Mechatronics Certification Test - Motor and Motor Controls

This certificate exam evaluates the candidate's mastery of the principles, application, troubleshooting and maintenance of rotating electrical motors and electronic motor drives as used in packaging, processing and other manufacturing environments. Topics include motor and drive safety practices; characteristics of 3-phase power systems; speed, torque and efficiency characteristics of various types of single and three phase AC motors and various types of DC motors; AC and DC motor nameplate specifications; means of starting and braking motors; DC electronic drives and AC variable frequency and pulse width modulated electronic drives. This exam does not include stepping and servo motors and their controls which would be used in robotic and motion control systems.

AC and DC electric motors are very commonly applied in virtually all industrial operations including packaging equipment, machine tools, and processing equipment; and control of speed, torque and other parameters is growing in use, resulting in more complex motor drive systems.

This certificate is aimed at intermediate-level trades, technicians and technologists who will assemble, install, startup, troubleshoot, modify or repair machines or processes utilizing electric motors that require more than simple across-the-line starting. It is expected that those sitting for this exam will have passed Industrial Electricity 1 and Industrial Electricity 2 or have equivalent knowledge and experience. To purchase a test please click on the button below which will prompt you to send an email to [email protected] requesting an invoice. Please include which test(s) you would like to purchase.

Purchase Test

Price:

$125.00

Test Topics & Questions

List and describe the rules of safe dress around electric motors
List and describe the basic rules of electric motor operation safety
Identify the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) up to Category 2 for NFPA 70E
Describe the procedure for basic lockout and tagout (control of hazardous energy)
Describe factors to consider when selecting test equipment for troubleshooting AC/DC motor drives
Describe factors to consider when selecting test equipment for troubleshooting AC/DC motors
Explain why it is necessary to verify that the capacitors are discharged in an AC drive

List and describe two methods or applications used to measure motor speed
Define mechanical torque and explain how it is calculated
Describe how to measure the approximate torque of a mechanical load
Describe the relationship between motor torque, speed and power
Define and calculate horsepower in English and S.I. units
Describe the impact of gear and belt drives on torque and horsepower
Determine the torque delivered by a motor using current measurements
Define motor efficiency and explain its importance
Describe the speed/torque characteristics of three types of DC motor configurations
Describe the speed/torque characteristics of AC motor configurations
Calculate the efficiency of a motor given input and output power

Demonstrate the ability to read and interpret a motor or drive nameplate
Demonstrate the ability to interpret a connection diagram
Select the correct DC motor for an application based on motor performance characteristics
Select the correct AC motor for an application based on motor performance characteristics

Identify the major components of a DC motor and describe their functions
Describe the operation of a DC motor
List three wiring configurations for a DC motor
Describe how to troubleshoot a DC motor fault
Define counter electromotive force (CEMF) and explain its effect
Describe the operation, function, wiring and schematic symbols for DC series motors
Describe the operation, function, wiring and schematic symbols for DC shunt/compound motors
Describe the operation, function, wiring and schematic symbols for DC permanent magnet motors
Connect, operate, and reverse DC motors
Describe two factors that affect the strength of a magnetic field
Describe the maintenance procedures for the inspection and replacement of brushes

Describe the function of a DC drive
Describe how to connect and operate a DC drive
Describe the function and operation of an SCR
Describe the operation of SCR half-wave speed control
Describe the operation of armature control
Describe the function of field control for a DC motor
Describe the function and setting of IR compensation in a DC drive
Explain the importance of proper setup of a DC drive (such as speed, torque, IR compensation, acceleration / deceleration)
Describe the function and connections of a DC pulse width modulation drive and give an application
Describe common tests and instruments used to troubleshoot DC drives
List and describe the common failures of a DC drive

Describe the component/operation and schematic symbols for split-phase, capacitor-start, capacitor-run, and shaded pole AC motors
Describe how to troubleshoot motor capacitor failure
Describe the purpose of a bleeder resistor
Describe how to reverse the rotation of a capacitor-start motor
Describe how to reverse the rotation direction of a capacitor-start capacitor-run motor

