Academic Catalog

APEL 122: AC THEORY, CODES & PRACTICES, IBEW ORIENTATION, BLUEPRINT READING

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 6.5
Hours: 72 lecture, 21 laboratory per quarter (93 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: Per California Code of Regulations, this course is limited to students admitted to the Electrical Apprenticeship Program.
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in APRT 122.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • A student will apply theory to transformers and connections.
  • A student will be able to explain principles & theory of electricity and magnetism.
  • A student will be able to explain the Codeology method.
  • A successful student will be able to calculate load.

Description

Study of AC theory and the National Electrical Code (NEC), an overview of the IBEW's place in the electrical construction industry, and the basic fundamentals of understanding blueprint reading.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of AC theory and principles, and units of measure.
  2. Navigate the National Electrical Code and understand how it is arranged and organized.
  3. Understand the IBEW structure and leadership and the IBEW's role within the electrical construction industry.
  4. Understand the different types of blueprints and the symbology needed to read them.
  5. Understand the rules for sizing building wire and the different types of circuits (feeders vs. branch circuits).

Course Content

  1. AC theory
    1. Compare AC to DC current
    2. Inductors, self-induction, inductive reactance, and impedance
    3. Resistors and inductors in series circuits
    4. Capacitors, capacitance, and capacitive reactance
  2. National Electrical Code and codeology
    1. Orientation: plan, build, use
    2. Language
    3. Exceptions
    4. Utilizing codebook
  3. Effective use of blueprints
    1. Review
    2. Layout
    3. Actual take-off
    4. Blueprint specifications
    5. Differences between wiring diagrams, line diagrams, schematics, and ladder diagrams
    6. Use of blueprints, plans, and specifications
    7. Correlate information from other trades plans with electrical plans to determine potential conflicts
  4. IBEW orientation
    1. Familiarization with the IBEW Constitution and By-Laws
    2. Understanding Local Union By-Laws
    3. Parliamentary Procedure and how it works
    4. American Labor history
    5. Pride in your industry

Lab Content

  1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the use of test instruments, primarily a digital multimeter. In addition, students will be trained in the proper safety techniques in the use of test instruments. Students will also learn how to measure the properties of electricity (voltage, current, and resistance). Students will predict the measurements before confirming using test instruments.
  2. Students will calculate voltage drops and verify calculations through the use of voltage meters.
  3. Students will demonstrate the use of blueprints to determine electrical equipment layout. Students will practice generating take-offs based on their reading of drawings. Students will become accustomed to scaling drawings to apply to field measurements.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

Laboratory with electrical tools and equipment.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Results of written quizzes and average of four tests
Results of hands-on projects and homework
Results of class participation
Maintenance of a student's workbook with questions drawn from text

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lecture
Lab assignments
Group discussion
Class demonstrations

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Syllabus for Second Year Core Curriculum. 2022.

Delmar Cengage Learning. AC Theory, 3rd ed.. 2011.

National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Code Calculations 2023 NEC. 2023.

Callanan, Michael I., and Bill Wusinich. Electrical Systems 2023 NEC. 2023.

IBEW. By-Laws. 2019.

IBEW. Constitution. 2016.

NFPA. The National Electrical Code (NFPA 70). 2023.

Miller, Charles R.. Ugly's Electrical References, 2023 ed.. 2023.

These are the standard electrical textbooks/workbooks used for this course. Although some are older than 5 years, they are the most current books used when teaching this course.

ETASV Building Prints (Procore).

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Read the syllabus on the Second Year Core Curriculum from the ETASV
  2. Read chapters 1-5 in the AC Theory textbook provided by the ETASV
  3. Participate in codes and practices activities requiring navigation of the National Electric Code
  4. Read and become familiar with the IBEW By-Laws, Constitution, and Collective Bargaining Agreement between Local 332 and NECA Santa Clara Valley Chapter

Discipline(s)

Electricity