Week 10 final week past reflection of quarter.

                        Reflection Of 10 Weeks Of Electrical.
When we started this quarter I had very limited knowledge of electrical. I've tried to soldering wire before but, I didn't know about flux so I could never actually get wires to stick together with simple soldering wire without flux. I've bought and plugged in relays but, never actually understood how they function. I didn't know anything about AC except that Refrigerant is condensed and evaporated into a vapor and where to look for the the condenser. Before Electrical I had a lot of experience working with batteries but, I've never tested individual cells how to use a battery load tester to test the CCA and voltage at a certain amperage draw for 15 seconds. I didn't know 12.6 was a indicator that a battery was fully charge or below 12.6 for example 12.3 would indicate it was less than 100% closer to about 75% with a possible dead cell or sulfated plates. I get the just of alternators before I came here but, I definitely didn't have to the confidence to or knowledge to explain how they work. I knew they created AC voltage but, that's it. I learned from this class how to disassemble different types and voltage alternators to understand how they functioned creating voltage with magnetism, rectifying AC voltage to DC current through diodes and how to identify the components inside. I've taken Wiring schematic classes While in the U.S. Army but, I didn't retain any of that knowledge because it was just a basic knowledge and fundamentals that was rushed over a 3 month course. So I can honestly tell you I couldn't really do much with a schematic until I took this class which has taught me how to identify everything and draw schematics. I've replaced dozens of medium and large size starters while in the army but, of course That's all I did. I didn't know how to run no load tests or check them except to double check the wire connections by cross referencing with another vehicle. I have grown to know 10 times what I used to know before this quarter in electrical from a simple 10 weeks on simple showing up listening and doing the work.
                         My favorite portion of the course:

Week 2/3 I felt very happy and accomplished after this week of electrical. We covered Air conditioning and refrigerant. I  scored terrible for our first quiz for this subject and I definitely showed a lack of knowledge and ability to retain this portion of the class. I definitely could've done more to prepare myself and understand this portion of the class but, I wasn't putting in the work or studying. It wasn't until Our first surprise quiz that I realized that I had to step it up or I was going to be struggling. This picture shows a portable AC system with all of the components so I used this to learn how to identify the components and where the refrigerant flowed.
     
My advice to anyone taking this course is take some time and read a little bit about the chapter you were lectured on the day after so you can retain some of the knowledge for quizzes and tests and also for yourself.

week 9 starters continued

This week we focused on our 2nd starters, I didn't know heavy duty starters are completely the same except in size.

In this photo you can see a smaller armature from the smaller starter. We removed it to test it for negative ground and open circuit on the housing and for a visual inspect and understanding.

This week was pretty short and easy we spent a lot of time drawing a schematic on the circuit flow of the starts which is getting easier for me.

Week 8 Starters No Load Test

This week we focused on the starting portion of diesel equipment. More specifically heavy duty starters.
                                                           

In this photo you can see how we hooked up positive and negative cables to start a no load test on our personal starters. Connecting the bolt with a cable to the starter solenoid opposite of the grounding strap which turned over the starter so we could run our tests.

In this photo we're testing for voltage drop at the starter to troubleshoot a problem.

This week I had an especially hard time understanding the flow and function of the components inside the starters. What'll happen if you run a 12v starter on a 24v system in a truck?

week 7 Alternators

This week we focused on alternators and regulators. The parts are used on all vehicles that have electric recharging systems in them. An alternator runs off an accessory belt ran off the engine which then creates AC electricity and then is rectified inside the alternator by 6 diodes and regulated (turned on/off) by the regulator.

In this photo you can see a double Y stator screw on the outside (4 screw), a regulator (bottom right) and the diodes.

We are testing a different regulator in this photo. If the light doesn't even come on or if it doesn't shut off after a over voltage then the regulator is bad.

This week I never thought I'd have a reason to open a alternator or ever actually learn how to test a voltage regulator so I'm glad I was able to learn how to because I know from experience that they both go bad often. so being able to prove they're bad is a good practice. 

week 6 schematics, wiring.

                                       This week we started on electrical circuits. In electrical lighting circuits we learned how to check resistance within components, how to wire circuits to have working front, rear and marker likes with turn signals that were either integrated or non-integrated blinking.

In this photo Mick is introducing us to checking resistance (OLMS) in this electrical fan.

This photo we experiment checking continuity in wiring to wire the turn signal switch and then we have to use our drawn schematics to wire the est of the circuit.

This week was defintely the hardest week for me. We had to learn how to read schematics and draw them but, I had a lot of difficulty trying to wire up the lighting model we were working on.

Would your lights run brighter if you upgraded your alternator to a higher amperes (output) alternator or would that be dangerous to the circuits and wires?

Week 5 Batteries

Just published 11/2/2017 because i had accidently not actually published last sunday.
This week we Reflect on batteries. Batteries are the beginning of every circuit and where it all ends in our vehicles. I had an especially hard time understand how to operate the battery load tester because I didn't understand how it functioned. Now I know that it's completely safe as long as there's a good connection and you follow the guidelines.     
                                                    
In this photo Mich is show us the purpose and how to use battery testing equipment. I especially liked using the battery refractometer. the refractometer was difficult to use because you have to be careful when handling battery acid which is very corrosive.
              
In this picture we're going over the flow of electricity from the batteries, we also cover checking terminals for damage and loose connections and possible reason why a battery could be discharging. Does dielectric grease help as a conductor or does it just block and protect the terminals?

Week 4 Electrical

                                        This week we started talked about Protons and Electrons, the fundamentals of electricity Power source, Conductor, Resistors, circuits and how electricity flows. We cover how AC and DC currents look and their functions in our trucks.
                                                    

In this photo Mick used a glass of water to show us how water is a good resistor but, can also be a very good conductor if salt is added. By adding salt it knocks hydrogen loose and the plating off the roach grips turning the water a nasty beer color.

                                                     
Mick is Showing us how A/C current is made in an Alternator. Through positive and negative pieces on the gear. Changing polarity of magnets. Iron core in a magnet intensifies it by 2500x is also called a ARMATURE (chunk of iron in the middle) move in a magnetic field.

I always thought dielectric grease was used to help with bad electrical connections. We were told in class they're for protecting electrical connections. Is it used to improve a connection too?