The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

The intention of this course is to show how harmonics are generated by modern electrical and electronic systems. It starts with classical harmonic generators and some older electronic devices. It emphasizes single phase systems and how harmonics are generated by diodes, silicon controlled rectifiers, and triacs.

Special emphasis is made of the fact that it is the harmonic currents that flow that cause the harmonic voltages to be present. These harmonic voltages can affect other equipment, and even other customers on the electric grid. Many pictures and graphs are presented to show how harmonics can be present. At times, it is not at all obvious that harmonics are present in a signal. Even if they are not seen, the harmonics can cause problems for the power companies, which have the responsibility of delivering clean usable power to their customers.

This course was designed for electrical engineers as well as engineers of other disciplines. Electrical engineers will have a deeper understanding of how harmonics are generated. Engineers from other disciplines will get an idea of the problems faced by the people responsible for delivering power to their facilities. This will help engineers understand each other’s special problems. The more that we, as engineers, understand the problems faced by other engineers, the better that we will be able to do our specific jobs.

There is very little math involved in this course. Graphs were generated by use of Excel programs. It helps, but is not necessary, to understand how Excel can generate graphs and charts.

The student must take a multiple choice quiz consisting of 20 questions at the end of the course to obtain PDH credits. It is my intention that the material presented in this course will help engineers of all disciplines to have an understanding of how harmonics are generated in electrical power systems.

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).