Revised 8-22-12

Syllabus
OEET 120 Basic Motor Controls
NMSU Grants Campus
Electronics/Electrical Department Web Site: mounttaylor.com

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Links to frequently-used sections of this syllabus. (Click on them.)
General course content Textbook and materials Classroom conduct policy Phone numbers, etc. Office hours
Attendance policy Grading Weekly topics

Master Syllabus (Information pertaining to the course regardless of which semester it is being taught, or which instructor teaches it.)
Course Description: Developing schematics and wiring simple manual and electromechanical control devices.
Credit Hours: 5
Contact Hours: 2 hours of lecture and 6 hours of lab per week. (2+6P)
Prerequisites: OEET 110 or consent of instructor.

Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, you should be able to successfully do the following:
  • Connect and troubleshoot the following:
    • DC motors & generators, single and 3-phase AC motors, and stepper motors.
    • Basic circuits incorporating thermocouples and thermistors.
    • Moderately complex motor driver circuits incorporating transistors and triacs
  • Design, connect, and troubleshoot the following:
    • Moderately complex motor control circuits incorporating relays (both with actual components and with ladder diagram simulations).
    • Moderately complex transformer circuits.
    • Basic motor controls incorporating digital circuits.
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of the above on written exams and lab exams.
Course Overview/Content and Scope
  • Basic electrical concepts appropriate for the circuits used in this course.
  • Electrical and electronic symbols and schematics.
  • Ladder diagrams for implementing control logic using relays (or their equivalent)
  • DC and AC generators
  • DC motors: permanent magnet, series, shunt, and compound.
  • Single-phase AC motors: capacitor start &/or run,  and split phase
  • Three-phase AC motors: Wye and Delta
  • Transformers windings in series and in parallel
  • Transformer boost and buck connections
  • Stepper motors
  • Contactors and motor starters
  • Control devices
  • Thermistors and thermocouples.
  • Motor reversing circuits
  • Solid-state devices
  • Digital logic circuits
Performance Assessment – Grading and Evaluation
The following methods will be used to measure your performance and determine your grade for the course:
  • Points earned for homework, class exercises, lab work, attendance, etc.
  • Quizzes.
  • Final exam.
  • Instructor’s observation of your abilities during class and during lab time.
Textbook and Materials
  • Book: Electrical Motor Controls, by Gary Rockis,   ISBN 978-0-8269-1217-6
  • Calculator. For this class, even a basic calculator is adequate. However, most phone calculators are inadequate. If you will be buying a calculator, I recommend the TI30X-IIS, which sells for around $13.
  • Pencil and large eraser.
    • We’ll be drawing a lot of diagrams, and you’ll be erasing a lot. I recommend a 0.7 mm mechanical pencil with a large eraser that screws out as you need more.
  • Flash drive (sometimes called “jump drive”).
    • For saving computer circuit simulations we’ll be doing on the computer.
    • Even the smallest flash drive is more than enough for this class and any other classes you're taking (unless you're taking a filmmaking class).
    • Floppy disks are too small, too slow, and too unreliable.
  • Optional (but highly recommended): 3-ring binder with dividers.
    • There will be a lot of handout sheets for this class, and you’ll need some way of keeping them in order. 
    • You might as well get a zip pouch to put into the binder. You can keep your calculator and other things in the pouch.
Web sites
Philosophy of Teaching for This Department
We believe an instructor’s job is to help everyone succeed. You’ll get lots of one-on-one help from us. Also, we’ll do our best to make the course exciting. And, we encourage students to help each other (but, of course, not by doing work for other students!). If you find yourself getting overwhelmed, and are tempted to be absent a lot, talk to us! Or, if you think you understand the material so well that you can miss a lot of class, talk to us! If you’re bored, we can give you some interesting extra credit projects to work on. Electronics books are usually written with a one-size-fits-all approach, and they are often overly theoretical. Material we present during class will help overcome these deficiencies.

