Locating and diagnosing faults in electrical systems and equipment

This standard identifies the competencies you need to investigate, locate and diagnose the cause of faults on electrical systems and equipment, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be expected to locate and diagnose faults in electrical rotating, wound or power control/management equipment. In addition, you will be required to select and use test instruments, review fault symptoms, interpret technical data, apply systematic fault finding procedures and record your findings.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the fault diagnostic activities undertaken and to report any problems with the activities or with the tools and equipment used, that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision taking full responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.

Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work and will provide an informed approach to applying fault diagnostic techniques and procedures. You will understand the diagnostic techniques and associated equipment and their application and will know about the electrical/electronic products/components, in adequate depth and breadth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification.

You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the fault diagnostic activities. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.

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P1    work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines

P2    review all relevant information on the symptoms and problems associated with the products or assets

P3    investigate and establish the most likely causes of the faults

P4    locate faults, using appropriate diagnostic techniques, tools and aids

P5    complete the fault diagnosis within the agreed time and inform the appropriate people when this cannot be achieved

P6    determine the implications of the fault for other work and for safety considerations

P7    draw valid conclusions about the nature and probable cause of the fault using evidence from the fault diagnosis

P8    deal with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved

P9    complete and store all relevant documentation in accordance with organisational requirements

P10    leave the work area in a safe condition on completion of the activities, as per organisational requirements

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K1    how to work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines

K2    the importance of wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and of keeping the work area clean and tidy

K3    voltage ranges, what constitutes a hazardous voltage and how to reduce the risks of a phase to earth shock 

K4    how to recognise and deal effectively in the workplace with victims of electric shock 

K5    how to obtain the authority to conduct fault location and diagnosis in the relevant work areas and any specific permit-to-work procedures that are required

K6    how to obtain and use data that relates to the fault diagnostic activities

K7    how to check the calibration status of authorised test facilities and test equipment to be used

K8    the various fault diagnosis and location techniques that are used 

K9    how to set up, care for and use the range of test equipment needed for the fault location 

K10    how to read and interpret circuit diagrams and related symbols

K11    how to recognise, read values and, where appropriate, the polarity of electrical/electronic components

K12    the basic operating principles of the electrical components, systems and equipment being diagnosed

K13    the recognition of defects/issues

K14    how to analyse and evaluate the results of the fault diagnosis checks carried out

K15    the faults that can occur and typical actions needed to deal with them 

K16    the extent of your own responsibility and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve

K17    how to access, use and maintain information to comply with organisational requirements and legislation

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1. Carry out all of the following requirements during fault location/diagnosis activities on electronic/electrical equipment:
   1. use the correct issue of drawings, job instructions and specifications
   2. adhere to health and safety regulations, systems and procedures to realise a safe system of work
   3. use grounded wrist straps, mats and other electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions, as appropriate
   4. carry out the fault location/diagnosis activities, in line with organisational procedures
   5. create and store records, in accordance with appropriate procedures
2. Conduct fault diagnosis on one of the following categories of electrical equipment:
   1. rotating equipment (such as single/three-phase motors, alternators)
   2. wound equipment (such as large transformers/inductors)
   3. control equipment (such as switchgear, distribution, power management)
3. Collect fault diagnosis evidence from two of the following sources:
   1. test instrument measurements
   2. recording devices (such as shock, vibration, humidity, temperature)
   3. circuit meters
   4. sensory input (such as sight, sound, smell, touch)
   5. circuit self-diagnosis
4. Use two of the following sources of technical information to assist with fault finding activities:
   1. technical manual/specifications
   2. wiring/circuit diagrams
   3. engineering drawings
   4. logic diagrams
   5. flow charts/fault algorithms
   6. fault finding/trouble shooting guides
5. Use two of the following fault diagnostic techniques:
   1. half-split technique
   2. unit substitution
   3. emergent sequence
   4. input/output technique
   5. injection and sampling
   6. function testing
   7. six point technique
6. Use all the following fault diagnosis procedures:
   1. inspection (such as breakages, signs of overheating, missing parts, loose fitting, dry joints)
   2. operation (such as manual switching off and on, automatic switching/timing/sequencing, outputs)
   3. measurement (such as voltage, current, continuity, logic states, noise, frequency, signal shape and level)
7. Identify and locate two of the following categories of fault:
   1. intermittent component/circuit failure
   2. complete component/circuit failure
   3. partial failure/reduced performance

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4

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2029

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Current

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Original

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Enginuity

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SEMEEE3-35

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Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Technicians, Maintenance Team Technician, Manufacturing Technologies, Production and Process Engineers

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2123

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Engineering; electrical; electronic; locate; diagnose; faults; system; equipment; circuits; techniques

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