Standard

Posted: 10/23/06

£ State Standard R Institutionally Developed College: Valdosta Technical College

DAT 171 – AC/DC Fundamentals

Course Description

This course presents car audio electrical and electronic system fundamentals. The topics covered include safety, terminology, electrical and electronic concepts, use of test equipment, and sound quality.

Competency Areas	Hours
Laboratory Procedures and Safety Practices	Class	4
Electrical Principles and Laws	D. Lab	4
DC Test Equipment	P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Series, Parallel, and Simple Combinational Circuits	Credit	6
Introduction to Audio Sound
AC Test Equipment
Inductance
Capacitance
Relays, Batteries, and Cable

Prerequisite:	Regular Admission
Corequisite:	Regular Admission

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will be able to:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.

LABORATORY PROCEDURES AND SAFETY PRACTICES		2	2	0
Personal and equipment safety	List personal and equipment safety rules for working with DC circuits.
	Follow procedures for personal safety.
	Demonstrate safe use of test equipment.
Workplace Hazards	Identify the major types of hazards associated with installing a car audio system.
	Identify the different types of fires extinguishers and their uses.
ELECTRICAL PRINCIPLES AND LAWS		5	5	0
Voltage, current, conductance, resistance and power	Define voltage, current, power, resistance, and conductance.
	Demonstrate the ability to interpret color codes to identify resistors.
	Calculate resistance, conductance, voltage, current and power.
	Define and draw simple resistive circuits.
Definitions
	Define basic terms used to describe electronics quantities, components, devices, circuits, and systems.
Symbols
	Identify the symbols associated with basic electronic components and devices.
DC TEST EQUIPMENT		5	5	0
Voltmeter, Ohmmeter, Ammeter, Analog multimeter, and Digital multimeter.	Explain the operating principles of a voltmeter, ohmmeter, ammeter, analog multimeter, and digital multimeter.
Measuring	Measure voltage, current, and resistance of a circuit.
Opens and shorts	Explain the circuit conditions that cause “shorts”.
	Identify the location of a “short” in a DC circuit.
	Explain the circuit conditions that cause “opens”.
	Determine the location of an open in a DC circuit.
SERIES, PARALLEL, AND COMBINATIONAL CIRCUITS		8	8	0
Operating levels	Compute and measure the current, voltage, and resistance of DC series, parallel, and simple combinational circuits.
INTRODUCTION TO AUDIO SOUND		3	3	0
Sound	Describe sound.
Sound Waves	Define a sound wave.
	Define Frequency, Wavelength, Period, and Amplitude.
Phase and Polarity	Explain phase, polarity and importance of each.
Factors Affecting Sound Quality	Describe Resonance, Frequency response, Octaves and Harmonics, Signal to Noise, and Headroom.
AC TEST EQUIPMENT		2	2	0
Oscilloscope Use	Explain the control functions of an oscilloscope.
INDUCTANCE		5	5	0
Inductors	Define inductance and identify inductor symbols.
	Define how and inductor operates.
	Demonstrate the effect of connecting inductors in series and parallel.
CAPACITANCE		5	5	0
Capacitors	Define capacitance and identify capacitor symbols.
	Explain how a capacitor operates.
	Demonstrate the effect of connecting capacitors in series and parallel.
RALAYS, BATTERIES, AND CABLE		5	5	0
Cable	Identify the physical properties that affect cable resistance.
	Identify the correct cable size and type for specific applications.
Batteries	Explain and troubleshoot automotive charging systems.
Relays	Explain the purpose of relays and determine if a relay is operating properly or defective.

Suggested Resources

Books:

Consumer Electronics Associations, (2000). MECP Basic Installer Study Guide, Arlington, VA: Consumer Electronics Association/First Edition.

Internet Resources:

Mobile Electronics Certified Professional. www.mecp.com.

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