EASA Part 66 Category 'B1/B2' Module 3 Electrical Fundamentals

EASA Part 66 Category 'B1/B2' Module 3 Electrical Fundamentals

Air Service Training Ltd (AST) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Perth College UHI, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI). AST remains a world leader in the field of Aviation training and has been since 1931, making it arguably the longest-established organisation of its kind.

The AST engineering training facilities are situated on the spacious Perth College UHI campus and also at Perth Airport, which is four miles north of 'The Fair City' of Perth in Central Scotland. It has an attractive rural location and is less than two hours flying time from London, while the major Scottish cities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee are all within an hour's drive.

This course is aimed for experienced engineers seeking a short theory based course.

You would study the following parts of the EASA Syllabus

Module 3 – Electrical Fundamentals

3.1 Electron Theory

Structure and distribution of electrical charges within: atoms, molecules,
ions, compounds;
Molecular structure of conductors, semiconductors and insulators.

3.2 Static Electricity and Conduction

Static electricity and distribution of electrostatic charges;
Electrostatic laws of attraction and repulsion;
Units of charge, Coulomb’s Law;
Conduction of electricity in solids, liquids, gases and a vacuum.

3.3 Electrical Terminology

The following terms, their units and factors affecting them: potential
difference, electromotive force, voltage, current, resistance, conductance,
charge, conventional current flow, electron flow.

3.4 Generation of Electricity

Production of electricity by the following methods: light, heat, friction,
pressure, chemical action, magnetism and motion

3.5 DC Sources of Electricity

Construction and basic chemical action of: primary cells, secondary cells,
lead acid cells, nickel cadmium cells, other alkaline cells;
Cells connected in series and parallel;
Internal resistance and its effect on a battery;
Construction, materials and operation of thermocouples;
Operation of photo-cells

3.6 DC Circuits

Ohms Law, Kirchoff’s Voltage and Current Laws;
Calculations using the above laws to find resistance, voltage and current;
Significance of the internal resistance of a supply.

3.7 Resistance/Resistor

(a) Resistance and affecting factors; 
Specific resistance;
Resistor colour code, values and tolerances, preferred values, wattage
ratings;
Resistors in series and parallel;
Calculation of total resistance using series, parallel and series parallel
combinations;
Operation and use of potentiometers and rheostats;
Operation of Wheatstone Bridge;

(b) Positive and negative temperature coefficient conductance; 
Fixed resistors, stability, tolerance and limitations, methods of
construction;
Variable resistors, thermistors, voltage dependent resistors;
Construction of potentiometers and rheostats;
Construction of Wheatstone Bridge

3.8 Power

Power, work and energy (kinetic and potential);
Dissipation of power by a resistor;
Power formula;
Calculations involving power, work and energy.

3.9 Capacitance/Capacitor

Operation and function of a capacitor;
Factors affecting capacitance area of plates, distance between plates, number
of plates, dielectric and dielectric constant, working voltage, voltage rating;
Capacitor types, construction and function;
Capacitor colour coding;
Calculations of capacitance and voltage in series and parallel circuits;
Exponential charge and discharge of a capacitor, time constants;
Testing of capacitors.

3.10 Magnetism

(a) Theory of magnetism; 
Properties of a magnet;
Action of a magnet suspended in the Earth’s magnetic field;
Magnetisation and demagnetisation;
Magnetic shielding;
Various types of magnetic material;
Electromagnets construction and principles of operation;
Hand clasp rules to determine: magnetic field around current carrying conductor;

(b) Magnetomotive force, field strength, magnetic flux density, permeability, 
hysteresis loop, retentivity, coercive force reluctance, saturation point,
eddy currents;
Precautions for care and storage of magnets

3.11 Inductance/Inductor

Faraday’s Law;
Action of inducing a voltage in a conductor moving in a magnetic field;
Induction principles;
Effects of the following on the magnitude of an induced voltage: magnetic
field strength, rate of change of flux, number of conductor turns;
Mutual induction;
The effect the rate of change of primary current and mutual inductance has
on induced voltage;
Factors affecting mutual inductance: number of turns in coil, physical size
of coil, permeability of coil, position of coils with respect to each other;
Lenz’s Law and polarity determining rules;
Back emf, self induction;
Saturation point;
Principle uses of inductors.

3.12 DC Motor/Generator Theory

Basic motor and generator theory;
Construction and purpose of components in DC generator;

Operation of, and factors affecting output and direction of current flow in
DC generators;
Operation of, and factors affecting output power, torque, speed and
direction of rotation of DC motors;
Series wound, shunt wound and compound motors;
Starter Generator construction.

3.13 AC Theory

Sinusoidal waveform: phase, period, frequency, cycle;
Instantaneous, average, root mean square, peak, peak to peak current values
and calculations of these values, in relation to voltage, current and power;
Triangular/Square waves;
Single/3 phase principles.

3.14 Resistive (R), Capacitive (C) and Inductive (L) Circuits

Phase relationship of voltage and current in L, C and R circuits, parallel,
series and series parallel;
Power dissipation in L, C and R circuits;
Impedance, phase angle, power factor and current calculations;
True power, apparent power and reactive power calculations.

3.15 Transformers

Transformer construction principles and operation;
Transformer losses and methods for overcoming them;
Transformer action under load and no-load conditions;
Power transfer, efficiency, polarity markings;
Calculation of line and phase voltages and currents;
Calculation of power in a three phase system;
Primary and Secondary current, voltage, turns ratio, power, efficiency;
Auto transformers.

3.16 Filters

Operation, application and uses of the following filters: low pass, high pass,
band pass, band stop

3.17 AC Generators

Rotation of loop in a magnetic field and waveform produced;
Operation and construction of revolving armature and revolving field type
AC generators;
Single phase, two phase and three phase alternators;
Three phase star and delta connections advantages and uses;
Permanent Magnet Generators.

3.18 AC Motors

Construction, principles of operation and characteristics of: AC synchronous
and induction motors both single and polyphase;
Methods of speed control and direction of rotation;
Methods of producing a rotating field: capacitor, inductor, shaded or split pole.