TPC Advanced Courses

Covers the effects of gain, bandwidth, and distortion on amplifier performance. The course compares linear and nonlinear (switching) amplifiers. Explains how to use transistor curves to analyze amplifier operation in terms of operating regions, load lines, operating (Q) points, and biasing. The online course discusses impedance matching and compares capacitive, transformer, and direct-coupled amplifiers. Describes many ways op-amps are used today, including integrators and comparators. Provides specific methods for troubleshooting common amplifier problems that maintenance technicians should be familiar with when working with electronics. This course has no prerequisites. Amplifiers is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

The Analytical Instrumentation course covers principles, installation, calibration, and maintenance of conductivity probes, and methods of stack gas monitoring. The online course includes how to install, calibrate, and maintain pH and ORP measurement instruments and operation, installation, calibration, and maintenance of several optical analyzers. Discusses principles and safe practices governing sensors used in measuring oxygen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other products of combustion. Concludes with operation, calibration, and system components in liquid and gas chromatography. This course has no prerequisites. Analytical Instrumentation is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

The Computers in Process Control online course covers the evolution of today's process control computer systems. Compares smart components to older conventional system devices. Covers the architecture (hardware and software), configuration, and operation of distributed control systems in depth (two entire lessons) by using as an example a typical DCS controlling an ice cream plant. Defines common terms used in today's integrated plant and discusses the integration of discrete and continuous processes with plant business functions. This course has no prerequisites. Computers in Process Control is available in Online Maintenance Training and course manual formats.

Introduces the need for control, control methods, and system basics. Includes information on self-powered, pneumatic, hydraulic, electric, and electronic systems. Covers various sensors and controlled devices. Covers the basics of two-position, floating, and proportional control systems and their maintenance and troubleshooting. Discusses the various processes requiring control in a refrigeration or air-conditioning system. This course has no prerequisites. Control Systems is available in online technical training and course manual formats.

The Controlling Maintenance Resources online course covers methods of using maintenance resources for greatest efficiency, and tells how to implement the techniques effectively. Explains what workload is and how to measure it. Provides a thorough investigation into the control of labor, parts, and materials—both in the field and in the shop. Examines the budget process and how to control costs through budgeting. This course has no prerequisites. Controlling Maintenance Resources is available in online technical training and course manual formats.

This online course covers mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and telemetric data transmission methods. Discusses indicators, other devices, and methods used for electrical/electronic data transmission in detail. Compares methods and standards for parallel and serial digital data transmission. The course describes optical isolation and the operation of optical data transmission systems in detail. Provides specific methods for preventing common kinds of data transmission interference. This course has no prerequisites. Data Transmission is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

The DC Equipment and Controls electrical course covers DC power applications in industry, types of DC generators, operating characteristics of DC motors, DC armature principles, and armature maintenance and repair. Includes types of DC relays, DC controllers, overspeed and overload protection, drum and reversing controllers, dynamic braking, DC power supplies, diodes, semiconductors, SCR principles, and DC maintenance practices. This course has no prerequisites. DC Equipment and Controls is available in online maintenance training and course manual training formats.

This online course covers the comparison of analog and digital switching circuits. Explains Boolean logic functions. Describes TTL and CMOS logic, as well as IC logic devices. Explains how flip-flops, clock circuits, counters, multiplexers, and memory circuits work. Describes the sections and interfaces in functional logic systems, including microprocessors. Describes proper methods for detection and correction of common fault potentials. This course has no prerequisites. Digital Logic Systems is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

The Electrical Safety in the Workplace —Understanding NFPA 70E® electrical training course introduces the trainee to the purpose of NFPA 70E and explains the history of its creation. After discussing the relationship between OSHA and NFPA 70E, the course moves through the standard, article by article, highlighting the important points in each. Concludes with a lesson on the annexes and supplemental material found in the NFPA 70E Handbook. This course has no prerequisites. Electrical Safety in the Workplace—Understanding NFPA 70E® is available in online technical training and course manual training formats.

The Electrical Troubleshooting online electrical training course covers use of schematic diagrams, determining sequence of operation, and use of building diagrams and single-line diagrams. Includes maintenance procedures for control circuits and combination starters. Explains troubleshooting practices on DC and AC motors, identifying unmarked leads on three-phase delta and Y-connected motors, and troubleshooting lighting systems. This course has no prerequisites. Electrical Troubleshooting is available in online technical training and course manual training formats.

Covers how elements in a closed-loop system affect final control element. Describes components in final control subsystems. Discusses operations and maintenance of solenoids, motors, relay systems, and PLCs. Explains pneumatic actuators and positioners. The online course goes on to describe mechanical advantage in several hydraulic control systems. Compares construction, characteristics, and applications of eight control valves. Traces operation of each element in typical feedwater, turbine, and robotic control systems. This course has no prerequisites. Final Control Elements is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

The Hydraulic Troubleshooting online training course covers understanding hydraulic systems, using schematic diagrams, installation procedures, maintenance, cleanliness and safety. Includes tubing cutting, bending, and flaring, identification and selection of proper fluid, and charging the system. Discusses planned mechanical maintenance, specific repair/replacement recommendations, system diagnosis, and troubleshooting. This course has no prerequisites. Hydraulic Troubleshooting is available in online maintenance training and course manual training formats.

