Electrical Maintenance and Automation

Summer 2024

Enrollment:

Fall, Winter

Degrees and Certificates

Program Website:

View the program website

Program Description

Electrical maintenance and automation technicians are responsible for the maintenance, testing, repair, and/or replacement of the electrical systems and controls found in modern industrial plants and large commercial buildings.

As the electrical systems become more sophisticated, so must the skills of the electrical maintenance and automation technician. By mixing the theoretical with practical hands-on lab experiences using modern up-to-date industrial equipment and techniques, the student will be prepared for a challenging career in electrical maintenance.

Students are offered several options within the Electrical Maintenance and Automation program. They may choose to complete an AAS degree with specialized training in one of the following areas: Electrical Maintenance and Automation or Power Systems Maintenance. Electrical Trainee or Electrical Sales option certificates also are offered. Students must maintain a 2.0 GPA in each course of the major discipline before advancing to the subsequent quarter. Students not meeting this minimum are required to repeat the deficient course before progressing.

Electrical maintenance and automation courses may be taken whenever they are offered and in any sequence as long as the student has fulfilled any prerequisites or has instructor permission. This plan allows a great deal of flexibility for retraining people in industry. Potential students should possess a mechanical aptitude, good reading comprehension skills and the ability to pass a color blindness test.

Course of Study

Power Systems Maintenance Option: Only students who have received prior approval from the Bonneville Power Administration are eligible for this degree option.

Program Learning Outcomes

Electrical Maintenance and Automation
  1. Understand the inherent dangers of and be able to work safely around electricity.
  2. Be familiar with electrical theory, electrical terms, and electrical circuits (AC & DC).
  3. Be able to identify common electrical materials, parts, and components.
  4. Understand the theory, operation and maintenance of AC & DC generators and motors.
  5. Know basic electronic theory and components and be able to wire, program, and maintain solid state motor controls (Variable Frequency Drives).
  6. Be able to design, sire and troubleshoot conventional motor control circuits.
  7. Understand the components and be able to design, program, wire, troubleshoot, and maintain Programmable Logic Controllers.
  8. Demonstrate proper transformer connections and understand the operation of industrial lighting.
  9. Able to perform electrical conduit bending using trigonometric calculations.
  10. Understand and apply the fundamentals of the National Electric Code.
Power Systems Maintenance
  1. Understand the inherent dangers of and be able to work safely around electricity.
  2. Be familiar with electrical theory, electrical terms and electrical circuits (AC & DC).
  3. Able to identify common electrical materials, parts, and components.
  4. Understand the theory, operation, and maintenance of AC & DC generators and motors.
  5. Know basic electronic theory and components.
  6. Able to design, wire, and troubleshoot conventional motor control circuits.
  7. Demonstrate proper transformer connections and understand the operation of industrial lighting.
  8. Able to perform electrical conduit bending using trigonometric calculations.
  9. Understand and apply the fundamentals of the National Electrical Code.
  10. Understand pneumatic system theory, math, symbols, and circuits.
  11. Understand hydraulic theory, components, symbols, and circuits.
  12. Demonstrated ability to work in the electrical power industry through the documented work experience approved bby the cooperative education supervisor and/or the Bonneville Power Administration.