higher4hockey

[halfassedjediknight]

Hey I gotta take a test to get into the electricians union class thingybobber and I was wondering what sort of math stuff should I study up on? just your basic algebra? or is there lots of geometry and trig and stuff like that?

edit: I think it was you who said you were an electrician, if I remember correctly. thats why im asking. :)

[Coelho]

well... if i remember correctly, eletricity uses mainly linear algebra (for finding the amount of current in complex circuits, with kirchoff laws), some trigonometry (for AC systems), sometimes complex numbers (dont know well where) and so... i dont know the level of your test, so maybe a bit of calculus too... i think there is almost no geometry... but im not sure.

[higher4hockey]

this is the basic math, if you know these formulas you can find any of the values ...


E
-----
I * R

P
-----
I * E


E= Voltage
I= Current (amperage)
P= Wattage
R= Resistance

in an electrical circuit diagram they'll be represented like this:
Volts = V
current/amps = A
resistance = R / the ohm symbol
Watts = P




In a series circuit Amps(I) are always constant.
In a parallel circuit Voltage(E) is always constant.

[halfassedjediknight]

so i should just brush up on my basic algebra would you say?

edit: its just an entrance exam so i dont think it should be too complicated. at least thats my hypothesis.

[Skink]

Buy a code book...

[Nochowderforyou]

Research a bit on math needed for Electrician's, and read up on knowledge needed to be an electrician.

[halfassedjediknight]

Buy a code book...

walkthrough guide!

i dont even buy those for video games

[Splifted]

well... if i remember correctly, eletricity uses mainly linear algebra (for finding the amount of current in complex circuits, with kirchoff laws), some trigonometry (for AC systems), sometimes complex numbers (dont know well where) and so... i dont know the level of your test, so maybe a bit of calculus too... i think there is almost no geometry... but im not sure.

Yeah, coelho pretty much nailed it. I'm in school studying electronics technology right now, which basically means learning how to design, troubleshoot, build etc electronic circuits, right now we're studying power supplies which is pretty friggin interesting to me:D

But yeah, as an electrician you'll mostly be dealing with AC I would think. Trig plays a big part in that, with phase angles and what not. But basically the two main concepts behind everything electrical is kirchoff's law and ohms law.

Ohm law: V=I*R


Kirchoffs law: Vs-V1-V2...-Vx=0
Vs = source voltage
V1-Vx = the voltage drops in the closed loop.

Ie: You have a 10 volt source and 2 10 ohm resistors connected in series. The sum of the voltages across the 2 resistors is equal to the source voltage.

In other words, the voltage drops around a closed loop are equal to the source voltage. Basically the principle of the conservation of energy.

Once you toss a capacitor or coil in an ac circut, Kirchoffs law still applies but its not as straight forward, because of the phase angle of the voltage in the coil leads the current by 90* and the voltage in the coil lags the current by 90 degrees. So basically for ohms law to still work in a AC circuit with a resistor and capacitor or coil you would have to pythag the voltages (Square root of (Vr^2+Vc^2)=Vt)

[halfassedjediknight]

Yeah, coelho pretty much nailed it. I'm in school studying electronics technology right now, which basically means learning how to design, troubleshoot, build etc electronic circuits, right now we're studying power supplies which is pretty friggin interesting to me:D

But yeah, as an electrician you'll mostly be dealing with AC I would think. Trig plays a big part in that, with phase angles and what not. But basically the two main concepts behind everything electrical is kirchoff's law and ohms law.

Ohm law: V=I*R


Kirchoffs law: Vs-V1-V2...-Vx=0
Vs = source voltage
V1-Vx = the voltage drops in the closed loop.

Ie: You have a 10 volt source and 2 10 ohm resistors connected in series. The sum of the voltages across the 2 resistors is equal to the source voltage.

In other words, the voltage drops around a closed loop are equal to the source voltage. Basically the principle of the conservation of energy.

Once you toss a capacitor or coil in an ac circut, Kirchoffs law still applies but its not as straight forward, because of the phase angle of the voltage in the coil leads the current by 90* and the voltage in the coil lags the current by 90 degrees. So basically for ohms law to still work in a AC circuit with a resistor and capacitor or coil you would have to pythag the voltages (Square root of (Vr^2+Vc^2)=Vt)

all greek to me! hah. im not even close to there yet, this is just an entry test.

ill worry about all that jargon when i get into the class and the trade.

[Splifted]

all greek to me! hah. im not even close to there yet, this is just an entry test.

ill worry about all that jargon when i get into the class and the trade.

Yeah, posts like that happen when I'm out of weed. If i was high i probably would have just typed "good luck:thumbsup: " and been done with it lol.

[halfassedjediknight]

Yeah, posts like that happen when I'm out of weed. If i was high i probably would have just typed "good luck:thumbsup: " and been done with it lol.

no biggie, im sure ill learn everything you just typed further on.

[Skink]

Don't let these peeps scare you... you are not going to be tested for any of this... You are prob just going for a aptitude test... reason I suggest a National Code Book is because your going to be required to have one anyway... if you don't make it you could easily sell the book on ebay or criegslist...

[halfassedjediknight]

Don't let these peeps scare you... you are not going to be tested for any of this... You are prob just going for a aptitude test... reason I suggest a National Code Book is because your going to be required to have one anyway... if you don't make it you could easily sell the book on ebay or criegslist...

i dont even know what this code book youre speaking of it. ill try to research it, but can you shed some light?

edit: is, not it.