AMPP CP1 Tester study guide
AMPP CP1 Tester · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Cathodic Protection Tester (CP1) certification is an entry-level credential administered by AMPP for people who observe, record, or measure the effectiveness of cathodic protection systems. It is aimed at CP field personnel, technicians, and anyone who supervises CP systems or records field data, and it serves as a gateway into the cathodic protection profession. The AMPP CP1 Tester study guide has 6 sections and about 1,726 words.
01Job Site Safety
Cathodic protection is described as low-voltage DC work, but a CP tester routinely stands in front of a rectifier cabinet fed at 120, 240, or 480 VAC. Before opening any cabinet, apply lockout/tagout, verify the meter on a known live source, and treat the AC supply, the DC bus, and any capacitors or batteries as separate hazards.
325 words, about 2 min02Equipment Setup and Calibration Support
Copper-copper sulfate (CSE) is the field standard. Keep crystals visible in the solution, the porous plug wet and uncontaminated, and the tip clean; chloride contamination shifts the potential.
279 words, about 1 min03System Operation
A rectifier converts AC to DC through a transformer with tapped primary windings and a rectifier bridge. The tester typically records rather than adjusts: tap position, DC voltage and current, AC input, fuse and breaker condition, cabinet grounding, and terminal tightness.
300 words, about 2 min04Field Data Collection and Testing
Common criteria are a structure-to-electrolyte potential of -850 mV or more negative with the reference electrode contacting the electrolyte (with CP applied), a polarized potential of -850 mV measured instant-off, and a 100 mV polarization or depolarization shift from the native potential. Each criterion requires a different measurement sequence, and the report must state which was used.
284 words, about 1 min05Documentation and Reporting
A potential without context is not data. Every record should carry date, time, weather and temperature, structure and test-point identification, location or GPS, reference electrode type, meter make/model/serial and verification status, interruption cycle, rectifier tap and output settings, and the criterion being applied.
267 words, about 1 min06Field Measurement
Potential measurements require a stable reference electrode in contact with the electrolyte and a high-impedance meter. Current is measured through shunts, current spans, or clamp-on meters; a clamp-on device only works when it encircles a single isolated conductor, so bonded cables must be separated temporarily.
271 words, about 1 min