PE Electrical Electronics case studies
PE Electrical Electronics · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam is the NCEES-administered examination that tests for a minimum level of competency in a particular engineering discipline. NCEES offers more than 20 different PE exams, and one of them is Electrical and Computer: Electrical and Electronics. It is designed for engineers who have gained a minimum of four years post-college work experience in their chosen engineering discipline, so most candidates sit for it after building a record of responsible charge under licensed supervision. The exam is discipline-specific: it probes the depth of engineering judgment you apply on the job rather than broad fundamentals, which is why professional experience is expected before you attempt it. The PE Electrical Electronics case studies are 5 cases and about 3,283 words.
1Nuisance Ground-Fault Tripping on a 4.16 kV Motor Feeder
A 4.16 kV, 1000 hp, 1.0 service-factor induction motor is supplied by 1,200 ft of 3/C 500 kcmil shielded cable from a switchgear lineup. The motor FLA is 124 A.
683 words, about 3 min2Arc-Flash Mitigation by Adjusting a Main Breaker Trip Unit
A 480 V, 2,000 A switchboard is fed by a 2,000 kVA transformer with 5.75% impedance. The calculated bolted-fault current at the switchboard is 41.8 kA, and the available arcing current is 19.6 kA.
642 words, about 3 min3Generator Neutral Bonding with a 3-Pole Automatic Transfer Switch
A 480Y/277 V, 2,000 A service supplies a data hall. A 1,000 kW standby diesel generator is connected through a 3-pole, 2,000 A automatic transfer switch.
688 words, about 3 min4Harmonic Resonance from Capacitor Bank Expansion
A 480 V plant is fed by a 1,500 kVA transformer with 5.75% impedance. The plant has 400 hp of 6-pulse PWM variable-frequency drives, a 600 kvar capacitor bank switched in four 150 kvar steps, and linear motor loads.
626 words, about 3 min5Noisy 4–20 mA Flow Signal on a VFD-Driven Pump
A municipal water plant uses a PLC to control a 100 hp VFD-driven pump. A magnetic flowmeter is located 300 ft from the PLC cabinet and sends a 4–20 mA signal.
644 words, about 3 min