SVP Auto Electrician study plan
SVP Auto Electrician · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 6 hours per week
Electrical and electronic fundamentals (Ohm's law, series/parallel circuits, magnetism, semiconductors)
State and apply Ohm's law to calculate unknown voltage, current and resistance in single-resistor and multi-resistor circuits
Solve series, parallel and series-parallel networks by hand, then verify each answer with a multimeter on a breadboard
Describe how magnetism, electromagnetism and relay/coil operation produce motion and switching in vehicle circuits
Explain the operating principle, symbols and forward/reverse bias behaviour of diodes, transistors and basic semiconductor devices used in vehicles
Your checkpoint
A worked problem set of 25 circuit calculations (Ohm's law, series, parallel, series-parallel) with all answers verified by meter measurements and signed off, scoring at least 90%.
Batteries, starting systems and charging systems
Perform a battery state-of-health assessment using open-circuit voltage, a conductance/capacity test and a load test, and interpret each result against specification
Trace and test a complete cranking circuit from battery positive through the starter relay, solenoid and starter to the ground return, and state the acceptable voltage drop at each step
Measure charging-system output and diagnose undercharge and overcharge faults by testing alternator output, field control, sense line and voltage drop
Explain the construction and failure modes of lead-acid, AGM and EFB batteries and state the correct charging and jump-starting precautions for each
Your checkpoint
A one-page diagnostic log recording battery voltage, conductance result, cranking voltage and alternator charging voltage for at least three vehicles or three simulated fault scenarios, each with a written pass/fail verdict.
Fault diagnosis, testing, repair and verification procedures & Electrical and electronic fundamentals (Ohm's law, series/parallel circuits, magnetism, semiconductors)
Apply a structured six-step diagnostic routine (verify complaint, gather information, analyse, test, repair, verify) to written fault scenarios
Select the correct meter function and range, and measure voltage, current, resistance and voltage drop without damaging the circuit or the instrument
Interpret wiring diagrams to locate power, ground, control and signal paths, then predict expected readings before probing
Distinguish between a parasitic drain, a high-resistance ground and an open circuit by designing a test sequence for each
Your checkpoint
Three written fault-diagnosis reports for given symptom scenarios, each containing a predicted test sequence, expected readings, a concluded root cause and the repair justification.
Wiring harnesses, connectors, terminals and circuit protection & Fault diagnosis, testing, repair and verification procedures
Identify and correctly select wire gauge, insulation type and terminal type for a stated current load and environment
Crimp, solder and heat-shrink a range of terminals and connectors to a pull-test standard, and inspect each joint for defects
Explain the purpose, rating and failure behaviour of fuses, fusible links, circuit breakers and relays, and select the correct protection rating for a given circuit
Locate and repair a high-resistance connection in a harness using voltage-drop testing rather than resistance testing, and justify the choice
Your checkpoint
A physical practice board or set of ten terminated connections, each documented with a photo-free written description, a pull-test result and a correct current rating calculation, all passing inspection.
Electronic control units, sensors, actuators and vehicle communication networks & Fault diagnosis, testing, repair and verification procedures
Describe the function of an ECU, its power, ground and wake-up inputs, and explain why supply integrity is tested before condemning a module
Test and interpret the outputs of common sensors - potentiometer, Hall-effect, inductive crank/cam, thermistor and pressure - against expected signal behaviour
Identify actuator types and control methods, and test solenoids, motors and relays using commanded-output or resistance/current checks
Explain the purpose and basic operation of CAN bus, and test bus integrity with resistance, voltage and termination checks
Your checkpoint
A sensor and network test summary covering five sensor types plus one CAN bus check, with measured or stated expected values and correct pass/fail judgements.
Lighting and signalling systems & Occupational safety, hand tools, test equipment and workshop practice
Trace and test headlamp, tail, brake, reverse, indicator and hazard circuits, and diagnose a fast-flash and a no-flash indicator fault
Measure and compare halogen and LED lighting circuit currents, and explain why LED upgrades can affect flasher operation and bulb-monitoring systems
Apply safe workshop practice: isolate the battery where specified, protect airbag and pyrotechnic circuits, and use correct jacking, PPE and tool-handling procedures
Use a test lamp, meter and scan tool together to separate a bulb fault, a switch fault, a relay fault and a wiring fault on the same circuit
Your checkpoint
A completed lighting fault matrix for six injected or simulated faults, recording symptom, tests performed, reading obtained and confirmed cause for each.
Body electrical, comfort and convenience systems (wipers, windows, locks, instruments, horn) & Occupational safety, hand tools, test equipment and workshop practice
Diagnose wiper, washer, power window, central locking and horn faults by testing switches, relays, motors and body control module outputs in sequence
Explain how body control modules and comfort features are networked, and identify which module owns a given function
Interpret instrument cluster and gauge faults, distinguishing sender faults from cluster and wiring faults
Select and inspect hand tools and test equipment for a given job, and record the safety checks required before use
Your checkpoint
A diagnostic write-up of two body/comfort faults (one wiper or window, one lock, horn or instrument), each with a full test sequence and confirmed root cause.
Fault diagnosis, testing, repair and verification procedures & Electrical and electronic fundamentals (Ohm's law, series/parallel circuits, magnetism, semiconductors) & Batteries, starting systems and charging systems & Wiring harnesses, connectors, terminals and circuit protection
Re-test the weakest two domains from earlier weeks using timed practice questions until scoring above 80% in each
Complete a full timed mock examination under exam conditions and mark it against the specification
Re-derive the high-weight calculations (Ohm's law networks, voltage drop, current rating, charging and cranking thresholds) from memory without notes
Assemble a personal one-page reference sheet of key figures, expected readings and diagnostic sequences for final review
Your checkpoint
A timed mock exam result sheet with a per-domain score breakdown, a list of the three weakest areas, and a written remediation action for each.
Milestones
Week 2: Can correctly calculate any series/parallel network and explain battery and charging test thresholds from memory, scoring at least 80% on a 20-question fundamentals and charging self-test.
Week 4: Can demonstrate a logical diagnostic sequence on an unseen fault, produce clean terminations that pass a pull test, and score at least 75% on a mixed 30-question set covering domains 2, 3, 5 and 8.
Week 6: Can isolate a fault in a lighting circuit in under ten minutes using meter and diagram only, and has completed all six lighting fault-matrix entries with correct root causes.
Week 8: Scores at least 80% overall on the timed mock exam with no domain below 70%, and has a written remediation plan for any remaining weak area.