ESECE case studies
ESECE · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The ESECE (Electronics and Electrical Engineering Certification Examination) is a professional credential for engineers seeking to demonstrate competence across the breadth of electrical and electronics engineering. It is intended for candidates who already hold a degree or equivalent experience and want an independent, structured validation of their technical knowledge. The ESECE case studies are 5 cases and about 4,921 words.
1The Thevenin model that does not survive a load resistor
A student characterises an unfamiliar sensor module at its output terminals. With a 10 MΩ DMM the open-circuit output reads 4.00 V.
1,033 words, about 5 min2A transimpedance amplifier that oscillates because a capacitor is missing
A photodiode with 100 pF junction capacitance feeds a transimpedance amplifier built around an op-amp with 10 MHz gain–bandwidth product, 5 pF input capacitance and ±15 V rails. The feedback resistor is Rf = 1 MΩ and no feedback capacitor was fitted, because the designer wanted maximum bandwidth.
971 words, about 5 min3A consensus term, a ripple counter, and a bouncing reset
The glue logic of a bench instrument is an 8-bit synchronous block clocked at 50 MHz. One combinational output is F = A'B + AC, implemented as a two-level AND–OR in a CPLD and brought out to a pin that drives, for historical reasons, the asynchronous clock input of a ripple counter.
974 words, about 5 min4Phase margin, transport delay and the temptation to just lower the gain
A single-axis position servo uses a digital PI controller sampling at 100 Hz, driving a current-mode servo drive that saturates at ±10 V. Open-loop identification of the plant, from 0.1 to 100 rad/s, matches G(s) = 10/(s(0.1s + 1)(0.05s + 1)) to within 1 dB and 5°.
940 words, about 5 min5Starting a 90 kW conveyor on a 250 kVA transformer
A plant is fed by a dedicated 250 kVA, 415 V, 50 Hz transformer of 4.5% impedance. A new 90 kW, 415 V, 4-pole induction motor is to be added on the same board; its nameplate gives 158 A full-load current, 6.0 pu locked-rotor current, 1.9 pu locked-rotor torque and 0.89 full-load power factor.
1,003 words, about 5 min