English tests for electrical engineers with the answers

A list of the most common questions for electrical engineers (ETO) that are asked in crewing companies or when passing qualification testing. These questions and answers will also help you prepare for the CES test at a basic level.

Basic Electrical Measuring Instruments

1. In the field of electricity, as well as in all other physical sciences, accurate quantitative measurements are essential. This involves two important items — numbers and units. Simple arithmetic is used in most cases, and the units are well defined and easily understood. The standard units are those of current, voltage and resistance.

2.  The operator commonly works with ammeters, voltmeters and electron-tube analyzers; but he may also have many occasions to use watt meters, watt-hour meters, power-factor meters, synchroscopes, frequency meters and capacitance-resistance-inductance bridges.

3. Electrical equipment is designed to operate at certain efficiency levels. A good understanding of the functional design and operation of electrical instruments is important. In electrical service work one or more of the following methods are commonly used to determine if the circuits of an equipment are operating properly.

a) Use an ammeter to measure the amount of current flowing in a circuit.
b) Use a voltmeter to determine the voltage existing between two points.
c) Use an ohmmeter or megger to measure circuit continuity and total or partial circuit resistance.

4. It may also be necessary to employ a wattmeter to determine the to tal power being consumed by certain equipment. If we wish to measure the energy consumed by certain equipment or certain circuits, a watt-hour or kilowatt-hour meter is used.

5. For measuring other quantities such as power factor and frequency it is necessary to employ the appropriate instruments. In each case the instrument indicates the value of the quantity measured, and in this information helps to understand the way the circuit is operating.

6. Occasionally the operator will need to determine the value of a capacitor or an inductor. Inductance or capacitance bridges may be employed for this purpose.

7. A thorough understanding of the construction, operation and limitati ons of the basic types of electrical measuring instruments, coupled with the theory of circuit operation is most essential in servicing and maintaining electrical equipment.

Duties of electricians on the vessels. Who is an electrician on a vessel?

1. Electricians are directly responsible to electrical engineers (ETO).

2. Marine electricians are to know the construction, the principle of operation, characteristics and the use of shipboard electrical equipment.

3. They are to know in detail the procedure used in diagnosing a troubleshooting and the steps recommended to trace the fault.

4. They are to list some of the causes, e. g., why the motor may fail to start, detect the trouble and remedy the fault when found.

5. They must know the consequencies which may result from poor and careless operation. They must be able to operate all sorts of shipboard electrical equipment.

6. Besides, they are to know the operational and constructional features of all units of the shipboard electrical installation.

7. They are to know how to use fire-fighting devices especially in the engine-room.

8. They are to take part in maintaining and repairing all shipboard electrical equipment.

9. They are to adhere strictly to all the regulations and instructions concerning maintenance of electrical equipment and safety rules.

10. They are to keep watches according to the schedule on board ship with electrical propulsion. The most important items of electrical equipment are subjected to their supervision:

Duties of Electrical Engineer (ETO) on vessels. Who is an electrical engineer (ETO) on a vessel?

1. The electrical engineer (ETO) is subordinated to the chief engineer and is in command of all the electrical group. ETO - Electro-technical Officer. Below, electrical engineer and Electro-technical Officer (ETO) are the same positions on the vessel.

2. The Electro-technical Officer is responsible for the safety engineering rules, service, maintenance and supervision of the following items of equipment, systems and devices:

a) electrical propulsion plant;

b) main and emergency sources of electrical power;

c) transformers and converters used in equipment, systems and devices;

d) distribution gear and monitoring desks or panels;

e) electric drives for steering gear, windlasses, mooring winches, towing winches, starting air compressors, fire pumps and fire-extinguishing system compressors, pumps, fans in machinery spa­ces, auxiliaries of the main engine, watertight doors;

f) main and emergency lighting of spaces and location of essential machinery and means of escape;

g) electric engine-room telegraphs;

h) service telephone communication;

i) alarm signalling;

j) fire detection signalling systems and warning systems indicating the release of fire smothering medium;

k) watertight door signalling;

l) cabling;

m) hull earthing facilities in tankers;

n) electric heaters of fuel and lubricating oil and other machinery and facilities not listed above.