Academic Catalog

APEL 122A: AC THEORY, INTERMEDIATE CONDUIT, PRINT READING, TEST INSTRUMENTS, NEC APPLICATION

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2025
Units: 7.5
Hours: 80 lecture, 40 laboratory per quarter (120 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: Per California Code of Regulations, this course is limited to students admitted to the San Francisco Inside Wireman Electrical 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

  • To understand the different levels of blue prints associated with the electrical Industry
  • To understand the technical aspect of hand bending electrical conduit

Description

Study of the National Electrical Code, applied codeology, and basic fundamentals of using blueprints. Instruction on usage of test equipment and pipe bending tools.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a basic understanding of AC theory, AC circuits, AC systems, and AC power generation.
  2. Demonstrate the proper usage of test equipment.
  3. Demonstrate correct usage of conduit bending tools.
  4. Accurately apply conduit bending math to layout and bend conduit.
  5. Demonstrate effective wire-pulling techniques.
  6. Identify different print views and symbols.
  7. Demonstrate how to locate information on blueprints.
  8. Apply prints, appliance data, and the National Electric Code to size a residential service.
  9. Use the NEC to determine allowable conductor ampacity and conduit fill for general electrical installations.

Course Content

  1. AC theory
    1. AC electrical systems
    2. Inductors, inductance, and inductive reactance
    3. Capacitors, capacitance, and capacitive reactance
    4. Power factor and power factor correction
    5. AC power generation
    6. Power quality issues
      1. Identifying power quality issues using test instruments
      2. How to correct power quality issues
  2. Test instruments
    1. Safe application of common test instruments
      1. Clamp-on meters
      2. Digital multimeters
    2. Power quality test instruments
    3. IR thermometers
  3. Print reading
    1. Commercial print symbology, plan views, notes, and schedules
    2. Using prints and the National Electric Code, calculate the size residential service conductors and equipment
  4. Conduit fabrication
    1. Laying out conduit for bending considering bender uptake, shrink, and bending multipliers
    2. Hand bending 1/2" to 1" EMT
  5. Conductor ampacity, conduit fill, and the National Electric Code
    1. What affects conductor ampacity and how to calculate conductor ampacity in varying conditions
    2. Calculating conduit fill
    3. Selecting overcurrent protection for conductors

Lab Content

Students will use safety, job management, and material management skills to complete projects in the lab.

  1. Layout and hand bend smaller conduits using gain and shrink calculations. Learning layout and bending techniques for parallel offsets and compound 90º.
  2. Wire pulling techniques and conduit fill calculations in compliance with the National Electric Code.
  3. Conductor termination techniques, such as irreversible compression connections, butt splices, Polaris taps, and lugs.
  4. Meter applications using current clamp meters, digital multimeters, and a single-phase power quality meter.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Laboratory with electrical tools and equipment.
2. Computer and overhead projector.

Method(s) of Evaluation

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

Results of written quizzes and average of six 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
Demonstration

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

American Technical Publishers and NJATC. Conduit Bending and Fabrication. 2009.

American Technical Publishers. Test Instruments and Applications. 2019.

Callanan, M.I., and B. Wusinich. Electrical Systems Based on the 2023 NEC. 2023.

Delmar-Cengage and NJATC. AC Theory, 3rd ed.. 2011.

Electrical Training Alliance. Code Calculations Based on the 2023 NEC. 2023.

Electrical Training Alliance. Applied Codeology. 2023.

Miller, Charles R.. Illustrated Guide to the National Electric Code Based on the 2023 NEC. 2023.

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

NFPA. NFPA 70: National Electrical Code. 2023.

Although some of these texts are older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, they are the most recent versions available.

Protech Skills Learning Management System course:

AC Theory Level 1

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

Read Chapter 1 in the AC Theory text and complete Level 1, Lesson 1 in the AC Theory Blended Learning on the Protech Skills LMS.

Discipline(s)

Electricity