During the upper class years the principles of electrical engineering are applied to many problems; characteristics and operation of direct-current, synchronous, and induction machinery, rectification, wave form analysis, transient phenomena, power plant equipment, transmission and distribution and electro-physical measurements in magnetism, in induction and capacitance by balance methods and in multi-electrode vacuum tube characteristics.
A student branch of The American Institute of Electrical Engineers holds about eight or ten meetings each year. All upper classmen become members and are expected to attend its meetings. The second year men are invited to join the local society.
Since electrical engineering is closely related to mechanical and chemical engineering much material from these branches is included in the course.
The Electrical Laboratories
The electrical laboratories are located on the first floor of the Laboratory Building. A centrally located stock room houses much of the equipment used for test and measurement.
Electric power for the laboratories is obtained from the Public Service Electric & Gas Company through a 240-volt, 3-phase, 60-cycle alternating current line. By means of transformers, motor-generator sets, synchronous converters, oscillators, rectifiers, and storage batteries, direct or alternating current power of wide range of voltage and frequency is available. This power can be distributed to any part of the laboratories on either two or three wire lines, through a carefully planned distribution system.
Equipment is available for setting up all types of electric circuits, reactive and non-reactive, for either direct or alternating current power, together with the usual voltmeters, ammeters, and wattmeters, required in the measurement of these circuits.
Several examples of each of the fundamental types of generators and motors for both direct and alternating current, as well as the usual transformers and various special types are conveniently arranged for study and complete tests.
Special types of instruments for extreme range of voltage current and power are also available, together with special instruments such as frequency meters, power factor meters, electro-static voltmeters, oscillographs, and bridge networks for resistance, capacitance and inductance.
Provision is also made for extensive study of the fundamental operating characteristics of the vacuum tubes of many kinds which are so widely used in the control of electric power in its various forms.