Browse by Subject Area
Our shared collection with BCcampus breaks down resources by subject area. You can also filter by ancillaries, accessibility criteria, review or adoption status, as you search for the best fit in your courses. We’re always here to help if you’re not sure where to start.
You can also browse a growing collection of Made-in-Manitoba resources by visiting our PressbooksEDU catalogue.
Browse by Subject Area
Our shared collection with BCcampus breaks down resources by subject area. You can also filter by ancillaries, accessibility criteria, review or adoption status, as you search for the best fit in your courses. We’re always here to help if you’re not sure where to start.
You can also browse a growing collection of Made-in-Manitoba resources by visiting our PressbooksEDU catalogue.
Line E - Electrical Fundamentals Competency E-1: Describe the Basic Principles of Electricity by Camosun College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Line E - Electrical Fundamentals Competency E-1: Describe the Basic Principles of Electricity
Description: You will use electricity daily. Vehicles and machinery are started and often operated by electricity. Electric tools make the performance of your job easier and more efficient. However, to use electricity safely and effectively, it is important to understand electricity’s terminology and principles.The following list of lines and competencies was generated with the goal of creating an entry-level trades training resource, while still offering the flexibility for lines to be used as stand-alone books. E-1 Describe the Basic Principles of Electricity, E-2 Identify Common Circuit Components and Their Symbols, E-3 Explain Wiring Connections, E-4 Use Multimeters. Special thanks to CAPER-BC (https://caperbc.ca/) for creating the audio recording for each Competency.
Posted: November 2, 2015 | Updated: December 19, 2019
Author: Camosun College
Subject Areas
Trades, Electrical
Notifications
Stay informed about updates to this textbook
Adoptions (faculty):
Contact us if you are using this textbook in your course
Further Adaptations:
Contact us if you are adapting this book
Request to review this textbook
Reviews (2)
Avg:
Institution:Saskatchewan PolytechnicTitle/Position: Instructor 
Q: The text covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately and provides an effective index and/or glossary
I would disagree with the above comment as there is not a separate index/glossary . There is however an effective introduction of terms in Learning Task 1.
Comprehensiveness Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: Content is accurate, error-free and unbiased
I agree with the statement that the content is accurate, error-free and unbiased.
Content Accuracy Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: Content is up-to-date, but not in a way that will quickly make the text obsolete within a short period of time. The text is written and/or arranged in such a way that necessary updates will be relatively easy and straightforward to implement
Basics are presented clearly and in a simple manner which will stand the test of time.
Relevance Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is written in lucid, accessible prose, and provides adequate context for any jargon/technical terminology used
I found the text clear, easy to read and just enough to explain without adding unnecessary detail for the level intended.
Clarity Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework
Yes, where additional name/terms apply they are given in parententis but not used in a confusing manner.
Consistency Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course (i.e., enormous blocks of text without subheadings should be avoided). The text should not be overly self-referential, and should be easily reorganized and realigned with various subunits of a course without presenting much disruption to the reader.
I would agree that the Learning Tasks are modular. The tasks are only reliant on knowledge from earlier tasks due to it being a basics fundamentals course.
Modularity Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion
I agree that the topics are introduced and explained effectively. The learning task are organized well and flow is consistent.
Organization Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader
The images and charts were concise and clear and added significantly to the clarity of understanding of the Learning Tasks.
Interface Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text contains no grammatical errors
Not my strong suit to comment on but I saw no indication of this during the reading of the text.
Grammar Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It should make use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds
The text is on topic,neutral and does not stray into these areas.
Cultural Relevance Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: Are there any other comments you would like to make about this book, for example, its appropriateness in a Canadian context or specific updates you think need to be made?
I was impressed with the Open Textbook Line E: Electrical Fundamentals . The content has introduced me to varied explanation methods that will help me to effectively instruct/deliver the electrical content of our Apprentice Training in Gas Fitting courses to students at the Sask Polytechnic School.
Institution:SAIT PolytechnicTitle/Position: Electrical Instructor
Q: The text covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately and provides an effective index and/or glossary
All aspects of introductory electrical are covered, how they are described is somewhat confused at times.
There is no index.
There is no glossary. This would be a very large improvement, as introductory electrical does require an understanding of the multiple terms utilized in the topic.
Comprehensiveness Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: Content is accurate, error-free and unbiased
The content is accurate and error-free.
The only biase I see is examples which only provide examples of automotive electrical systems. It would be beneficial to have additional industry examples cited.
Content Accuracy Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: Content is up-to-date, but not in a way that will quickly make the text obsolete within a short period of time. The text is written and/or arranged in such a way that necessary updates will be relatively easy and straightforward to implement
The topic requires no updates, electrical physics will not change in the foreseeable future.
Relevance Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text is written in lucid, accessible prose, and provides adequate context for any jargon/technical terminology used
The text itself is written at an adequately elementary level for any learner to grasp. My only concern/critique would how the author has chosen to organize the concepts. Some topics refer to components/terms that are not explained until later in the text.
Clarity Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework
Yes it is.
Consistency Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course (i.e., enormous blocks of text without subheadings should be avoided). The text should not be overly self-referential, and should be easily reorganized and realigned with various subunits of a course without presenting much disruption to the reader.
Yes, I agree.
Modularity Rating: 4 out of 5
Q: The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion
I will critique on this item.
There needs to be more distinction between the mainstays of electrical physics.
Voltage, Current, and Resistance must each be fully described, then their measured values and symbols representing them identified.
(example)
Voltage: Potential difference of electrons. This means the relative difference of charge-or electrons-between two points. A large difference of electrons will equal a large voltage.
-Measured: Volts (V)
-In equations this will be represented as the letter "E"
* in providing this break-down students will see how the equations are constructed later in the text.
Organization Rating: 3 out of 5
Q: The text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader
yes
Interface Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text contains no grammatical errors
No errors
Grammar Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It should make use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds
Good
Cultural Relevance Rating: 5 out of 5
Q: Are there any other comments you would like to make about this book, for example, its appropriateness in a Canadian context or specific updates you think need to be made?
I honestly would have a reconsideration of the CONTENT within this text. The author has a good grasp on the topic, but it could be adjusted to make the topic of discussion much clearer.
I would be happy to assist if asked.
