AC/DC Circuits (EET1035C)

Course Description

EET1035C is a combined lecture and laboratory course (SCNS lab indicator: C) in the Electronic Engineering Technology program. It is an introductory course in basic electricity intended for engineering technology students, covering the concepts, laws, and definitions encountered in both AC and DC electric circuits. Topics include direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) circuit theory, computer simulation, and hands-on laboratory work using standard electronic bench equipment. Fundamental laws of electrical and electronic circuits, schematic symbols, and the mathematics required for circuit analysis are emphasized. RC, RL, and RLC circuits, time constants, and resonance are also addressed.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define and apply basic electrical quantities and terms, including voltage, current, resistance, power, and efficiency.
• Apply Ohm's Law to solve for unknown circuit variables in DC and AC circuits.
• Apply Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL) and Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) to analyze series, parallel, and combination circuits.
• Analyze series, parallel, and series-parallel DC resistive circuits.
• Identify and interpret standard electronic schematic symbols and read basic circuit diagrams.
• Define conductor, insulator, and semiconductor materials and determine resistance values from color codes and surface-mount component labels.
• Use electrical measuring instruments — including voltmeters, ammeters, ohmmeters, multimeters, and oscilloscopes — safely and accurately.
• Describe the characteristics of AC waveforms: frequency, period, amplitude, peak, peak-to-peak, and RMS values.
• Calculate and explain capacitive reactance (X_C) and inductive reactance (X_L) in AC circuits.
• Analyze RC, RL, and RLC circuits, including time constants, impedance, and phase relationships.
• Identify and calculate resonance in series and parallel RLC circuits.
• Apply basic troubleshooting methods to diagnose faults in DC and AC circuits.

Optional Outcomes

The following outcomes may be covered depending on institutional emphasis and available lab resources:

• Use circuit simulation software (e.g., Multisim, LTspice, or equivalent) to model and verify circuit behavior.
• Analyze bridge circuits (e.g., Wheatstone bridge) for measurement applications.
• Apply Thevenin's and Norton's theorems to simplify complex networks.
• Apply the Superposition theorem to multi-source circuits.
• Calculate and interpret power factor and reactive power in AC circuits.
• Describe the operating principles of transformers and their role in AC power distribution.
• Demonstrate proper electrical safety practices, including lockout/tagout awareness and safe handling of energized circuits.

Major Topics

Required Topics

1. Electrical Fundamentals — Atomic structure, charge, voltage, current, resistance, power, and energy; units and scientific notation; conductors, insulators, and semiconductors.
2. Resistors and Ohm's Law — Fixed and variable resistors; resistor color code and SMD labels; Ohm's Law calculations; power dissipation.
3. DC Series Circuits — Kirchhoff's Voltage Law; voltage divider rule; total resistance and power.
4. DC Parallel Circuits — Kirchhoff's Current Law; current divider rule; total conductance and resistance.
5. Series-Parallel (Combination) DC Circuits — Circuit simplification; loading effects; bridge circuits.
6. Network Theorems — Superposition, Thevenin's theorem, Norton's theorem, maximum power transfer.
7. Capacitors — Capacitance, types, dielectric materials, charge/discharge behavior, RC time constants, capacitors in series and parallel.
8. Inductors and Electromagnetism — Magnetic fields, inductance, RL time constants, inductors in series and parallel; transformer fundamentals.
9. AC Waveforms and Phasors — Sinusoidal waveforms, frequency, period, amplitude, peak, RMS, and average values; phasor representation.
10. Capacitive Reactance and AC Capacitive Circuits — X_C calculation; phase angle; series and parallel AC capacitive circuits.
11. Inductive Reactance and AC Inductive Circuits — X_L calculation; phase angle; series and parallel AC inductive circuits.
12. RLC Circuits and Resonance — Impedance; series and parallel RLC circuit analysis; resonant frequency; bandwidth and Q-factor.
13. Laboratory Skills — Safe use of multimeters, function generators, oscilloscopes, and DC power supplies; component identification; data recording and circuit documentation.

Optional Topics

• Circuit Simulation Software — Building and simulating DC and AC circuits using tools such as Multisim or LTspice.
• Power Factor and Power in AC Circuits — Real, reactive, and apparent power; power factor correction.
• Filters — Introduction to low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-stop filter circuits using RC and RL networks.
• Non-sinusoidal Waveforms — Square, triangular, and pulse waveforms; duty cycle; harmonics overview.
• Electrical Safety — Effects of electric current on the human body; safety standards; proper grounding; laboratory safety protocols.

Resources & Tools

• Textbooks: Introductory Circuit Analysis by Boylestad; Electronics Fundamentals by Floyd & Buchla — commonly adopted at Florida EET programs.
• Lab Equipment: Digital multimeter (DMM), DC power supply, function/signal generator, dual-trace oscilloscope, breadboard, and component kits.
• Simulation Software: National Instruments Multisim, LTspice (free), or Tinkercad Circuits (browser-based, free).
• Reference Standards: IEEE and IPC standards for schematic symbols and circuit documentation practices.
• Online Resources: Khan Academy (Electrical Engineering), All About Circuits (allaboutcircuits.com), and Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) open resources.

Career Pathways

Successful completion of EET1035C provides the foundation for the A.S. in Electronic Engineering Technology and related certificates at Florida colleges. Career pathways include:

• Electronics Technician — Installation, testing, and maintenance of electronic equipment.
• Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologist — Assisting engineers in design, prototyping, and system testing.
• Field Service Technician — On-site troubleshooting and repair of industrial and commercial electronic systems.
• Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) — Maintenance and calibration of medical electronic devices.
• Instrumentation and Control Technician — Process monitoring equipment in manufacturing and utilities.
• Advanced Studies: Provides preparation for EET courses in analog electronics, digital circuits, microcontrollers, and PLCs.

Special Information

Combined Lecture and Laboratory (C designation): The SCNS "C" suffix indicates this course combines lecture and laboratory instruction in a single scheduled meeting. Students are expected to perform hands-on circuit construction and measurement activities each week as an integral part of earning credit.

Safety Requirements: Students must follow established electrical safety procedures during all laboratory sessions, including proper handling of energized circuits, use of personal protective equipment, and safe operation of bench test instruments.

Certification Preparation: The skills and knowledge developed in this course align with the competency areas assessed in the NC3 Fundamentals of Electricity: AC/DC certification and provide foundational preparation for OSHA 10 electrical safety awareness and industry-recognized technician credentials such as those offered by ETA International (Electronics Technician Associate level).