NZQA Expiring unit standard
232 version 10
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Title
Test an automotive electrical circuit
Level
2
Credits
8
Purpose
This unit standard is for people who wish to enter or are
employed in the automotive repair industry. People credited
with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of
automotive electrical principles; check voltage readings of
automotive circuits; check current flow readings of automotive
circuits; check resistance readings of automotive components;
and locate a fault in an automotive lighting circuit.
Classification
Motor Industry > Automotive Electrical and Electronics
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
The following legislation and amendments are required to be consulted and followed
where applicable:
Health and Safety in Employment Act, 1992.
2
Reference to suitable test equipment means industry approved test equipment that is
recognised within the industry as being the most suited to complete the task to a
professional and competent manner with due regard to safe working practices.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of automotive electrical principles.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Electric circuit fundamentals are defined.
Range
1.2
positive and negative charges, conventional current flow, electron
current flow, conductors, insulators, semiconductors, attraction
and repulsion of charges, potential, potential difference (p.d.),
electromotive force (e.m.f.), counter e.m.f.
The basic units of electrical measurement, and their symbols that are used in
automotive applications, are defined.
Range
volt, ampere, ohm, watt, farad, hertz.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
1.3
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The characteristics of types of resistive circuits are defined.
Range
parallel circuits, series circuits, compound circuits, open circuit,
closed circuit, shorted circuit, short to ground.
1.4
Ohm's Law in relation to circuit resistance, current flow, and voltage is applied
to automotive parallel circuits and series circuits.
1.5
Types of resistors used in automotive circuits are described according to
manufacturer’s specifications.
Range
1.6
carbon pile, wire wound, variable.
The functions of capacitors used in automotive circuits are described according
to manufacturer’s specifications.
Range
storage, smoothing, suppression.
Outcome 2
Check voltage readings of automotive circuits.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Safe working practices are observed throughout the task.
Range
personal safety, safety of others, no damage to equipment.
2.2
A voltmeter suitable for use on the test vehicle is selected and used in a manner
that produces the desired results but does not damage any of the circuits.
2.3
The presence of voltage is verified at any point in a circuit.
2.4
The available voltage, at any point in a circuit, is measured to an accuracy
determined by the circuit, and the voltage is classified as acceptable or not
when compared with manufacturer's specifications.
2.5
The voltage drop across selected parts of a working circuit is measured (to
0.1V), and the voltage drop is accurately classified as acceptable or not when
compared with manufacturer's specifications.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
232 version 10
Page 3 of 5
Outcome 3
Check current flow readings of automotive circuits.
Range
charging, starting, lighting.
Evidence requirements
3.1
An ammeter, suitable for the circuit to be tested, is selected for use.
Range
3.2
a series connected ammeter and an inductive ammeter with
ranges to suit both charging and starting circuits.
Safe working practices are observed throughout the task.
Range
personal safety, safety of others, no damage to equipment.
3.3
The current draw of a starter motor under load is measured and its compatibility
with manufacturer's specifications is determined.
3.4
The current output of an alternator is measured and its compatibility with
manufacturer's specifications are determined.
3.5
The current flow in lighting circuits is measured to within 1A.
Outcome 4
Check resistance readings of automotive components.
Range
HT leads, thermistors, ignition coils, ballast resistors.
Evidence requirements
4.1
An ohmmeter, suitable for the component being measured, is selected.
4.2
Safe working practices are observed throughout the task.
Range
personal safety, safety of others, no damage to equipment.
4.3
A component is isolated from its circuit, its resistance is measured and
classified as acceptable or not when compared with specifications.
4.4
The resistance of a working circuit is determined to +-10%.
Outcome 5
Locate a fault in an automotive lighting circuit.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Suitable test equipment is selected for locating faults in the circuit.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
5.2
Safe working practices are observed throughout the task.
Range
5.3
232 version 10
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personal safety, safety of others, no damage to equipment.
The circuit is tested according to manufacturer’s test procedures, and any faults
are located.
Replacement information
This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard
21676 and unit standard 21707.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
28 February 1993
31 December 2016
Review
2
4 August 1995
31 December 2016
Revision
3
30 October 1997
31 December 2016
Revision
4
28 May 1998
31 December 2016
Review
5
20 December 1998
31 December 2016
Revision
6
13 March 2001
31 December 2016
Revision
7
16 October 2003
31 December 2016
Rollover
8
25 July 2006
31 December 2020
Rollover
9
19 November 2010
31 December 2020
Rollover
10
22 August 2014
31 December 2020
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0014
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
232 version 10
Page 5 of 5
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016