Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

1) Scope: 

1.1) Descriptor 

This unit covers determining correct operation of basic amplifier circuits. It encompasses working safely, problem solving procedures, including the use of voltage, current and resistance measuring devices, providing solutions derived from measurements and calculations to predictable problems in basic amplifier circuits.

Application of the Unit 

2) 

This competency standard unit is intended for development of competency in either entry-level employment based programs incorporated in approved contracts of training or other approved training programs. It may also be used to augment formally acquired competencies.

This unit is intended as an additional competency to relevant competencies previously acquired. It is suitable for employment-based programs under an approved contract of training at the aligned AQF 3 level or higher.

License to practice 

3)  

The skills and knowledge described in this unit do not require a license to practice in the workplace provided equipment is not connected to installation wiring at voltage above 50 V a.c. or 120 V d.c. However other conditions may apply in some States/Territories subject to regulations related to electrical work.

Practice in the workplace and during training is also subject to regulations directly related to occupational health and safety and where applicable contracts of training such as apprenticeships.

Note:

1. Compliance with permits may be required in various jurisdictions and typically relates to the operation of plant, machinery and equipment such as elevating work platforms, powder operated fixing tools, power operated tools, vehicles, road signage and traffic control, lifting equipment and the like. Permits may also be required for some work environments such as confined spaces, working aloft, near live electrical apparatus and site rehabilitation.

2. Compliance may be required in various jurisdictions relating to currency in First Aid, confined space, lifting and risk safety measures.

Prerequisite Unit(s) 

4)  

Competencies 

4.1) 

Granting competency in this unit shall be made only after competency in the following unit(s) has/have been confirmed.

UEENEEH102A

Repair basic electronic apparatus faults by replacement of components

AND

UEENEEH114A

Troubleshoot resonance circuits in an electronic apparatus

OR

UEENEEG102A

Solve problems in low voltage a.c. circuits

Literacy and numeracy skills 

4.2)  

Participants are best equipped to achieve competency in this unit if they have reading, writing and numeracy skills indicated by the following scales. Description of each scale is given in Volume 2, Part 3 ‘Literacy and Numeracy’

Reading

3

Writing

3

Numeracy

3

Employability Skills 

5)  

This unit contains Employability Skills

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of Employability Skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged will assist in identifying Employability Skill requirements.

6)  Elements describe the essential outcomes of a competency standard unit

Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1

Prepare to troubleshoot basic amplifiers.

1.1

OHS procedures for a given work area are obtained and understood.

1.2

OHS risk control work preparation measures and procedures are followed.

1.3

The nature of the fault is obtained from documentation or from work supervisor to establish the scope of work to be undertaken.

1.4

Advice is sought from the work supervisor to ensure the work is co-ordinated effectively with others.

1.5

Sources of materials that may be required for the work are established in accordance with established procedures.

1.6

Tools, equipment and testing devices needed to carry out the work are obtained and checked for correct operation and safety.

2

Solve basic amplifier circuit problems.

2.1

OHS risk control work measures and procedures are followed.

2.2

The need to test or measure live is determined in strict accordance with OHS requirements and when necessary conducted within established safety procedures.

2.3

Circuits are checked as being isolated where necessary in strict accordance OHS requirements and procedures.

2.4

Fault finding is approached methodically drawing on knowledge of basic amplifiers using measured and calculated values of parameters.

2.5

Unexpected situations are dealt with safely and with the approval of an authorised person.

2.6

Fault finding activities are carried out efficiently without unnecessary waste of materials or damage to apparatus and the surrounding environment or services and using sustainable energy practices.

3

Complete work and document problem solving activities.

3.1

OHS work completion risk control measures and procedures are followed.

3.2

Work site is cleaned and made safe in accordance with established procedures.

3.3

Justification for solutions used to troubleshooting problems is documented.

3.4

Work completion is documented and an appropriate person or persons notified in accordance with established procedures.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

8)  This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Evidence shall show that knowledge has been acquired of safe working practices and troubleshooting basic amplifiers.

All knowledge and skills detailed in this unit should be contextualised to current industry practices and technologies.

KS01-EH139A Basic amplifier circuit troubleshooting 

Evidence shall show an understanding of basic amplifier circuit troubleshooting, applying safe working practices and relevant Standards Codes and Regulations to an extent indicated by the following aspects:

T1. Introduction to Amplifiers

• Purpose of amplifiers
• Introduction to black box model of amplifier
• Decibels, engineering terms and formulae
• Measurement of gain and frequency response

T2. Amplifier Terminal Characteristics

• Amplifier types and transfer characteristics
• Ideal amplifier transfer characteristics

T3. Practical amplifiers

• Practical amplifier terminal characteristics
• Input and output resistance calculations based on voltage measurements

T4. Operational amplifiers - Introduction

• Advantages of operational amplifiers
• Schematic symbol
• Open loop configuration
• Input and output resistance
• Gain bandwidth product
• Open loop amplifier operation
• Comparator circuit
• Circuit verification of operational amplifier configured as a comparator

T5. Operational amplifiers – Inverting Amplifier

• The need for and effects of negative feedback
• Inverting operational amplifier circuit configuration
• Inverting operational amplifier gain calculations
• Summing inverting operational amplifier gain calculations
• Circuit verification of operational amplifier gain

T6. Operational amplifiers – Non-inverting amplifier

• Non-inverting operational amplifier circuit configuration
• Non-inverting operational amplifier gain calculations
• Circuit verification of non inverting operational amplifier gain
• Voltage follower circuit configuration
• Voltage follower circuit gain
• Circuit verification of voltage follower

T7. Operational amplifiers – Differential Amplifier

• The differential amplifier
• Schematic circuit of differential amplifier using an operational amplifier
• Differential amplifier gain calculations
• Circuit verification of differential amplifier operation
• The Schmitt trigger
• Circuit verification of Schmitt trigger circuit

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

9)  The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. .