This online maintenance management course covers what preventive maintenance (PM) is and why it is necessary. Develops procedures for setting up a practical PM program and describes the effects of PM on scheduled and unscheduled work. Explains the requirements and advantages of the program as it applies to maintenance management. Provides information on the relationship of PM to production and quality control. This course has no prerequisites. Implementing Preventive Maintenance is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

The "Industrial Safety and Health" course explains government involvement in ensuring a safe workplace. Discusses safety in various maintenance situations. Discusses personal protective equipment and fire safety. This online course includes expanded coverage of many health hazards. Covers ergonomics, environmental responsibility, and the importance of maintaining a safe work environment. This course has no prerequisites. Industrial Safety and Health is available in online technical training and course manual formats.

This online course covers the function of basic devices for measuring and controlling different kinds of variables in process control. Introduces closed-loop control and PID functions. Introduces maintenance of analog and digital devices and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). ISA and SAMA instrumentation symbols and interpretation and use of process diagrams are covered. This course has no prerequisites. Introduction to Process Control is available in online technical training and course manual formats.

Covers the basic types of maintenance organizations. This online course discusses cost-saving concepts of using work order systems. Explains how to develop and use information sources to implement maintenance management. Shows how to apply work standards and planning procedures to simplify a supervisor’s job. Introduces the use of computers for first-line supervisors. This course has no prerequisites. Maintenance Organization is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

Covers how oscillation is started and maintained. Compares LC (tuned), RC (phase-shift), and crystal oscillators. Compares sine-wave oscillators and square-wave switching circuits. Discusses monostable, astable, and bistable flip-flop operation in detail and shows expected waveforms. Explains how logic clocks are generated and conditioned. Discusses Schmitt trigger circuits, frequency dividers, and ripple counters, as well as propagation delays and glitches. Describes the operation of low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-reject filters, including differentiators and integrators. Describes the equipment and procedures for troubleshooting oscillator components and circuits. This course has no prerequisites. Oscillators is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

The Pneumatic Troubleshooting online training course covers pneumatic systems, schematic symbols and diagrams, installing system components, planned mechanical maintenance, system diagnosis, and troubleshooting. Includes maintenance of air compressors, control valves, air motors, electrical components, and hybrid systems. This course has no prerequisites. Pneumatic Troubleshooting is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

Covers the four basic kinds of power supply conversions. Explains how to work with nonchemical cells as well as primary and secondary cells of various materials. Describes in detail the functions and operation of several kinds of rectifiers, filters, and voltage regulators and explains how they work together as power conditioners. Discusses basic tools, test devices, and procedures for troubleshooting to solve the greatest number of problems in the least amount of time. This course has no prerequisites. Power Supplies in the Plant is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

Prepares technicians to take full advantage of vendor training on specific equipment. Covers the basic operating principles of all PLCs, their inputs and outputs, programming, maintenance, and networking. This course has no prerequisites. PLC is available in online technical training and course manual formats.

Covers the responsibilities of the employer, employee, and regulatory agencies in maintaining safety. Discusses ways of identifying and handling chemical, electrical, biological, radiation, and mechanical hazards. Discusses the importance of maintenance (including calibration) and proper record keeping. Describes the use of common electrical and electronic test instruments. Offers guidelines for handling heavy equipment, decontaminating and servicing pneumatic and hydraulic equipment, and troubleshooting. This course has no prerequisites. Safety, Calibration, and Testing is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

Covers the theory behind semiconductor operation. Describes the characteristics and operation of various diodes and transistors. Stresses the importance of proper environmental conditions and explains how to minimize electrostatic discharge (ESD) and radio frequency interference (RFI). Discusses printed circuit board (PCB) and integrated circuit (IC) technology, including connection and replacement methods. Identifies kinds of semiconductor packages. Explains how to interpret manufacturers' spec sheets and how to analyze circuit performance by Q points and characteristics. This course has no prerequisites. Semiconductors is available in online technical training and course manual formats.

Discusses the keys to effective troubleshooting and emphasizes the importance of safety. Details a step-by-step procedure to use when troubleshooting. Covers the use of a troubleshooting flowchart. Examines three sample problems, leading the trainee through the steps necessary to locate the problem in each example. This course has no prerequisites. System Troubleshooting is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

The Three-Phase Systems online electrical course covers three-phase motor principles for induction, synchronous, and multi-speed dual-voltage motors. Gives recommended maintenance practices for large AC motors. Covers principles of three-phase motor starters, part winding, reversing, jogging, alternator principles and operation. Describes three-phase power distribution. This course has no prerequisites. Three-Phase Systems is available in online maintenance training and course manual formats.

This online welding training course covers the fundamentals of industrial welding. Each topic stresses welding safety considerations and precautions. Covers different types of welds and both oxyfuel and arc welding equipment. Describes welding techniques and symbols. Discusses ways to avoid weld faults. This course has no prerequisites. Welding Principles is available in online technical training and course manual formats.

Covers the purposes and kinds of controllers and their relationship to other components in process control systems. Explains the concepts of current-, position-, and time-proportioning control. Compares the operation of several kinds of controllers. Describes the operation of proportional, integral, and derivative modes, and discusses tuning procedures for each. Discusses cascade, feedforward, ratio, and auctioneering control systems as well as other operations. Describes ways to eliminate or reduce controller problems. This course has no prerequisites. Working with Controllers is available in online technical training and course manual formats.