Describe the characteristics of a three-phase wye distribution system
Describe the characteristics of a three-phase delta distribution system
Describe how to identify a three-phase delta distribution system using a multimeter
Describe how to identify a phase sequence of a three-phase distribution system
Describe how to identify and troubleshoot a thermal overload protection device
Connect and operate single-phase transformers in a wye-to-delta configuration
Identify line-side and load-side terminal and color designations
Describe the symptoms resulting from the loss of one phase (single phasing) on a three-phase motor
Describe the component/operation and schematic symbols for split-phase, capacitor-start, capacitor-run, and shaded pole AC motors
Describe how to troubleshoot motor capacitor failure
Describe the purpose of a bleeder resistor
Describe how to reverse the rotation of a capacitor-start motor
Describe how to reverse the rotation direction of a capacitor-start capacitor-run motor

Describe the characteristics of three-phase AC electricity
Describe the component/operation and schematic symbols for wound rotor and squirrel-cage AC motors
Describe how to identify single-phase and three-phase motors from their physical characteristics
Define slip on an AC induction motor
Describe the importance of power factor correction
Describe the construction and operation of a squirrel-cage induction motor
Describe how to connect a single-voltage three-phase motor
Describe how to connect a dual-voltage wye motor
Describe how to connect a wye-delta motor
Describe how to reverse the rotational direction of a three-phase motor
Describe the operation and troubleshooting of a mechanical brake
Describe the operation and troubleshooting of a dynamic braking system
Describe the operation and troubleshooting of a manual motor control plugging circuit
Describe the operation and troubleshooting of DC injection braking
Describe how to troubleshoot a reduced voltage starting system
Describe how to troubleshoot a primary resistor starting system
Describe how to troubleshoot a autotransformer reduced voltage motor starter
Describe how to troubleshoot a three-phase motor starter
Describe proper lubrication techniques

Describe the function of an air filter
Describe the operation of an air filter and give its schematic symbol
Drain a pneumatic filter
Describe two methods of removing water vapor from a pneumatic system
Describe four symptoms of filter failure and their causes
Describe how to inspect and troubleshoot a filter

Describe the starting of a motor with an AC drive versus an across the line motor starter
Describe the external control inputs and outputs commonly available on a variable frequency AC drive
Connect a variable frequency AC drive for a two or three-wire control
Identify appropriate grounding and shielding techniques to reduce Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Describe how frequency affects the speed on an AC induction motor
Describe the output of a variable frequency drive
Define Volts per Hertz ratio and explain how it affects the torque capabilities of a motor
Define ramping and explain its importance
Describe S-curve acceleration and how it is used
Describe DC injection braking using a variable frequency AC drive and give an application
Describe how to troubleshoot a circuit that includes a variable frequency AC drive
Describe open-loop and closed-loop AC motor controls
Describe the function of regenerative discharge in AC drives and explain its importance
Describe the function of vector control and explain why it is important
Describe the possible limitations of some AC motors for inverter applications
Describe the functions of common AC drive parameters
Describe the function and operation of the PWM switching circuitry in an AC drive
Describe the basic procedure to properly set up an AC drive
Describe the basic procedure used to troubleshoot an AC drive system
Describe the maintenance procedures for an electronic motor drive

Who should take this test?

This certificate is aimed at intermediate-level trades, technicians and technologists who will assemble, install, startup, troubleshoot, modify or repair machines or processes utilizing electric motors that require more than simple across-the-line starting. It is expected that those sitting for this exam will have passed Industrial Electricity 1 and Industrial Electricity 2 or have equivalent knowledge and experience.
How long does it take to complete the test?

Approximately 2.5 Hours
From the time of purchase, how long do I have to take the test?

You must complete your test within 6 months of completing your purchase. After 6 months, you will no longer have access to your test.
How many times can I attempt the test?

You will have only one attempt at passing the test per purchase.

Number of questions: 125

Passing score: 67%