The Evidence Guide forms an integral part of this unit. It must be used in conjunction with all parts of the unit and performed in accordance with the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Overview of Assessment 

9.1) 

Longitudinal competency development approaches to assessment, such as Profiling, require data to be reliably gathered in a form that can be consistently interpreted over time. This approach is best utilised in Apprenticeship programs and reduces assessment intervention. It is the Industry-preferred model for apprenticeships. However, where summative (or final) assessment is used it must include the application of the competency in the normal work environment or, at a minimum, the application of the competency in a realistically simulated work environment. It is recognised that, in some circumstances, assessment in part or full can occur outside the workplace. However, it must be in accord with industry and regulatory policy.

Methods chosen for a particular assessment will be influenced by various factors. These include the extent of the assessment, the most effective locations for the assessment activities to take place, access to physical resources, additional safety measures that may be required and the critical nature of the competencies being assessed.

The critical safety nature of working with electricity, electrical equipment, gas or any other hazardous substance/material carries risk in deeming a person competent. Sources of evidence need to be ‘rich’ in nature to minimise error in judgment.

Activities associated with normal everyday work influence decisions about how/how much the data gathered will contribute to its ‘richness’. Some skills are more critical to safety and operational requirements while the same skills may be more or less frequently practised. These points are raised for the assessors to consider when choosing an assessment method and developing assessment instruments. Sample assessment instruments are included for Assessors in the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

9.2) 

Before the critical aspects of evidence are considered all prerequisites shall be met.

Evidence for competence in this unit shall be considered holistically. Each Element and associated performance criteria shall be demonstrated on at least two occasions in accordance with the ‘Assessment Guidelines – UEE11’. Evidence shall also comprise:

• A representative body of work performance demonstrated within the timeframes typically expected of the discipline, work function and industrial environment. In particular this shall incorporate evidence that shows a candidate is able to:

• Implement Occupational Health and Safety workplace procedures and practices, including the use of risk control measures as specified in the performance criteria and range statement
• Apply sustainable energy principles and practices as specified in the performance criteria and range statement
• Demonstrate an understanding of the essential knowledge and associated skills as described in this unit. It may be required by some jurisdictions that RTOs provide a percentile graded result for the purpose of regulatory or licensing requirements.
• Demonstrate an appropriate level of skills enabling employment
• Conduct work observing the relevant Anti Discrimination legislation, regulations, polices and workplace procedures

• Demonstrated consistent performance across a representative range of contexts from the prescribed items below:

• Troubleshoot basic amplifiers as described in 8) and including:

A

Using methodical problem solving methods.

B

Taking measurements correctly and accurately.

C

Calculating parameters correctly and accurately.

D

Providing solution to amplifier circuit problems.

E

Providing written justification for the solutions to problems.

F

Dealing with unplanned events by drawing on essential knowledge and skills to provide appropriate solutions incorporated in a holistic assessment with the above listed items.

Note:

Successful completion of relevant vendor training may be used to contribute to evidence on which competency is deemed. In these cases the alignment of outcomes of vendor training with performance criteria and critical aspects of evidence shall be clearly identified.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

9.3) 

This unit should be assessed as it relates to normal work practice using procedures, information and resources typical of a workplace. This should include:

• OHS policy and work procedures and instructions.
• Suitable work environment, facilities, equipment and materials to undertake actual work as prescribed by this unit.

These should be part of the formal learning/assessment environment.

Note:

Where simulation is considered a suitable strategy for assessment, conditions must be authentic and as far as possible reproduce and replicate the workplace and be consistent with the approved industry simulation policy.

The resources used for assessment should reflect current industry practices in relation to troubleshooting basic amplifiers.

Method of assessment 

9.4) 

This unit shall be assessed by methods given in Volume 1, Part 3 ‘Assessment Guidelines’.

Note:

Competent performance with inherent safe working practices is expected in the industry to which this unit applies. This requires that the specified essential knowledge and associated skills are assessed in a structured environment which is primarily intended for learning/assessment and incorporates all necessary equipment and facilities for learners to develop and demonstrate the essential knowledge and skills described in this unit.

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units 

9.5) 

There are no concurrent assessment recommendations for this unit.

The critical aspects of occupational health and safety covered in unit UEENEEE101A and other discipline specific occupational health and safety units shall be incorporated in relation to this unit.

RANGE STATEMENT 

10)  This relates to the unit as a whole providing the range of contexts and conditions to which the performance criteria apply. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.

This competency standard unit shall be demonstrated in relation to troubleshooting amplifiers for at least three types of amplifier configurations.

The troubleshooting must be demonstrated on three types of faults.

Note:

1. The range of faults may include: distortion, excessive power consumption, low gain and limited frequency responses.

2. Troubleshooting may involve the modification of an existing amplifier configuration to comply with a specified function and operating parameters.

Generic terms used throughout this Vocational Standard shall be regarded as part of the Range Statement in which competency is demonstrated. The definition of these and other terms that apply are given in Volume 2, Part 2.1.

Competency Field 

11)  

Electronics