Electrical Technical Engineer Interview

Electrical Technical Engineer

 Lead projects from concept stage to completion

 Liaise with clients, architects and project managers
 The Electrical Engineer shall be responsible for all Electrical Services including but not
limited to the following:
 Lighting Design (Internal and External)
 Power Design
 Fire Alarm Design
 Emergency Lighting Design
 Telecom and IT Design
 Low Current and Security Systems Design (Access Control, CCTV, Public Address,
PA/BGM, MATV, Nurse Call System, etc.)
 Radio and TV Installations
 Security System Installations
 Earthing and Lightning Protection Design

Interview Questions

Can you perform calculations for Voltage Drop, Power Factor corrections?

Did you work on Transformers designing and substation design according to Saudi specification.
SEC standards?

Our project has major items like Transformers, generators, UPS and data systems. Did you have
experience on these items in design.

Q. On What Software’s you worked on Electrical Designing?

A. Auto Cad, Revit, dialux, Etap. Eplan,ECodial, PF correction etc

Did you perform any FAT test? For which items you performed FAT? Factory Acceptance Test
Generators, Panel boards, UPS, Cables,
Following questions, what things you do during Fat test?

The Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) is a process that evaluates the equipment during and after the
assembly process by verifying that it is built and operating in accordance with design specifications. FAT
ensures that the components and controls are working properly according to the functionality of the
equipment itself. As the name suggests, this testing is performed at the factory.
FAT is typically conducted in order to assess any discrepancies and non-conformities, as well as develop
a process for how they are to be handled. Deviations or abnormalities observed during testing are
documented in a problem report and corrected prior to shipment.

 The used equipment is according to the specification eg, compatible HardWare and SW versions
 The used equipment are installed according to manufacturer’s specification
 The input and the outputs are connected according to the drawings
 The calibration of the equipment are correct
 The trip points operate according to the requirements in the Service Record Schedule ( SRS).
 The associated software operate according to the requirements in the SRS the outputs and their actions
behave according to the SRS
 The reset functions operate according to the SRS
 The alarms operate according to the SRS
 The operator functions operate according to the SRS
 The bypass functions operate according to the SRS
 The manual shutdown functions operate according to the SRS
 The diagnostic alarm functions operate according to the SRS

Did you attend Load Bank test?

Ans. Load test are done for Generators, UPS etc

A load bank test is used to test the UPS and generator which is under load conditions to ensure that
they are working optimally. This method is a way of validating the true operational performance as
well as the battery autonomy used in UPS and Generator system.

Following question,

What kind of device you used to do load bank?

Ans. Resitive load bank or Reactive load bank.

Resistive Load Banks: The most common type, resistive load banks mimic the operational load that
a power source will see in actual use. They convert electrical energy (current) into heat using power
resistors and dissipate the heat using air or water. Examples of resistive loads include incandescent
lightbulbs and devices with heating elements, such as space heaters and hot plates.

Reactive Load Banks: These solutions are used to simulate systems affected by electric motors or
other electromagnetic devices on a power network. In general, equipment that requires reactive
power compensation are motor-driven devices, transformers and capacitors.

Reactive load banks can simulate either an inductive or capacitive load depending on the type of load
expected on the power system. A reactive/inductive load converts current into a magnetic field. It
resists the change to voltage, causing the circuit current to lead voltage. Examples of devices
producing reactive/inductive loads include motors, transformers and chokes.

Reactive/capacitive load charges and releases energy. It resists the change to voltage, causing the
circuit current to lead voltage. Reactive/capacitive load bank testing is often conducted in
telecommunications, solar, manufacturing and mining applications.

Resistive/Reactive Load Banks – These solutions combine both resistive and reactive elements in
one load bank package. Resistive/reactive loads are able to mimic motor loads and electromagnetic
devices within a power system, as well as provide purely resistive loads by allowing to set a specific
power factor.
What is the procedure to design Electrical Earthing System?

Ans: Step 1 Earth resistivity test performed on Site.

Step 2 With the results do the calculation to achieve minimum required resistivity in OHMS( less
than 5 ohms)

Step 3 design the building or Site accordingly adding number of Earth Pits and Cables around
building after the calculations.

What is a transformer and how does it work?

 A transformer is an electrical apparatus designed to convert alternating current from one voltage to another.
It can be designed to “step up” or “step down” voltages and works on the magnetic induction principle.
 A transformer has no moving parts and is a completely static solid-state device, which insures, under normal
operating conditions, a long and trouble-free life. It consists, in its simplest form, of two or more coils of insulated
wire wound on a laminated steel core.
 When voltage is introduced to one coil, called the primary, it magnetizes the iron core. A voltage is then
induced in the other coil, called the secondary or output coil. The change of voltage (or voltage ratio) between the
primary and secondary depends on the turns ratio of the two coils.

