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Tips for Apprentices and Students

Learn to Troubleshoot


What is troubleshooting? It is the process of analyzing the behavior or operation of a faulty circuit, determining what is wrong with the circuit, identifying the defective component(s) and then repairing the circuit.

In order to effectively troubleshoot electrical circuits you will need to:

  • understand how the circuit works
  • use a logical systematic approach to help you to analyze the circuits behavior
  • understand how to use tools such as prints, diagrams and test instruments to determine the defective components
  • Practice! Troubleshooting, like any skill, requires practice to become proficient.

The Electrical Troubleshooting Skills Series provides you with all of the above - the information, the approach, and the practice required to develop effective troubleshooting skills. Use these programs to help you learn to troubleshoot!


Why should I use these programs? back to top

  • Learn a proven troubleshooting technique - A systematic 5 Step Troubleshooting Approach is taught in these programs through the use of graphics, animations and practical examples. This approach can be applied to any electrical troubleshooting problem or circuit.
  • Benefit from an expert's experience - These electrical training programs contain a section where an expert guides you through a number of faults following the systematic 5 Step Troubleshooting Approach.
  • Develop effective troubleshooting skills - Highly realistic simulations are used throughout these programs allowing you to develop your skills in a safe environment. Three circuits and over 65 faults are available to provide a wide range of scenario to practice you skills.
  • High quality and effective - These electrical training programs have won several awards, the latest being from the Canadian Society of Training and Development for their training quality.
  • Fits your schedule - These programs are flexible. You can work through them in the comfort and privacy of your own home or work location at a time that is convenient to you.
  • Get recognized - Not only will your on-the-job electrical troubleshooting skills improve, you will also be able to print out a Certificate of Completion when you complete each program.

Which programs should I use? back to top

The Electrical Troubleshooting Skills Series consists of three electrical training programs:

It is best to start with Troubleshooting Electrical Circuits. It introduces Simtuech's Systematic Troubleshooting Approach and contains lighting circuit simulations with dozens of faults to practice this approach.

You should also consider working through the other two programs in the series, Basic Control Circuits and Motor Control Circuits. These programs will help to you develop your skills on more complex control circuits with numerous faults for practice.

Troubleshooting Control Circuits is the second in the series and builds on the Troubleshooting Electrical Circuits program. It contains relay logic circuit simulations with lots of faults for practicing Simutech's Systematic Troubleshooting Approach.

Troubleshooting Motor Circuits is the third in the series and builds on the Troubleshooting Electrical Circuits program. It contains a motorized garage door circuit simulation where you can develop and practice your troubleshooting skills.

If you are going to be the only person using the programs choose the single user version. If the program will be used by multiple people, a workstation version may be more appropriate.


How do I use the programs? back to top

These programs assume you have an understanding of the basic principles of electricity. You should also have a basic understanding of how control circuit components such as relays, switches, and contactors work.

If you have purchased the complete series, you should start with Basic Techniques. Once you have completed it you can then move on to either Basic Control Circuits or Motor Control Circuits.

  1. Work through each program in the order shown in the table of contents. It is important that you do not skip sections.
  2. Introduction - This provides an introduction to the program as well as some tips for working through it.
  3. Troubleshooting Safety - Provides important information to help you troubleshoot safely.
  4. Systematic Troubleshooting and Basic Testing Techniques (included in Basic Techniques only) - These sections describes the 5 step approach using animations and graphics and cover various testing techniques.
  5. How the Circuit Works - describes how the circuit functions including all its features.
  6. Troubleshooting the Circuit - This is a very important section. It not only shows how use all the tools in the simulation but provides important information such as time penalties associated with performing certain activities. It also covers error messages and what causes them.
  7. Develop Your Skill - Walks you through the systematic 5 Step Approach using sample faults. This section provides valuable insights into the thinking process of troubleshooting these faults.
  8. Test Your Skill - allows you to practice your troubleshooting skills on a number of faults on a circuit simulation. The following tips will help you get the most out of this section.
    • Start with the basic level faults first. This will allow you to become more familiar with the circuit before you try the tougher faults.
    • To successfully complete a fault you must repair the fault within the allotted time without replacing any good components or making any safety errors.
    • Once a fault has been successfully completed it is taken out of the pool of faults. Once all the faults in a level have been completed the level will me marked complete. Once all levels are marked complete the program is complete and you will be able to print out a Certificate of Completion.
    • If you want additional practice you can choose a level that has been marked complete. You will them be given a random fault from the already completed faults. You cannot retry faults until all the faults within a level have been completed.
    • The program records the number of attempts you make on each fault to successfully complete it. This can be viewed in the summary report.
    • The program records each step you take to solve a fault and is shown in the detailed report. If you are having trouble solving a fault, review the information recorded here to see if you can spot where you are having trouble.
    • Be as efficient as possible when troubleshooting. Some activities such as locking out the circuit add additional time to your score to simulate the time it would take if you were to lock out an actual circuit. Review the "Using the Tools" section for more information.
    • If you are really stuck on a fault, click on the tips button for information to point you in the right direction. However, if you use a tip the time penalty will be sufficient to prevent you from solving the fault in the time allowed.

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Troubleshooting Skills Series V4

Advanced Troubleshooting

Effective Training Tools
Simutech's Electrical Troubleshooting programs are designed to be highly effective learning tools and have been awarded top honors for their educational and training value.

Control circuit Find out why the Troubleshooting Skills Series is such an effective learning tool
Simulation Features
The electrical Troubleshooting Skills software makes extensive use of detailed electrical simulations.

Control circuitry Find out more about the features which make these simulations so realistic
Customer Testimonials
"Having completed this series myself, this is one of the best tools I've ever seen. It's an extremely realistic way to learn and refine your troubleshooting skills without the expense, mistakes, and pressure from the employer. I would recommend this software for everyone and anyone, both novice and advanced."

"Let me first say how great your program is. A great way to hone my troubleshooting skills. Some people will get up in the morning and have a coffee and play a game of solitaire on the computer. Myself, even though I have finished all three programs, I still try to solve one or two in the morning with my coffee. Just waiting for a new series to be released."

"I think that you're onto a good thing here. Programs like yours definitely help sharpen my skills in a discipline that I feel is as much art as it is science. I thank you for the obvious effort you've put into these programs."

"Having 15 years experience in dual trade of Electrician and Instrument Tech in various industries, I can say that there is nothing else like your software out there in the market or educational sector."

"The software is working out great and I've seen the difference in the few people I've already run through the programs. The more practice I can get these new troubleshooters, the better."

"My thanks to all who had a hand in developing this series of programs and filling a gap which sadly still exists today in the untaught and poorly learnt art of troubleshooting and fault finding."

"I am using my program and I am enjoying it immensely already. I've been showing the demo portion to my shipmates and several are definitely interested in getting the program as well. Thanks again!"

"My congratulations and thanks to you and the team for the software and programming involved in producing these training packages. They are brilliant. Easy to use, well explained, very educational, highly entertaining, challenging and also slightly addictive."

Troubleshooting electrical problem Find out what others are saying
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