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Aaron Danner

In this class, learners will learn all about electricity infrastructure, including electricity generation, transmission, use and safety. The focus is on actual installations, so students can learn about electrical substations, 3-phase power distribution, typical power plant voltages, large transformers, as well as single-phase, split-phase, and 3-phase circuit breaker boxes and wiring setups found around the world. Learners will understand the importance of AC in an electricity grid, as well as grounding/earthing, pole transformer setups, as well as residual current/ground fault interrupt and safety setups and lightning protection.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Why ac is generally used for transmission instead of dc
  • Why three phase is used and how to calculate line and phase voltages
  • Circuit breakers, metering, fuses, lightning rods, residual current/gfci devices, and grounding rods
  • Star and delta transformers and electrical substation layout
  • The electricity grid, and how it is generally designed
  • Split phase, single phase, 2-phase, and 3-phase consumer units/breaker boxes
  • How power is injected into the grid
  • Typical grid voltages and power plant capacities
  • Grid challenges with renewables, power output from solar farms
  • At the end of this mooc, the learner will be able to discuss:
  • Wire gauge

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction (4 videos)
Week 2: Circuit Breakers and Residual Current Devices (7 videos)
Week 3: Polyphase power (6 videos)
Week 4: 3-phase transformers (3 videos)
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Week 5: Split-phase power (3 videos)
Week 6: Electricity generation (5 videos)
Week 7: Electricity distribution (6 videos)

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Explores electricity infrastructure across the board, including topics such as power generation, transmission, safety, and usage
Taught by Aaron Danner, an industry expert with extensive knowledge and experience in electricity infrastructure
Examines three-phase power, a core concept in electricity distribution and generation
Develops understanding of electrical substations, transformers, and circuit breakers, all essential components of electricity infrastructure
Emphasizes the importance of AC in electricity grids, a fundamental principle in modern power systems
Covers grounding/earthing, pole transformer setups, residual current/ground fault interrupt, and lightning protection, crucial safety aspects in electricity infrastructure
Introduces three-phase transformers, an integral part of electricity transmission and distribution
Provides insights into the electricity grid, its design, and how power is injected into it, valuable knowledge for understanding modern power systems

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Electricity Distribution with these activities:
Review AC vs. DC power
Reviewing the differences between alternating current and direct current will help you better understand the course material on electricity infrastructure.
Browse courses on Alternating Current
Show steps
  • Read the Wikipedia article on alternating current.
  • Read the Wikipedia article on direct current.
  • Compare and contrast the two types of current.
Find a mentor who works in the electricity industry
Finding a mentor who works in the electricity industry can provide you with valuable guidance and support as you learn about electricity infrastructure.
Show steps
  • Attend industry events.
  • Network with professionals on LinkedIn.
  • Ask your professors for recommendations.
Participate in a study group to discuss electricity infrastructure
Participating in a study group to discuss electricity infrastructure will help you learn from your peers and reinforce your understanding of the course material.
Show steps
  • Find a study group.
  • Attend study group meetings.
  • Participate in discussions.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Calculate circuit breaker ratings
Practicing calculating circuit breaker ratings will help you understand how to protect electrical circuits from overloads.
Browse courses on Circuit Breakers
Show steps
  • Find a circuit breaker calculator online.
  • Enter the amperage and voltage of the circuit.
  • Calculate the circuit breaker rating.
Follow a tutorial on how to wire a split-phase electrical panel
Following a tutorial on how to wire a split-phase electrical panel will give you hands-on experience with this important skill.
Browse courses on Electrical Wiring
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on how to wire a split-phase electrical panel.
  • Gather the necessary materials.
  • Follow the steps in the tutorial.
  • Test the electrical panel.
Write a blog post about three-phase power
Writing a blog post about three-phase power will help you solidify your understanding of this important topic.
Show steps
  • Research three-phase power.
  • Write a blog post outline.
  • Write the blog post.
  • Publish the blog post.
Design a one-line diagram of an electrical substation
Designing a one-line diagram of an electrical substation will help you understand the layout and operation of this critical piece of infrastructure.
Browse courses on Electrical Engineering
Show steps
  • Research electrical substations.
  • Create a one-line diagram template.
  • Draw the one-line diagram.
  • Label the components.
Build a model of a three-phase electrical generator
Building a model of a three-phase electrical generator will give you a hands-on understanding of how this important device works.
Browse courses on Electrical Engineering
Show steps
  • Research three-phase electrical generators.
  • Design a model.
  • Build the model.
  • Test the model.

