Academic Catalog

APPT 175: DIRECT DIGITAL CONTROLS I

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2024
Units: 4.5
Hours: 36 lecture, 63 laboratory per quarter (99 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: Per California Code of Regulations, this course is limited to students admitted to the Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanical Service Apprenticeship Program.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • A student will be able to identify electric/pneumatic controls.

Description

Third-year course of the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Apprenticeship program. This course provides students with a working knowledge of controls, control theory, timing circuits, computerized control, and energy management systems.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Explain control theories
  2. Recognize and classify electric/pneumatic controls
  3. Recognize and explain energy management systems

Course Content

  1. Pneumatics/controls theory
    1. Electric controls
      1. 2-position
      2. Timed 2-position
      3. Floating
      4. Modulation
  2. Electric controls
    1. DDC
    2. Computerized control
  3. Energy management systems
    1. Title 24 compliance
    2. Energy efficiency

Lab Content

Students will work individually and in teams on controls, timing circuits and building air handling systems in the lab, which includes:

  1. Installation practices with tubing, tubing sizing, control tube soldering, and tube bending
  2. Termination, fitting identification, control identification, and tool identification
  3. Troubleshooting process for controls

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Laboratory with pneumatic electrical tools
2. Personal protective equipment
3. When taught via Foothill Global Access, on-going access to computer with email software and hardware; email address

Method(s) of Evaluation

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

Written examination
Hands-on demonstration
Chapter quizzes
Group and classroom participation
Punctuality

Method(s) of Instruction

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

Lecture
Discussion
Laboratory
Demonstration

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

. Introduction to Building Control Systems. 2014.

Texts older than five years that may be utilized in this course are industry-standard texts and are the most recent publication date.

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

  1. Readings from the course textbook, Introduction to Building Control Systems
    1. Section on safety
    2. Recognize, maintain, operate, and troubleshoot pneumatic control systems
  2. Writing assignments are related to the assignments given in the laboratory and include:
    1. Writing an article on energy efficiency, Title 24, as it pertains to the plumbing industry
    2. Developing a timing circuit, air handling circuit, and electronic diagram as part of the mid-term
    3. Handouts on sizing calculations for compressors and air dryers
    4. Assignments on the use of thermostats

Discipline(s)

Air Conditioning, Refrigeration, Heating