Carrying out tests on electronic equipment and circuits

​

This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out inspections and tests on electronic equipment and circuits, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to carry out defined and documented tests on a range of electronic equipment such as power supplies, alarm and protection circuits, motor control systems, sensors and actuator circuits, digital circuits and systems, analogue circuits and systems, and hybrid circuits and systems, in order to assess their functionality and performance in relationship to the specification.

You will be required to carry out inspections and tests, which will include voltage and current levels, resistance values, waveform, clock/timer switching, pulse width/rise time, open/short circuit, logic state, frequency modulation and demodulation, and signal-to-noise ratio/interference levels. You will be expected to take care that you do not damage the equipment/circuit during the maintenance activities and, where appropriate, the application of electrostatic discharge procedures will be a critical part of your role.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for carrying out the testing activities, and to report any problems with these activities that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work to instructions, alone or in conjunction with others, taking personal responsibility for your own actions, and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.

Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a sound basis for your work of carrying out the defined inspections and tests, and will provide an informed approach to applying the necessary test procedures. You will know how the equipment functions, the test equipment to be used, and the testing procedures to be applied, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities. In addition, you will be expected to record the outcomes of the tests, to compare the results with appropriate specifications, and to record/report the results in the appropriate format to the relevant people.

You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the inspection and testing activities, especially those for isolating the equipment, and for taking the necessary safeguards to protect yourself and others against direct and indirect electric shock. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.

---

1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. follow the appropriate procedures for use of tools and equipment to carry out the required tests
3. set up and carry out the tests using the correct procedures and within agreed timescales
4. record the results of the tests in the appropriate format
5. review the results and carry out further tests if necessary

---

1. the health and safety requirements of the area in which the testing activity is to take place, and the responsibility these requirements place on you
2. your responsibilities under regulations relevant to the electronic testing activities being undertaken
3. the isolation and lock-off procedure or permit-to-work procedure that applies to the testing activities (electrical isolation, locking off switchgear, removal of fuses, placing of warning notices, proving that isolation has been achieved and secured)
4. what constitutes a hazardous voltage and how to recognise victims of electric shock
5. the specific safety precautions to be taken when carrying out formal inspection, safety and circuit testing of electronic equipment
6. the hazards associated with testing electronic equipment and circuits, and with the equipment that is used, and how these hazards can be minimised
7. the importance of wearing protective clothing, and other appropriate safety equipment (PPE), during the testing activities
8. how to reduce the risks of a phase to earth shock (such as insulated tools, rubber mating and isolating transformers)
9. the importance of keeping the work area clean, tidy and free from waste and surplus materials
10. how the testing activities may affect the work of others, and the procedure for informing them of the work to be carried out
11. the procedures and precautions to be adopted to eliminate/protect against electrostatic discharge (ESD)
12. how to obtain and interpret information from job instructions, drawings, circuit diagrams, specifications, manufacturers' manuals, test procedures and other documents needed to carry out the tests
13. the basic principles of how the electronic circuit functions, its operating sequence, the function/purpose of individual units/components, and how they interact
14. how to set up and apply the appropriate test equipment
15. how to check that tools and equipment are free from damage or defects, are in a safe and usable condition, and have been configured correctly for their intended purpose
16. how to ensure the test equipment has been correctly calibrated
17. the various testing methods and procedures
18. how to assess test results, and make comparison with the specification
19. the environmental control requirements and company operating procedures relating to functional testing
20. the documentation required, and the procedures to be followed, at the conclusion of the testing

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

---

---

​

1. Carry out all of the following during the testing activities:

   1. plan the testing methods and procedures in conjunction with others, prior to beginning the testing
   2. use the correct issue of maintenance documentation (such as drawings, manuals, maintenance records)
   3. adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment, COSHH, personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations
   4. ensure the safe isolation of equipment
   5. ensure that safe access and working arrangements have been provided for the test area
   6. carry out the testing activities, using appropriate techniques and procedures
   7. ensure that test equipment is within calibration dates
   8. take electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions when handling sensitive components and circuit boards
   9. dispose of waste items in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner
   10. leave the work area in a safe and tidy condition

2. Carry out tests on two of the following types of electronic equipment:

   1. power supplies (such as switched mode, series regulation, shunt regulation)
   2. motor control systems (such as closed loop servo/proportion control, inverter control)
   3. sensor/actuator circuit (such as linear, rotational, temperature, photo-optic, flow, level, pressure)
   4. digital circuit (such as process control, microprocessor, logic devices, display devices)
   5. signal processing circuit (such as frequency modulating/demodulating, amplifiers, filters)
   6. alarms and protection circuits
   7. ADC and DAC hybrid circuits

3. Carry out tests using a range of tools and test equipment, to include two of the following:

   1. oscilloscope
   2. ammeter
   3. logic analyser
   4. logic probe
   5. signal tracer
   6. signal generator
   7. multimeter
   8. automatic test equipment
   9. computer-aided diagnostic equipment
   10. special purpose testing equipment
   11. temperature measuring devices

4. Carry out eight of the following tests/measurements, as applicable to the equipment being tested:

   1. logic states
   2. dc voltage/current levels
   3. ac voltage/current levels
   4. clock/timer switching
   5. pulse width/rise time
   6. open/short circuit
   7. resistance
   8. heat dissipation
   9. frequency modulation/demodulation
   10. performance of circuit
   11. condition of assemblies and components
   12. signal noise/interference levels

5. Carry out tests on electronic equipment and components, in accordance with one of the following:

   1. organisational guidelines and codes of practice
   2. equipment manufacturer's specifications
   3. customer requirements
   4. BS, ISO and/or BSEN standards

6. Complete one of the following records, and pass it to the appropriate person:

   1. job cards
   2. maintenance logs and action reports
   3. company-specific test documentation

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

2

---

30 Mar 2018

---

Current

---

Original

---

Semta

---

SEMEMI2-14

---

Maintenance Fitter

---

5223

---

Engineering; manufacturing; maintenance; testing; electronic; power supply; motor control system; sensors; actuators; digital circuits

---