Career center

Learners who complete Electricity Distribution will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Electrical Substation Maintenance Technician
Assist with the installation, inspection, maintenance, and troubleshooting of electrical power substations. These often regulate transmission lines that provide electricity to commercial and residential areas. Topics learnt in Electricity Distribution, such as circuit breakers, residual current devices, transformers, power distribution, and the electricity grid would be very useful. Additionally, topics such as single and three-phase systems and how they feed into the electricity grid can also be of particular interest.
Electrical Distribution Engineer
Help to design, construct, and oversee the operation of electrical distribution systems. They ensure that electricity is safely and efficiently delivered to homes, businesses, and other facilities. Gaining an understanding of the electrical infrastructure, including substations, power transmission, and distribution would be immensely helpful. Course topics such as electricity grid, safety, three-phase power, circuit breakers, and metering are all highly relevant to this role.
Power Plant Operator
Power plants generate most of the electricity used across the country, and plant operators ensure that generators are running smoothly. Their duties include monitoring plant equipment, identifying problems, and performing routine maintenance. Topics in this course like electricity generation, power plant capacities, and the electricity grid are some that Power Plant Operators find useful.
Electrician
Electricians install, maintain, and repair electrical systems in homes and businesses. They ensure proper functioning of outlets, switches, wiring, lighting, and other electrical equipment. An electrician would find learning about circuit breakers, residual current devices, split-phase power, grounding rods, and transformer setup very relevant to their work in the field.
Electrical Inspector
Electrical Inspectors ensure that electrical systems in buildings meet safety codes. They inspect new and existing electrical installations, identify any hazards, and issue permits for electrical work. Topics in this course would build a foundation for the work they do, including circuit breakers, metering, lightning rods, residual current devices, grounding rods, and the electricity grid.
Electrical Project Manager
Lead teams to complete electrical projects. Their duties include developing project plans, coordinating construction, and ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget. A project manager in this field may find it helpful to have a good grasp of electricity infrastructure, safety, and the electricity grid. Course topics such as single and three-phase systems, substations, circuit breakers, metering, and power plant capacities would also be useful.
Electrical Energy Engineer
Design, develop, and manage electrical power systems for industrial facilities, utilities, and other organizations. They work with power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. This course could serve as a good introduction to some of the core concepts electrical energy engineers make use of, including circuit breakers, transformers, metering, power injection, and the electricity grid.
Power System Analyst
Study the operation of power systems to ensure they are functioning efficiently and reliably. They analyze system performance, data, and trends. A Power Systems Analyst may find topics like the electricity grid, single and three-phase systems, grounding rods, and circuit breakers to be of particular interest in this course.
Electrical Maintenance Technician
Maintain and repair electrical equipment in industrial settings. They install, repair, and upgrade electrical components such as transformers, motors, generators, and wiring. This course could be helpful in building foundational knowledge about electricity infrastructure, safety, single and three-phase systems, transformers, metering, and grounding rods.
Power Plant Shift Supervisor
Supervise and train power plant operators. They ensure the safe and efficient running of generators, boilers, and other plant equipment. Having a grasp on topics such as power plant capacities and the electricity grid might be useful to a power plant shift supervisor.
Lineman
Construct and maintain electrical distribution lines. They install and repair power lines, transformers, and other equipment to ensure that electricity is delivered to homes and businesses. This course may be useful in building foundational knowledge of electricity infrastructure, safety, split-phase power, grounding rods, and the electricity grid.
Electrical Safety Inspector
Inspect electrical installations to ensure compliance with safety codes and regulations. They investigate electrical accidents and issue safety citations. This course may be useful in building foundational knowledge of circuit breakers, residual current devices, grounding rods, and the electricity grid.
Renewable Energy Project Developer
Develop and manage renewable energy projects. They work with solar and wind farms, as well as other renewable energy sources. Course topics such as the electricity grid, power injection, and grid challenges with renewables would be useful to learn about for someone in this job role.
Energy Auditor
Assess the energy efficiency of buildings and homes. They make recommendations for improvements that can save energy and money. Course topics such as the electricity grid, power plant capacities, and grid challenges with renewables would be useful for an Energy Auditor to learn about.
Electrical Engineer
Design, develop, and test electrical systems and products. They work in a variety of industries, including power generation, transmission, and distribution. While this course may not directly qualify someone to work as an Electrical Engineer, course topics like circuit breakers, metering, lightning rods, grounding rods, and the electricity grid could help build foundational knowledge.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Electricity Distribution.
Provides a comprehensive overview of electrical distribution engineering. It valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of electrical engineering.
Covers the fundamental concepts of power system analysis and design. It classic textbook that has been used by generations of students and professionals in the field of electrical engineering.
Focuses on the distribution of electricity in low-voltage networks. It good resource for students and professionals who are interested in the design and operation of distribution networks.
Provides a comprehensive overview of electric power substations. It valuable resource for students and professionals who are involved in the design, construction, and operation of substations.
Provides a comprehensive overview of electric distribution systems. It valuable resource for students and professionals who are involved in the design, construction, and operation of distribution systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of electric power distribution equipment and systems. It valuable resource for students and professionals who are involved in the design, construction, and operation of distribution systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of power generation, operation, and control. It valuable resource for students and professionals who are involved in the design, construction, and operation of power systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of power system dynamics and stability. It valuable resource for students and professionals who are involved in the design, construction, and operation of power systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of high voltage engineering. It valuable resource for students and professionals who are involved in the design, construction, and operation of high voltage systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of power system protection. It valuable resource for students and professionals who are involved in the design, construction, and operation of power systems.

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