Program Title – Electrical Engineering Technician
Program Codes
Program codes are for September intakes except those that are indicated differently.
NORT-T007 (PC) Timmins Campus
Program Description
Northern College is one of four colleges in Ontario that partner with Hydro One in the Hydro One Colleges Consortium.
Electrical Engineering Technicians work in the areas of installation, testing, operation, maintenance, and repair, as well as analyzing and troubleshooting a variety of electrical circuits, equipment and systems. In addition, graduates will be able to participate in quality control and quality assurance programs and apply communication, documentation, computer information technology, and teamwork skills to support the engineering activities of an organization. Technicians maintain power generation stations and transmission lines and work in areas such as protection, industrial telecommunications, electrical maintenance and installation, and control systems. Students receive extensive hands-on instruction in several state-of-the-art laboratories. They will learn how to select, design, install, maintain, program and troubleshoot modern industrial, electrical and electronic systems.
Graduates from our Technician or Technology programs may obtain certification through the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT).
Pathways to Success
Graduates of the Electrical Engineering Technician Program may choose to continue their studies and complete an additional year in order to obtain a diploma in Electrical Engineering Technology. Graduates of this program may be eligible to enroll in the Electrical Engineering Degree Program at Lakehead University.
Career Opportunities
Northern College graduates currently work in positions ranging from apprentice electricians to electrical department superintendents in all industrial sectors including public and private power utilities. Graduates can expect to find employment in the following fields/positions: quality control, electrical drafting, research and technical laboratories.
Contact Information
Tel: 705-235-3211 x2158
electrical@northern.on.ca
Semester 1
CM1903 Communications I – Model A
Communications I is a practical course designed to help strengthen both oral and written skills. Students will be exposed to a variety of learning methods and communication formats. Emphasis will be placed on the use of appropriate structure, writing conventions and style. Students will also develop discipline-specific documents as well as learn the basics of portfolio assembly and presentation.
EE1206 Electrical Fundamentals
Electrical Fundamentals comprises of mostly knowledge as it relates to the understanding of everyday use of Electricity. Laws/physics of electricity are introduced. Theory, formulas, and formula manipulation comprises approximately two thirds of the course, the remaining one-third is hands on in the laboratory to prove the mathematical formulas. A high concentration of theory precedes the actual hands on in the laboratory.
GN1033 Health and Safety
This course is an introduction to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations. Topics include the Act and several related regulations. The student will also complete a valid WHMIS certification course during the semester.
IT1024 Introduction to Physics
This course is an introductory course into the study of physics. It consists of 6 theory units and a corresponding laboratory component. The topics covered include: measurement, motion, forces, work and energy, fluids and heat. The lab component gives students the opportunity to connect with the acquired theory.
MA1100 Mathematics I
This course covers basic algebra properties, graphing the straight line, basic geometry and trigonometry, and solving a system of equations algebraically. This course also covers vector addition by components and by the cosine and sine laws.
EE3204 Measuring Instruments
This is a lab-oriented course designed to familiarize the student with the operation, characteristics, maintenance, and the application of different measuring instruments. Equipment studied includes voltmeter (DC and AC), ammeters, recording voltmeters, current transformers, meggers, and oscilloscopes. It is the purpose of this course to provide the technician with a sound knowledge of the concept of measuring and the operation of electrical instruments.
Semester 2
CM2903 Communications II – Model A
Communications II is a continuation of Communications I and is designed to strengthen practical written and oral presentation skills. Students will apply the appropriate principles and formats to job-related documents and will continue to review grammatical structures and apply editing strategies.
EE1204 Residential Wiring and Methods
This course introduces students to the installation & design of various residential circuits used in a common household. Also, students will be working on actual installations of basic household circuits and electrical services used in the workplace. Topics include: introduction to the electrical code, symbols, service calculations, & installations, wiring methods, grounding. Prerequisite: EE1206 Electrical Fundamentals, EE1034 Digital Circuits.
EE2206 Electronics Fundamentals
This is an introductory course in electronics in which students learn the operation of electronic devices and their application in basic electronic circuits. Devices studied are diodes, optoelectronic devices, bipolar transistors, op amps and FETS. Students will construct, test and analyse basic electronic circuits such as power supplies and basic amlifier circuits. Prerequisite: EE1055 Electrical Fundamentals I.
