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I wrote this course with the intention of showing engineers in all disciplines how to recognize drawings of a variety of common electrical components. This is, by no means, a complete list. A task of that magnitude would be almost impossible. I have selected, however, those components that I have used the most in my career. I did start with a review of the three basic elements from which most electrical and electronic components are made. These are resistance, capacitance, and inductance. If there is some understanding of these basic elements, determining how electrical components function is somewhat easier. There are many drawings of the various components; and voltage, current, and power curves of resistors, capacitors, and inductors.

This course was designed mostly for non electrical engineers. This course would also be a good review for electrical engineers who have gotten away from electrical engineering, and young PE’s, just entering the profession. It really helps, when reading electrical prints, to have a basic feeling for what components look like on drawings.

There is very little math involved in doing this course. Some vector algebra understanding is helpful when looking at how resistors, capacitors, and inductors react to alternating current voltages. Other than some representation of AC voltages with vectors, there is no math involved in this course. And even then, it’s just pictures, not working with numbers.

The student must take a twenty (20) question multiple choice quiz at the end of the course to obtain PDH credits. It is my intention that the material presented in this course will help engineers understand drawings that have common electrical components as part of the drawings. I also intend that the students of this course will be better able to do their job after taking this course.

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).