ECEN 150 - ELECTRIC CIRCUIT ANALYSIS
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to electrical and computer engineering. During this course you will analyze and design DC and AC circuits; including: resistors, inductors, transformers and batteries. You will use Ohm's law, power and network theorems, and steady state and frequency domain analysis. A student project and presentation is required. Laboratory exercises are included.
During this course you will learn and do the following
- Design, analyze and troubleshoot electric circuits with batteries, resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
- Use computer aided engineering (CAE) software to model electric circuits.
- Assemble electric circuits using temporary and permanent construction methods.
- Observe electric circuit operation with basic laboratory instruments.
- Make a technical presentation.
- Write technical reports.
- Engage in self-directed learning.
- Describe what electrical and computer engineers do.
Schedule
Each lesson begins with an Overview page that details all the learning activities and due dates for the week. I-Learn does not allow multiple due dates for one assignment. Discussion boards require an initial post and a reply (two due dates for each discussion board). However, only one due date will display on your I-Learn dashboard. Do not rely on your dashboard! You must review the lesson Overview page and the Schedule for the complete list of due dates.
You will complete one lesson each week. Generally each lesson includes the following graded assignments: Study Guide, Lab, and Homework. Complete the learning activities in the order presented.
Although the instructor may occasionally extend the deadlines for some assignments, generally assignments are due as follows:
- Due Date #01: Study Guides.
- Due Date #02: Homework and Exams.
- Due Date #03: Labs
On average, it takes approximately 9-12 hours to complete all the learning activities for each lesson.
Office Hours
This is not an independent study course. A previous student reports: "I put so much work into this class and I study (I mean really study) all the preparation material given and I still feel like I'm really struggling to barely grasp the concepts."
Don't do this! You are not alone! Each week your Instructor will meet with students to review the concepts, explain and expand the preparation materials, work sample problems and answer questions. Don't lose out on this important instructional time. Attend the weekly office hour or watch the recorded session. Your Instructor's office hours are posted on Instructor Profile.
In fact, you can guarantee that your Instructor will address your needs by posting questions on the relevant Questions and Conversations discussion board. If you cannot attend the office hour, it is very important that you post your questions and watch the recorded session.
BYU-I Tutoring Center
Tutors are available to help with ECEN 150; BYU-I Online Tutoring Options. A previous student reports "I think the videos are really important, but I need more."
More help is available, but you must take the initiative and schedule a tutoring appointment.
Late Work
You will receive zero points for assignments not submitted on time.
Course Prerequisites
You should be proficient in algebra. This is normally achieved by taking two years of algebra in high school. You should also have had some exposure to trigonometry.
Concurrent Courses
There are two other courses you should be taking this semester if you are a full-time EE or CompE major. They are gateway courses that fulfill prerequisite requirements for other required courses in the curriculum. Your graduation will be delayed if you do not take them at the beginning of your academic experience. These courses are:
- FDMAT 112
- CS 124
Course Material
Required Texts
Understandable Electric Circuits, by Meizhong Wang
The text is available online (through the BYU-Idaho Library). You do not have to purchase this textbook, each lesson includes links to the appropriate text sections. You must log in with your student ID to access the text.
Required/Recommended Software
You will need computer aided engineering (CAE) software to design and illustrate circuit simulation. You may choose any circuit simulator you wish. If you do not already have one, the packages listed below are free.
CircuitMaker: This is similar to PSpice (below), but it is easier to use. (Windows OS only!)
PSpice Student Version: This is the student version of the Cadence circuit simulation software available in our labs. Be sure to also download the documentation from the web site.(Windows OS only!)
CAE programs also make it easy to include schematic diagrams in your lab reports. Use screen capture software to copy them from the circuit simulator to your lab report document. If you need a screen capture program, download afreeone called Screen Hunter.
Required Hardware
In addition to a computer, you will need access to the circuit components, instruments, and tools listed below. These items will also be used in other ECEN courses. One inexpensive source for most of them is Jameco.com. Your local Radio Shack may also have them.