IN1224 CAD I
This course provides students with the ability to produce two-dimensional drawings and details using computer-aided drafting. Students become acquainted with the skills and terminology required for a CAD environment.
MA2104 Mathematics II
This course covers factoring and fractional equations, exponents and radicals, the quadratic equation, complex numbers, exponentials and logarithms. Prerequisite: MA1100 Mathematics I
EL1003 Elective I
Semester 3
EE1034 Digital Circuits
This is an introductory course in logic circuit analysis. Simplification of logical expressions by Boolean Algebra, and truth tables are introduced. Two most popular logic IC families, TTL and CMOS with the production of flip-flops and their applications in shift registers and counters will be studied.
EE3033 Three Phase Theory
Topics include a review in complex numbers; three-phase theory ideal transformer, transformer losses and testing methods, special transformers such as distribution transformers, autotransformer, current and potential transformers and three phase transformers. The course is 50% theory and 50% practical. Prerequisite: EE1204 Residential Wiring & Methods; EE2204 Installation Methods – CAD I; MA2104 Mathematics II.
EE3114 Electrical Motor Control
This course is intended to help the students understand the principal operation of many control components and circuits used by industry. This course will provide the students with the basic knowledge required for the plc course being delivered in the winter semester. Students will also wire many industry standard circuits which operate at industry level voltages.
GN2133 Law and Ethics
This course provides a basis for legal and ethical issues of importance to graduates and specifically covers torts, professional liability and contract law. Its goal is to begin preparing the student for professional designations and/or examinations.
IN3263 Embedded Programming and Networks
The first part of this course introduces the learner to the fundamentals of computer and how they are networked. Topics include a basic overview of computer/network equipment, networking fundamentals and standards, and network design. The second part of the course provides the learner with an introduction to computer programming using embedded systems. Topics covered include syntax, variables, equations, data types, loops, conditional statements, logical statements, and ADC interfacing. Prerequisite: IN1953 Computer Applications for Technology
MA3105 Mathematics III
This course covers topics such as: graphs of trigonometric functions; trigonometric identities and equations; the study of analytic geometry and the study of inequalities. The students will also be introduced to the rate of change and its relation to graphs and the derivative.
Semester 4
EE2014 Electrical Machines I
This course covers the fundamental principles of operations of DC and AC motors and generators. Topics include; DC generators, DC motors, efficiency and heating of electrical machines, electrical machine maintenance, three-phase induction motors, synchronous motors/generators, and single phase motors.
EE5003 Instrumentation
This is an introductory course in instrumentation and process control. Various transducers and their applications are discussed for temperature, pressure and flow measurements. The basic elements of electrical, thermal liquid flow, gas flow and mechanical system components are introduced. The analog and digital signal conditioning circuits are discussed for data conversion analysis. The basic operation of A/D and D/A is explained. Analog and digital multiplexer and data sample/hold are discussed.
EE4043 Programmable Logic Control I
This is a basic course in motor and logic control using both relay logic and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). Ladder and cabling diagrams are developed to meet the logic requirements for a variety of applications. These are then documented, programmed, wired and run using both actual and simulated equipment. Small PLCs with only discrete I/Os and limited capability are used in this course. Prerequisite: EE3024 Electrical Installations.
EE4074 Voice and Data Cabling
This course is designed to provide the student with a basic understanding of communication networks, telecommunication cabling, communication standards, and how to properly install and test an F connector and RJ45 jack.
EE4103 Power Systems
This course course builds a profound understanding of various utility power systems and renewable energy systems used in Ontario. The students will learn the principle operation and components of the generating stations followed by learning the fundamentals of low voltage distribution systems and high voltage distribution system and its challenges. Then we look at the cost of electricity and DC transmission systems. Prerequisite: E3033 Three Phase Circuits.
MA4204 Calculus I
This is a basic introductory course in Calculus. Students learn the language of calculus and apply the rules to simple engineering problems. The course includes the derivative of algebraic, trigonometric, logarithmic and exponential functions, with applications to minimum and maximum. An introduction to integration, with algebraic functions, is also taught with some basic applications to area under the curve and volumes of revolution.
IN4403 MS Project Management
This course will introduce students to the basic skills of Microsoft Office Project. Students will plan a project, create a project schedule, communicate project information, assign resources and costs, track progress and close the project, and share project information with other people and applications.
