Academic Catalog

APEL 123A: GROUNDING & BONDING, CODE & PRACTICES, BLUEPRINTS, ADVANCED CONDUIT BENDING

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.
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

  • The student will learn the safe and approved methods using over current protection for residential wiring installation
  • the student will learn the National Electrical Code on grounding a single family dwelling

Description

This course is intended for apprentices to become trained in grounding and bonding electrical systems. It focuses on learning the electrical code related to grounding and bonding at both electrical services and transformers. Apprentices will demonstrate their ability to read residential, commercial, and industrial blueprints and circuit a job according to the National Electric Code. Students will learn and demonstrate advanced conduit bending skills. This course meets the requirements of electrical safety standards for third-year apprentices who are pursuing their certificate.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Determine appropriate methods for installing grounding systems.
  2. Select properly sized grounding and bonding conductors using the National Electric Code (NEC).
  3. Size and install conductors required for grounding at an electrical service according to the NEC.
  4. Install and ground a transformer according to the NEC.
  5. Read residential, commercial, and industrial prints and specifications using on-paper and digital construction management software.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to navigate the National Electric Code and the Local Amendments to the NEC to determine if an installation is code compliant.

Course Content

  1. Electrical grounding and bonding theory and application
    1. Grounding and bonding theory and the National Electric Code
      1. Understanding proper grounding and bonding to protect and save lives
      2. Understanding proper grounding and bonding to protect equipment
    2. Service grounding
      1. Applying the National Electric Code to a service installation
      2. Grounding of a service
    3. Transformer installation and grounding
      1. Applying the National Electric Code to a transformer installation
      2. Grounding of a transformer
  2. Blueprint reading and cost estimating
    1. Reading commercial, industrial, and residential blueprints and specifications
    2. Navigating and marking up prints using digital print reading technology
    3. Using prints to circuit a job and estimate materials needed
  3. Code and practices
    1. National Electric Code navigation and application skills
    2. Local Amendment to the NEC navigation and application skills

Lab Content

Safe working practices for on-the-job training include but are not limited to: wearing appropriate work boots, gloves, and eyewear; tool and equipment safety; and the implementation of lock-out-tag-out for electrical circuits.

  1. Students will work individually and in teams on proper wiring and grounding of electrical systems, including electrical services and transformers.
  2. Students will work individually and in teams to practice advanced conduit bending skills using appropriate conduit bending formulas and the hydraulic bender with an emphasis on safety and efficiency.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Electrical service
2. Transformers
3. Hydraulic bender
4. Power tools
5. Hand tools
6. Computer
7. Overhead projector
8. When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to computer with software and hardware capable of running video conferencing applications (e.g., Zoom)

Method(s) of Evaluation

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

Results of quizzes and tests
Classroom and laboratory participation
Maintaining a daily student log of work activities
Results of hands-on laboratory tests

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

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

Mazur, Glen A.. Test Instruments and Applications. 2019.

Mazur, Glen A., and Willam J. Weindorf. Printreading for Installing and Troubleshooting Electric Systems. 2015.

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

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

National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee. Applied Grounding and Bonding. 2023.

NFPA. NFPA 70: National Electric Code. 2023.

NFPA. NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. 2024.

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

Pro-Tech Skills Learning Management System courses:

Grounding and Bonding Level 1

Grounding and Bonding Level 2

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

Read Chapter 1 of the Applied Grounding and Bonding text and complete Lesson 1 in Level 1 of the Grounding and Bonding Blended Learning on the LMS system.

Discipline(s)

Electricity