Each week you must submit pictures of your laboratory experiments. Additionally, you will recorda technical presentation during lesson 13. So, you will also need a webcam, microphone and/or digital camera. Finally, you will use some ordinary household items such as rulers, scissors, tape, etc., not listed here.
Circuit Components
You may purchase a circuit components kit (online) from Electronix Express: circuit component kit # 32BYUIDECEN150 for $27; or purchase circuit components individually. You will need:
- Resistors (1/4 W):330 Ω, 1 kΩ, 1.5 kΩ, 2.2 kΩ (2 required), 2.7 kΩ, 4.7 kΩ, 5.1 kΩ, 10kΩ
- Capacitors (25 V or higher):0.1 μF, 470 μF
- Batteries: 1.5 AA, 9V
- Misc: 22 or 24 AWG Hook-Up Wire, 8 Ω Speaker
- 1 - small (approx. 5 cm x 5 cm or 2 in x 2 in) perforated board
- 1 - 9 volt battery clip
- 1 - 1 k-ohm resistor
- 2 - 220 ohm resistors
- 2 - 82 k-ohm resistors
- 2 - 47 micro-farad capacitors
- 2 - LEDs
- 2 - 2N3904 transistors
Laboratory Instruments and Tools
Option 1 (free)
Online students may complete their laboratory experiments on BYU-I campus in AUS 202 or AUS 206.OR, if you have access to an electronics laboratory with the following instruments, use it!
- Digital Multi-Meter
- DC Power Supply
- Function Generator
- 2-Channel Oscilloscope
Option 2
If you do nothave access to an electronics laboratory, you will need the following instruments and tools:
- National Instruments myDAQ: part number781327-01 (includes myDAQ, Multisim SW, LabVIEW SW, and Ultiboard SW): Purchase for $199
- Protoboard for myDAQ: part number NIPCB1 Purchase for $49
- Digital Multi-Meter: The myDAQ has a DMM function, but a real DMM is more versatile. A perfectly adequate one costs less than $20. More money buys extra features and durability.
- Soldering Iron. An inexpensive one can be purchased for $10 or less, but get the best one you can afford. You will be glad you spent a little more for a good one. Be sure to get solder, too!
- De-Soldering Pump ($5+)
- Small Needle-Nose Pliers ($5+)
- Small Diagonal Cutters ($5+ )
- Wire Strippers($5+)
Recommended Calculators
You can get by with a simple calculator that includes trigonometry functions (sin, cos, tan), and natural logarithm functions (ex). But, some of your calculations will be much easier if your calculator can solve simultaneous equations, operate with complex numbers (real part and imaginary part), and convert between polar and rectangular formats. Graphing capability is not required.
TI 8x calculators (TI 83, TI 84, TI 86, TI 89, etc.) work nicely, but they are expensive ($130 to $150). These are graphing calculators and some students prefer this, even though it is not required for this course. TI-8X Calculator Instructions
Another good choice, for about $60, is the HP 35s. The RPN (Enter key) takes a few minutes to get used to, but you will probably never go back to algebraic calculators again once you try RPN. Before students started using TI calculators in high school, nearly every engineer had an HP. The engineers who have been around a while still do. HP has an online tutorial for the HP 35s. HP-35s Calculator Instructions
Another recommended calculator is the Casio FX-115ESPLUS. At about $18, it is cheaper than the HP 35s and TI 8x, can do everything you need, and uses algebraic notation like the TI.
A nice thing about the HP 35s and Casio FX-115 is that you can use them on the engineering licensing exams. None of the TI 8x models are permitted for that test.
Class Score Calculation
| Exams & Quizzes | 30% |
| Homework | 20% |
| Lab Experiments | 20% |
| Study Guides | 20% |
| Construction Project | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Scale
| A 93%-100% | B- 80%-82% | D+ 67%-69% |
| A- 90%-92% | C+ 77%-79% | D 63%-66% | B+ 87%-89% | C 73%-76% | D- 60%-62% |
| B 80%-82% | C- 70%-72% | F 59% or less |