Basic Electronics
Study Basic Electronics with at-home training from Penn Foster Workforce Development.
The Penn Foster Electronics course has met the necessary standards required for training and testing for the ETA-1 certifications:
- Student Electronics Technician
- Associate Certified Electronics Technician
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Instruction Set 1
Learning Strategies
The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.
Introduction to Electronics
Conductors, resistors, and insulators; direct current and alternating current; job opportunities.
Instruction Set 2
Nature of Electricity
Dangers and benefits of static electricity; volts, amperes, and ohms; series and parallel circuits.
Learning Aids:
• Electronics Practice Kit
• Component Color Code Wheel
Practical Exercise 1
Instruction Set 3
Conductors, Insulators, and Batteries
Conductors and conductivity; insulating materials; safety precautions when using storage batteries.
Circuit Analysis and Ohm’s Law
Finding the voltage, current, and resistance; the use of Ohm’s Law.
Multimeter Usage Manual
Multimeter operation; AC and DC voltage measurement.
Learning Aids:
• Electronics Practice Kit
• Circuit Formula Quick Reference Chart
Practical Exercise 2
Instruction Set 4
Basic Measuring Instruments
Analog or digital VOMs; using VOMs to measure voltage; safe handling of a multimeter.
Electronic Hardware
Mechanical connectors; types of solder tools.
Switching Devices
Types of switches; basic relay ladder diagrams.
Learning Aid: Electronics Practice Kit
Equipment:
• Soldering Iron
• Desoldering Pump
Practical Exercise 3
Instruction Set 5
Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Simple, compound, and closed magnetic circuits; simple electromagnetic relays.
Capacitors and Inductors
Types of capacitors; how an inductor regulates the flow of current.
Basic Semiconductor Components: Diodes
How a diode works; selecting the proper diode for replacement in a circuit.
Basic Semiconductor Components: Transistors
Bipolar transistors; using an ohmmeter; basic troubleshooting.
Learning Aid: Electronics Practice Kit
Practical Exercise 4
Instruction Set 6
Alternating Current
Characteristics of an AC cycle; calculating power.
Capacitors in AC Circuits
Reactance and impedance; how AC frequency affects impedance.
Inductors in AC Circuits
Applying Ohm’s law; understanding and calculating impedance; how inductors are made and how they operate.
Transformers
Connecting single-phase transformers; operation of autotransformers.
Learning Aid: Electronics Practice Kit
Practical Exercise 5
Instruction Set 7
Reactance and Impedance
Determining the reactance of a capacitor and inductor; finding phase angles between voltage and current.
Resonant Circuits
Serial and parallel resonance; calculating the value of the Quality Factor, Q.
Application of Resonant Circuits
Low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-reject filters; identifying power-supply filter designs.
Learning Aid: Electronics Practice Kit
Practical Exercise 6
Instruction Set 8
Rectifiers and Power Supplies
Basic types of electronic rectifiers; operation of power-supply filters.
Amplifiers
Transistor amplifier operations; determining biasing conditions.
Oscillators
Oscillator circuits; effects of temperature on oscillator circuits.
Fiber Optic and Optoelectronic Components
Basic theory of light communications; electron microscopes; how fluorescent lights operate.
Learning Aid: Electronics Practice Kit
Practical Exercise 7
Instruction Set 9
Electronic Sensors
Bridge circuits; concepts of “stress” and “strain” in electronics.
Modulation and Detection Circuits
Degrees of modulation; AM and FM signals; modulation and detector circuits.
Electronic Devices and Amplifiers
Passive and active devices; determining amplifier gain.
Using Basic Oscilloscopes
Operation of an oscilloscope; performing low-voltage measurements.
Learning Aid: Electronics Practice Kit
Practical Exercise 8
Instruction Set 10
Audio and RF Circuits
Tone frequencies used in control systems; virtues of AM, FM, and SSB transmission.
Oscillator and Feedback Waveforms
Oscillator circuits; how waveforms are created.
Electronic Power Supplies
Basic operation of DC and AC conversion equipment; selecting the proper type of battery.
Learning Aid: Electronics Practice Kit
Practical Exercise 9
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