SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate understanding of fundamentals of electricity and its application in air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation equipment 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
116232  Demonstrate understanding of fundamentals of electricity and its application in air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation equipment 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Air-conditioning Refrigeration and Ventilation 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Manufacturing and Assembly 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 2  NQF Level 02  4 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Demonstrate understanding of the fundamentals of electricity and how electricity is applied and controlled in the air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation Industry. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
ABET 4 level.
It is assumed that people starting to learn towards this unit standard are already able to communicate effectively with others. 

UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
Conductors and isolators:
Copper and allumunium conductors up to 16 mm˛.
Insulating materials commonly used in the electrical field
Circuit protection devices.
Circuit breakers, fuses, overload relays.
Potential hazards
Electric shock, fires, earth leakage.
Common electrical faults.
Short circuits, loose connections, overloading of circuits, equipment failure, single phasing and loss of power. 

Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of electricity. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The dangers of electricity are listed and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Electricity is defined. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The SI units for Volts, Current, Resistance, Energy and Power complete with the quantity symbol, unit and unit symbol are listed and defined. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The terms frequency, single-phase and three-phase are defined and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
The terms AC and DC are explained and typical applications are listed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
The difference between power and energy is defined. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
The voltages supplied to large buildings, small buildings and private houses are listed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
The instrumentation required to test for voltage, current and resistance are listed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 9 
Define and demonstrate understanding of series circuits, parallel circuits and series-parallel circuits 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
Define conductors and insulators. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The commonly used types of conductors are listed and their properties explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
Characteristics and uses of conductors are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The commonly used types of insulators are listed and their properties explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
Characteristics and uses of insulators are explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
Define and apply Ohm's law. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
Ohm's law is defined. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The total resistance in a series circuit is calculated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The resistances in a parallel circuit are calculated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The resistances in a series / parallel circuit are calculated. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
The current through each resistance, the voltage over each resistance and the power consumed by each resistance is calculated for a series circuit, a parallel circuit and a series / parallel circuit. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
Define and apply circuit protection for single-phase and three-phase circuits. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The reasons for circuit protection are listed and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The methods to protect circuits are listed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The purpose and characteristics of the different methods of protecting circuits are listed and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The methods to connect the circuit protection devices in a system are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
The consequences of not providing circuit protection are listed and explained. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
List the potential hazards and the methods to prevent injury when using electricity. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The potential hazards when using of electricity are listed and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The necessity and reasons for proper earthing of electrical equipment are listed and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The method to prevent electric shock are listed and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
Reasons for and circumstances in which earth leakage protection equipment is required are listed and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
The purpose and characteristics of earth leakage protection devices are listed and explained 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
The methods to connect the earth leakage protection device in a system is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
The consequences of not providing earth leakage protection are listed and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 8 
The persons responsible (according to SANS 10142-1) for verifying, certifying and testing an electrical installation are stated. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
List and explain the common faults that can occur in electrical circuits. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The common faults that can occur in a system are listed. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The reason for the faults are listed and explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The consequences of such faults are listed and discussed. 

SPECIFIC OUTCOME 7 
Differentiate between permanent and temporary magnets. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
The lines of force flowing outside a permanent magnet are explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
The creation of a temporary magnet by means of electricity is explained. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
The induction by a magnetic field is defined. 

ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
The production of electricity by using a conductor that moves in a magnetic field is explained. 


UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
Any person wishing to be assessed against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, who may appoint a moderator to be present at the assessment.
The assessor must have knowledge and experience of air-conditioning and refrigeration 

UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Fundamentals of electricity.
  • Safety when working with electricity.
  • Importance of personal and circuit protection.
  • Characteristics of conductors and insulators.
  • Dangers of short circuits and loose connections.
  • Definition of Ohm's law and its application.
  • Relevant sections of SANS 10142-1 and the OHS Act. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems
  • Identifying electrical circuits and components. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others
  • To ensure safety when working with electricity. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organize and manage myself and my activities responsibly and effectively
  • Selecting required components and electrical accessories. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically
  • By understanding the principles of electricity. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Specified requirements include legal and legislative specific requirements that are contained in SANS 10142-1 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

    Any person learning towards the National Certificate in Air-conditioning, Refrigeration and Ventilation
    at NQF level 2 shall not work on electrically live equipment or electrically live control panels. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  65449   National Certificate: Air-conditioning, Refrigeration and Ventilation  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MERSETA 
    Core  48959   National Certificate: Air-conditioning, Refrigeration and Ventilation  Level 2  NQF Level 02  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2009-03-12  Was MERSETA until Last Date for Achievement 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.