How to Get a Lot Out of This Class (and also have an enjoyable time)
  • Be on time and avoid missing class.
    • Electronics is a lot like math: each concept builds on those previously covered.
  • Let the instructor know right away (during class) when you don’t understand something being explained.
    • If you don’t understand something, chances are there are others who don’t either.
  • Keep up with your homework.
    • Difficult concepts aren’t so difficult when you read about them and do problems designed to help you understand.
  • Let yourself get excited about the things you’re learning.
    • Electrical/electronics is often like magic. If you give electronics a chance, you’ll find yourself being wowed by it.
Classroom Conduct Policy
In this department, we like to run our classes in an informal manner. However, sometimes there are students who interfere with the learning of others. Thus, we have the following rules:
  • Electronic devices: Use of cell phones, mp3 players, etc., is prohibited during lecture time.
    • If you must be available for your children, etc., you may set your cell phone to vibrate-only mode during lecture time. If you have forgotten to set your phone to vibrate-only, and your phone rings during lecture time, please exit the room immediately and answer the phone once you are outside.
    • Tell those who might call you to avoid times you’re in class. (You’ll have an easier time learning if you’re not interrupted.)
  • Texting is only allowed during officially declared break times.
    • This is also true for other uses of your phone, PDA, etc.
  • Computer use: We’re supposed to be teaching good work habits, and we’ll expect you to conduct yourself as if you were at a workplace. The following are a few of the things you shouldn’t do during our classes or when at a job:
    • View pornographic or hate Web sites.
    • Play computer games, except during breaks.
    • Listen to music out loud. (The instructor will indicate whether or not it’s OK to listen with earphones.)
  • You’re expected to contribute to a positive learning environment. Conduct that is detrimental to this end can lead to your dismissal. Examples of such conduct are rudeness, disruptive behavior, poor hygiene &/or distractive clothing. In extreme cases, we may ask you to leave.
Academic Misconduct
Any student found guilty of academic misconduct shall be subject to disciplinary action. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following actions: CHEATING; PLAGIARISM; UNAUTHORIZED POSSESSION OF EXAMINATIONS, RESERVE LIBRARY MATERIALS OR LABORATORY MATERIALS; UNAUTHORIZED CHANGING OF GRADES ON AN EXAMINATION, INSTRUCTOR’S GRADE BOOK OR GRADE REPORT; NONDISCLOSURE OR MISREPRESENTATION IN FILLING OUT APPLICATIONS OR OTHER COLLEGE RECORDS. The following disciplinary actions and sanctions may be imposed for any of the above infractions or regulations: disciplinary probation, disciplinary suspension, dismissal, expulsion.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers issues relating to disability and accommodations. If a student has questions or needs an accommodation in the classroom (all medical information is treated confidentially), contact:

Beth Armstead, Vice President for Student Services
NMSU Grants
Phone: 505-287-6628   E-mail: barmstea@nmsu.edu
http://grants.nmsu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/PetitionforAccommodationForm.pdf

NMSU policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex, sexual orientation, spousal affiliation and protected veterans status. Furthermore, Title IX prohibits sex discrimination to include sexual misconduct, sexual violence, sexual harassment and retaliation.

For more information on discrimination issues, Title IX or NMSU's complaint process contact:

Gerard Nevarez or Agustin Diaz
Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) - O'Loughlin House
Phone: 646.3635 E-mail: equity@nmsu.edu
Website: http://www.nmsu.edu/~eeo/

Last reviewed by Bruce McDowell on 8-22-12
 
Operational Syllabus (Information pertaining to the course as it is being taught this semester and by this instructor)
Fall 2012
Instructor: Bruce McDowell
Recommended Preparation
In addition to having taken OEET 110 (Basic Electricity), taking OEET210 (Intermediate Electricity) along with this course would be a good idea. Even better would be to take OEET210 prior to taking this course.

Contact Information
Office phone: 287-6636; Bruce’s home phone: 285-4600 (use only between 9 am and 7 pm); Bruce’s e-mail: bruce@mounttaylor.com

Office Hours (Times set aside for you to get help from me)
Bruce: Mon & Wed, 2:00 to 3:00; or by appointment.

Class Meetings
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 3:30 - 5:45

Attendance Policy
Electronics/electrical classes are not like some other classes where you can simply read the book and catch up. Much of the learning in our class will be of a hands-on nature, with class exercises and interaction with the instructor being an important part. Being absent or arriving late will make grasping the concepts of this class difficult for you.

During most lecture periods, there will be at least one class exercise, for which you will get points. Because of the interactive nature of class exercises, they may not be made up if you are absent. (If there is a handout for a class exercise you missed, you are welcome to get a copy of the handout. However, completing the work on the handout will not earn you any points.)

For each hour of class you will receive 5 points for being here to participate. This course meets for about two hours each time. Thus, you will receive 10 points each time you attend class. These points reflect the fact that you were present and learning something. No matter how good your reasons are for being absent, you still won’t get attendance points for class periods you miss. If you are sick or have some other legitimate reason for missing class, you can compensate by coming in during office hours to do lab work and earn extra points.

