

Explains credential technologies, reader wiring, and Wiegand vs. OSDP protocols. Establishes the technical foundation for integrating readers with access control panels.

Lesson 4 • Electric Door Hardware and Locking Devices

Covers electric strikes, magnetic locks, and request-to-exit devices with fail-safe vs. fail-secure selection. Connects hardware choice to life-safety and security policy requirements.

Lesson 1 • Network Switching and PoE Fundamentals

Explains Ethernet switching concepts, VLANs, and Power over Ethernet delivery for low-current devices. Connects network infrastructure knowledge to device powering and segmentation needs.

Lesson 2 • Patch Panels and Distribution Frames

Covers 110-block, keystone, and fiber patch panel installation and cable management. Ensures neat, maintainable termination points that support long-term network operations.

Lesson 3 • Cable Testing and Certification

Teaches use of cable certifiers, OTDRs, and optical power meters to verify link performance. Prepares students to produce certification reports accepted by owners and warranty programs.

Lesson 1 • Camera Technologies and Selection

Compares IP, HD-over-coax, and analog camera types with resolution, sensor, and lens specifications. Enables informed camera selection matched to scene lighting and coverage requirements.

Lesson 2 • NVR and DVR Configuration

Covers recorder setup, storage calculation, retention scheduling, and remote access configuration. Ensures recorded video is accessible, retained for required periods, and securely managed.

Lesson 3 • Video Network and Bandwidth Management

Addresses IP camera network segmentation, bandwidth estimation, and QoS configuration. Prevents video system traffic from degrading other network services on shared infrastructure.

Lesson 1 • 70V and 100V Speaker Distribution

Explains constant-voltage distribution systems, transformer taps, and wattage allocation across speaker zones. Enables correct amplifier sizing and speaker wiring for large distributed audio installations.

Lesson 2 • Digital Signal Processing Configuration

Introduces DSP routing matrices, equalization, compression, and delay alignment for distributed systems. Connects DSP configuration to intelligibility and sound quality outcomes in real spaces.

Lesson 3 • Audio Signal Fundamentals

Covers microphone levels, line levels, impedance matching, and balanced vs. unbalanced wiring. Establishes the signal-level knowledge required to interconnect AV equipment correctly.

Lesson 1 • Building Automation System Overview

Introduces HVAC, lighting, and energy management controllers and their role in building operations. Provides context for how low-current systems interface with broader building intelligence platforms.

Lesson 2 • Commissioning and Handover Procedures

Covers integrated system commissioning plans, owner training, and documentation packages for project closeout. Ensures all systems perform to specification and owners can operate them independently.

Lesson 3 • Communication Protocols for Integration

Covers BACnet, Modbus, KNX, and MQTT protocols used to link subsystems across a building network. Enables students to select and configure the correct protocol for each integration scenario.

Lesson 4 • System Integration Design and Mapping

Teaches point mapping, trigger logic, and integration sequence design across fire, security, AV, and BAS. Translates owner operational requirements into documented integration specifications.