How do we select transformers?

 Determine primary voltage and frequency.
 Determine secondary voltage required.
 Determine the capacity required in volt-amperes. This is done by multiplying the load current (amperes) by
the load voltage (volts) for single phase.
 For example: if the load is 40 amperes, such as a motor, and the secondary voltage is 240 volts, then 240 x
40 equals 9600 VA. A 10 KVA (10,000 volt-amperes) transformer is required.
 Always select Transformer Larger than Actual Load. This is done for safety purposes and allows for
expansion, in case more loads is added at a later date. For 3 phase KVA, multiply rated volts x load amps x 1.73
(square root of 3) then divide by 1000.
 Determine whether taps are required. Taps are usually specified on larger transformers.

What is power Factor and how it affects the design?

Ans. Usually Power factor is taken as 0.8.PF of 1 is in ideal condition when there is no drop or any
electrical loss.
Power-factor correction increases the power factor of a load, improving efficiency for the
distribution system to which it is attached. Linear loads with low power factor (such as induction
motors) can be corrected with a passive network of capacitors or inductors. Non-linear loads, such
as rectifiers, distort the current drawn from the system. In such cases, active or passive power factor
correction may be used to counteract the distortion and raise the power factor. The devices for
correction of the power factor may be at a central substation, spread out over a distribution system,
or built into power-consuming equipment.

What is XLPE in cable?

Ans. cross-linked polyethylene
What is cable filling Ratio for one wire as per NEC?

The National Electrical Code establishes that if a conduit only contains 1 wire, the max fill
percentage is 53%. If it contains 2 wires, the max fill percentage is 31%. And if it contains 3 or
more wires, the max fill percentage is 40%.

What is the difference between MCB & MCCB, Where it can be used?
 MCB is miniature circuit breaker which is thermal operated and use for short circuit protection in small
current rating circuit.
 Normally it is used where normal current is less than 100A.
 MCCB moulded case circuit breaker and is thermal operated for over load current and magnetic operation
for instant trip in short circuit condition. Under voltage and under frequency may be inbuilt.
 Normally it is used where normal current is more than 100A.

What is the CSA of a cable?

Half the diameter of the conductor, times it by itself, times it by Pi (3.14). This gives the area (CSA)Cross Section
Area

What are the points to be considered for MCB (miniature circuit breaker selection)?
 I(L)x1.25=I(MAX) maximum current. Mcb specification is done on maximum current flow in circuit.

What the main difference between UPS & inverter?

 Uninterrupted power supply is mainly use for short time. Means according to ups VA it gives backup. Ups is
also two types: on line and offline. Online ups having high volt and amp for long time backup with high dc voltage.
But ups start with 12v dc with 7 amps. but inverter is start with 12v,24,dc to 36v dc and 120amp to 180amp
battery with long time backup

Why we do two types of earthing on transformer (Body earthing & neutral earthing)
 The two types of earthing are Familiar as Equipment earthing and system earthing.
 In Equipment earthing: body (non conducting part) of the equipment should be earthed to safeguard the
human beings.
 The System Earthing: In this neutral of the supply source (Transformer or Generator) should be grounded.
With this, in case of unbalanced loading neutral will not be shifted. So that unbalanced voltages will not arise. We
can protect the equipment also. With size of the equipment (transformer or alternator) and selection of relying
system earthing will be further classified into directly earthed, Impedance earthing, resistive (NGRs) earthing.

 neutral is floating too much.

What’s the difference between generator breaker and simple breaker?

 Breaker is one which disconnects the circuit in fault condition and It is similar for all equipment. Based on the
equipment voltage and maximum short circuit current the ratings will be decided. For better understanding we call
generator or transformer or line etc breakers.

What is EDO & MDO type breaker?

 In the Breakers for the operation spring charging is must.
 In EDO breaker the spring charging is done with a motor and draw out manually by hand. so EDO means
Electrically spring charged Draw Out breaker
 In MDO breaker the spring charging is also done by hand manually and draw out about also by hand only.
so MDO means Manual spring charge Draw Out breaker

Why transformer rating is in KVA or KW?

 Because power factor of the load is not defined in case of transformer that’s why it is not possible to rate
transformer in KW.
 The losses (cu loss and iron loss) of the transformer depends on current and voltage purely, not on load i.e,
phase angle between the current and voltage i.e. why transformer rated in kVA
What is the difference between Surge Arrester & Lightning Arrestor?
 LA is installed outside and the effect of lightning is grounded, whereas surge arrestor installed inside panels
comprising of resistors which consumes the energy and nullify the effect of surge.