Grade for the Course  

Points grade (Homework, class exercises, lab work, attendance, etc.)  70%
Quizzes 10%
Instructor’s evaluation (A subjective assessment taking into account observations of your knowledge in the classroom and the lab, attendance, giving help to other students, getting help from other students, and classroom behavior. Will normally be used only to raise your grade if warranted. It can have a negative effect on your grade if your attendance or behavior has been a problem.)  10%
Final Exam 10%
Total 100%

Grading Scale for the Course
95 - 100%    A
90 - 94%    B
70 - 89%    C
60 - 69%    D
0 - 59%    F

Why This Grading Scale?

I believe that the basics are highly important, and I stress them a lot in quizzes and assignments. Our quizzes and assignments are easier than they would be with the more common 90%=A, 80%=B, etc. grading scale. Because of this, the 90%=A scale would result in too many A’s and B’s. The good news is that with this grading scale, you’d have to be a total goof-off to get lower than a C in the class! I feel that anyone who has mastered the basics deserves at least a C.

Homework, Class Exercises, Lab Work, and Other Ways of Earning Points
The main part of your Points Grade is determined by homework, class exercises, and lab work. The following are some rules regarding these types of work:
  • For the first day a homework or lab assignment is late, you will lose 10%. After that you will lose 10% for each week the assignment is late.
  • Class exercises cannot be made up. You can compensate for a missed class exercise by spending additional time doing lab projects (so that you'll get more finished).
I realize most of our students do not need encouragement to have good study habits. However, there are often some who do need such encouragement and I want to see them do well. Thus, I have the following items that contribute to your total points:
  • Occasionally, there will be surprise “ready for class” checks. When these checks are made you’ll get the maximum number of points if you have the following: Calculator, pencil, eraser, paper, and handout sheets kept in such a way that you can quickly find any one of them that’s needed.
  • You can lose points if your behavior is a problem. (For more about this, see the section on Classroom Conduct above.)
At the end of the semester, I will tally points for everything to get a total for each student. I will then make a grading curve for the class (i.e., so many points = A, so many = B, etc.)

Quizzes
  • Most or all of the quizzes will be surprise quizzes. I give surprise quizzes in order to gauge what’s actually in your head to stay (as opposed to what was crammed in there the night before!). These surprise quizzes will be easier than if they were announced quizzes. Also, about 70% of the problems will be based on the fundamentals for this course—in other words, you should be able to earn at least a C if you understand the fundamentals.
  • Instead of makeup quizzes, I will use your Final Exam Grade for any quizzes you’ve missed.
 
Weekly Topics
The following list is only an approximation. Even though classes are composed of several individuals, each class has its own “personality.” Different classes require different amounts of time on each concept. Concept A may be difficult for class #1 and easy for class #2. Similarly, Concept B may be easy for class #1 and difficult for class #2. Thus, the topics actually covered during any particular week will differ from those shown below. Assignments will be listed on the class’s Web site (go to mounttaylor.com and click the link for this class). This Web site assignment list will contain due dates, and assignments will be added to it as the course progresses.
Week Topics Week Topics
1
  • Introduction to DC motors (including lab demonstration of the field-strength vs. speed paradox)
 9
  • Capacitor-start &/or run AC motors
  • Solid-state relays
2
  • Relays & contactors
  • DC motors
 10
  • Motor starters
  • Transformers
  • Thermocouples
3
  • Ladder diagram logic circuits
  • Generators
 11
  • Transformers
  • Logic-gate chips
  • Stepper motors--theory
4
  • Loaded motors and generators
  • Introduction to 3-phase AC
 12
  • Part-handling turntable circuit
  • Stepper motors--experiments
  • Motor controller using NAND-gate flip-flop
5
  • Shunt, series, and compound connections for DC motors and generators (mostly theory).
  • 3-phase motors
 13
  • Punch-press control circuit using digital chips
  • 3-phase motor reversing circuit
6
  • Shunt, series, and compound DC motors (lab)
  • Mechanism with limit switches
 14
  • Triac motor control circuit
  • Power-transistor motor-control circuit incorporating flip-flop and gate
7
  • Shunt, series, and compound DC generators (lab)
  • Op amps
 15
  • Dual full-bridge DC motor driver chip and flip-flops for START, STOP, REVERSE controls.
8
  • Motor-reversing circuits for DC motors (permanent-magnet motors and DC motors with fixed field)
  • Thermistors
 16
  • Final exam

Modifications to This Syllabus
This syllabus may be modified as necessary during the semester to meet the needs of the class. Major changes will be discussed and announced a minimum of one week in advance.

Reviewed by Bruce McDowell 8-22-12

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