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twc@transportcenter.orgThe TC3 Electrical Foundations course introduces the core electrical knowledge and skills commonly used in transit maintenance environments. Designed for frontline workforce development, the course combines foundational electrical theory with practical transit applications to help learners better understand how electrical systems operate in buses, rail vehicles, facilities, and supporting infrastructure.
Through a series of modular learning units, participants explore topics including electrical principles, AC and DC electricity, circuits, magnetism, electrical components, testing tools, and safe work practices. The course emphasizes real-world application, hands-on learning, and workforce readiness, helping build technical confidence for both new and current transit employees.
Electrical Foundations Course Support Resources
Access course-level resources that support planning, preparation, and delivery of the Electrical Foundations course. These materials are designed to help instructors and training departments successfully implement the course. For additional instructor materials (assessments and module Instructor Guides), please complete this form.
Evaluation and Feedback
Your feedback helps us improve TC3 and better support transit agencies implementing these materials. Please use the evaluation forms below to gather participant and instructor feedback. Once completed, email the forms to Kristen Ribaudo at kribaudo@transportcenter.org. Thank you for helping us strengthen and enhance these resources for the transit industry.
Module 1: Introduction to Electricity
Module 1 introduces the foundational concepts of electricity and their role in transit maintenance environments. Learners explore how electricity works at the atomic level, how electrical current flows through circuits, and why voltage, current, conductors, and insulators are essential to modern electrical systems.
The module also examines the history and development of electricity, including key innovators whose discoveries shaped today’s electrical technologies. Participants build an understanding of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC), electrical generation and transmission, and the importance of safe electrical work practices.
Module 2: Basic Electrical Principles
Module 2 builds on foundational electrical concepts by exploring the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits. Learners examine how electricity behaves in real-world systems and develop the ability to predict how changes within a circuit affect electrical flow and equipment performance.
Through practical examples, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises, participants learn how to apply Ohm’s Law to calculate voltage, current, and resistance in basic circuits. The module also introduces common electrical measurements, prefixes, decimal conversions, watts, and horsepower, helping learners build confidence reading meters, interpreting values, and understanding electrical behavior in transit maintenance environments.
Module 3: AC and DC Electricity
Module 3 introduces the differences between alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) and explains how both are used throughout transit vehicles and facilities. Learners explore how AC and DC power behave, where each type of power is commonly found, and why understanding both is critical for troubleshooting and maintenance work.
The module also examines key AC concepts including frequency and phase, helping learners understand how electrical waveforms affect equipment performance, motor operation, and power distribution. Participants learn how electrical systems use single-phase and three-phase power and how improper frequency or phase conditions can impact transit equipment. In addition, the module introduces power conversion and the devices used to change electricity from one form to another, including transformers, rectifiers, converters, and inverters.
Module 4: Circuit Components and Architecture
Module 4 introduces the design, structure, and major components of electrical circuits commonly used in transit systems and maintenance environments. Learners explore how electricity flows through series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits while building an understanding of how circuit design impacts equipment operation, troubleshooting, and system reliability.
The module also introduces Kirchhoff’s Current and Voltage Laws to help participants analyze current flow, voltage drops, and circuit behavior. In addition, learners examine common electrical components including wires, switches, relays, resistors, transformers, capacitors, sensors, and circuit protection devices, while developing skills reading electrical symbols, diagrams, and resistor color codes used in transit maintenance environments.
Module 5: Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Module 5 introduces the principles of magnetism and electromagnetism and explains how they are used throughout modern electrical and transit systems. Learners explore magnetic fields, polarity, magnetic materials, and the relationship between electricity and magnetism while building an understanding of how moving electric charges create magnetic force.
The module also examines electromagnets, relays, and motors, helping participants understand how magnetic fields are used to create movement, control circuits, and generate electricity. Through demonstrations, hands-on activities, and real-world transit examples, learners explore concepts such as magnetic field strength, electromagnetic induction, and Faraday’s Law.
Module 6: Electrical Tools
Module 6 introduces the common electrical hand tools and testing equipment used to create, inspect, protect, and verify electrical connections in transit maintenance environments. Learners develop practical skills using wire cutters, strippers, crimpers, shrink tubing, multimeters, and other common testing tools while learning how proper tool selection and technique impact electrical system reliability and safety.
The module emphasizes the importance of creating mechanically secure and electrically reliable connections through proper cutting, stripping, crimping, and insulation practices. Participants also learn how to perform basic voltage, continuity, and resistance testing to verify circuit conditions and identify potential connection issues.
Module 7: Safety and PPE
Module 7 focuses on electrical safety principles and the safe work practices required in transit maintenance environments. Learners identify common electrical hazards, assess workplace risks, and develop an understanding of how electrical incidents can occur when proper procedures are not followed.
The module also introduces personal protective equipment (PPE) used in low-voltage, high-voltage, and arc flash environments. Participants learn how to select and use appropriate protective equipment while following workplace safety procedures designed to reduce exposure to electrical hazards.
Through real-world examples, hazard recognition activities, and safety discussions, the module reinforces the importance of safe decision-making, risk awareness, and compliance with electrical safety practices used throughout transit operations and maintenance environments.
