Introduction to Electrical Controls & Diagram Reading

Master Industrial Motor Control & Electrical Diagrams

This introductory course provides a comprehensive overview of electrical industrial motor control and the fundamentals of electrical diagram reading. Ideal for students and technicians aspiring to a career in industrial control, this course offers a foundational understanding of what constitutes an industrial control system.

You'll gain practical knowledge of industrial electric motor control wiring, schematics, and single line diagrams (SLD). We'll introduce you to core industrial control concepts and methods used for controlling electric motors within industrial settings. You will learn to recognize electrical symbols used in wiring and schematic diagrams.

This course delves into both IEEE/NEMA and IEC style electrical schematics, clarifying the distinctions between these widely used standards. You'll understand the crucial relationship between power circuits and control circuits within an electrical schematic.

Key topics include:

• Motor Control Circuitry: Explore essential motor control circuitry, including motor overload protection, 2-wire and 3-wire control, reversing and non-reversing starter diagrams, and mechanical & electrical interlocking.
• Industrial Electrical Diagram Reading: Develop proficiency in reading basic industrial control electrical diagrams.
• Diagram Types: Learn to interpret the three main types of diagrams: wiring diagrams, schematic diagrams, and single line diagrams (SLD).
• Symbol Recognition: Recognize common electrical symbols used in schematic diagrams, with coverage of both IEC 60617 symbols (with reference document) and IEEE standard symbols (with reference document).
• Standards Understanding: Understand the two main standards applied to electrical schematics: IEEE/NEMA and IEC, and list the differences between IEC and IEEE/NEMA style diagrams.
• Numbering Systems: Understand wire and device numbering systems, including page coordinate and ladder wire and device location cross references. Learn how parent and child components in multipage schematics are cross referenced.
• Electric Motor Control Purpose: Understand the purpose of electric motor control in industrial applications.
• Advanced Schematics: Learn to read schematics containing DOL starters, VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives), soft-starters, and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers).
• Timing Relays: Recognize timing relay coil and contact symbols and understand their function in industrial control systems.
• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs): Understand the role of a PLC in modern industrial control systems and learn how PLC input and output wire numbering works.

This course equips you with the essential skills to confidently navigate and understand industrial electrical schematics, paving the way for a successful career in the field.