Electrical Automation Course

Lesson 1 • Electrical Safety and Standards

Covers lockout/tagout, arc flash awareness, and grounding principles. Establishes the safety mindset required before any hands-on work.

Lesson 2 • Electrical Quantities and Units

Covers voltage, current, resistance, and power with SI units. Builds the measurement literacy needed throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • DC and AC Circuit Fundamentals

Introduces series, parallel, and mixed circuits in both DC and AC contexts. Provides the circuit analysis skills used in every automation subsystem.

Lesson 1 • Encoder and Position Feedback

Covers incremental and absolute encoders for motion and position measurement. Prepares students for drive and motion control chapters ahead.

Lesson 2 • Discrete Sensors and Wiring

Covers proximity, photoelectric, and limit switches with NPN/PNP wiring. Connects sensor selection to control system input requirements.

Lesson 3 • Signal Conditioning Circuits

Teaches amplification, filtering, and isolation techniques for raw sensor signals. Ensures students can prepare signals for reliable controller input.

Lesson 1 • Power Distribution and Protection

Addresses control panel power supplies, fusing, and circuit breaker sizing. Ensures students can design safe and reliable panel power schemes.

Lesson 2 • PLC Architecture and Module Types

Explains CPU, power supply, and I/O module roles within a PLC chassis. Grounds students in hardware before programming begins.

Lesson 3 • I/O Wiring and Field Terminations

Covers sinking/sourcing wiring, terminal block layout, and cable management. Directly applies sensor wiring knowledge from Chapter 2.

Lesson 1 • Ladder Logic Fundamentals

Introduces rungs, contacts, coils, and the scan cycle execution model. Provides the conceptual model for all ladder programming that follows.

Lesson 2 • Data Handling and Math Instructions

Teaches MOV, compare, and arithmetic instructions for data manipulation. Connects analog signal values from Chapter 2 to program logic.

Lesson 3 • Timers and Counters

Covers on-delay, off-delay, and retentive timers plus up/down counters. Enables students to implement time-based and event-based control sequences.

Lesson 4 • Sequencer and State Machine Logic

Introduces sequencer instructions and step-based state machine design. Prepares students for structured programming methods in the next chapter.

Lesson 1 • Structured Text Programming

Introduces IEC 61131-3 structured text syntax for calculations and algorithms. Complements ladder logic with a text-based language for complex logic.

Lesson 2 • Interrupt and Event-Driven Programming

Explains timed interrupts, I/O interrupts, and fault routines for real-time response. Addresses timing-critical tasks beyond the standard scan cycle.

Lesson 3 • Modular and Reusable Code Design

Teaches user-defined function blocks, libraries, and program organization units. Enables scalable code architecture for multi-machine projects.

Lesson 1 • AC Motor Principles

Reviews induction motor construction, slip, and torque-speed characteristics. Provides the motor theory needed to configure drives correctly.

Lesson 2 • Drive Parameter Configuration

Covers acceleration/deceleration ramps, current limits, and fault parameters. Ensures students can set up a drive for safe and efficient operation.

Lesson 3 • Drive Troubleshooting and Maintenance

Addresses common drive faults, thermal management, and preventive maintenance tasks. Prepares students for real-world drive uptime responsibilities.

Lesson 4 • VFD Operation and Selection

Explains PWM inverter operation, V/Hz and vector control modes, and drive sizing. Connects motor theory to drive selection criteria.

Lesson 1 • Industrial Communication Fundamentals

Introduces OSI model layers, network topologies, and determinism requirements. Frames why industrial networks differ from office IT networks.

Lesson 2 • PLC Network Configuration

Guides students through scanner/adapter setup, I/O mapping, and connection management in PLC software. Applies protocol knowledge to live device integration.

Lesson 3 • Industrial Ethernet Protocols

Teaches EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and Modbus TCP configuration and device integration. Builds on fieldbus knowledge with higher-bandwidth Ethernet-based solutions.

Lesson 1 • HMI Tag Configuration and Scripting

Teaches tag database creation, PLC communication setup, and basic scripting for dynamic displays. Connects PLC data to operator-facing graphics.

Lesson 2 • System Integration and Acceptance Testing

Guides students through factory acceptance testing, loop checks, and commissioning documentation. Synthesizes all course skills into a complete project delivery workflow.

Lesson 3 • Alarm Management Systems

Covers alarm rationalization, priority assignment, and suppression strategies per industry guidance. Addresses a critical safety and operational layer of automation systems.

Lesson 4 • HMI Design Principles

Covers screen layout, color standards, alarm presentation, and navigation design. Ensures HMIs are intuitive and compliant with operator interface best practices.