AMTStandards.orgAviation maintenance

Quick reference

Terms on this page 19

Dotted in the text; open one for its entry, or see the glossary.

Readings in the sources

9 short readings for GEN-A, a topic at a time: what the test asks, and the sections that cover it. Sign in to tick them off as you read.

  1. Electron theory K1–K14, K26

    For the test: Electron theory; magnetism; capacitance; inductance; AC and DC; laws; measurement; voltage, current, resistance, power; series, parallel and combined circuits

    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 12: Electrons, Protons, & Neutrons · Electron Shells & Energy Levels · Magnetism · Ohm’s Law (Resistance) · Series DC Circuits · Parallel DC Circuits · Series-Parallel DC Circuits · Capacitance · Inductance · Alternating Current · Power in an Electrical Circuit · Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law · Kirchhoff’s Current Law

  2. Types and operation K15–K20, K27

    For the test: Batteries; transformers; continuity; switches and relays; fuses, breakers and current limiters; resistor coding; motors

    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 12: Batteries · Lead-Acid Battery Charging Methods · Nickel-Cadmium Batteries · Lithium-Ion Batteries · Transformers · Continuity Checks · Switches · Relays · Circuit Protection Devices · Color Code · DC Motors · AC Motors

  3. A survey K21–K23

    For the test: Semiconductors; digital logic; binary

    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 12: Semiconductors · Transistor Theory · Basic Logic Circuits · The Integrated Circuit

  4. Handling precautions K24

    For the test: Electrostatic discharge

    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 12: Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Considerations

  5. Symbols and conventions; diode marking; the basic gates and their truth tables K25, S7, S9

    For the test: Circuit drawings and symbols, including solid-state devices and logic functions

    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 4: Electrical Symbols
    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 12: Diode Identification · Logic Polarity · The Inverter Logic · The AND Gate · The OR Gate · The NAND Gate · The NOR Gate

  6. Safety practice R1–R4

    For the test: Taking measurements; battery handling and storage, including lithium-ion and gel cell; high-voltage circuits; working around batteries

    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 1: Electrical Safety · Safety Around Hazardous Materials
    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 12: Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Batteries

  7. Meter use S1–S4, S10–S12

    For the test: Continuity, voltage, current, resistance, shorts and opens, voltage drop

    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 12: DC Measuring Instruments · Voltage Measurement · Current Measurement · Checking Resistance in a Circuit · Voltage Drops · Tracing Opens with the Voltmeter · Tracing Shorts with the Ohmmeter · Basic Circuit Analysis & Troubleshooting

  8. The devices, their failure modes, and continuity testing S5, S6

    For the test: Test a switch or relay; test a fuse or circuit breaker

    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 12: Fuse · Circuit Breaker

  9. Inspection points and the testing methods for each chemistry S13

    For the test: Inspect an aircraft battery

    • FAA-H-8083-30B Ch. 12: Lead-Acid Battery Testing Methods · Life Cycle of a Battery

Source: FAA-H-8083-30B, electricity and electronics chapters. Public domain. Pointers only.

Chapter and section verified against FAA-H-8083-30B, 2023 edition, on 28 August 2026. Page numbers are deliberately not cited: they move between printings, and a citation that rots silently is worse than a coarser one that stays true. Checked by our handbook citation check against our index of the handbook's chapters and sections.

Elements The ACS asks for In the handbook Where in FAA-H-8083-30B What it does not give you
K1–K14, K26 Electron theory; magnetism; capacitance; inductance; AC and DC; laws; measurement; voltage, current, resistance, power; series, parallel and combined circuits All of it Ch. 12 — Electrons, Protons, & Neutrons; Electron Shells & Energy Levels; Magnetism; Ohm’s Law (Resistance); Series DC Circuits; Parallel DC Circuits; Series-Parallel DC Circuits; Capacitance; Inductance; Alternating Current; Power in an Electrical Circuit; Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law; Kirchhoff’s Current Law Ohm's law as a prediction rather than a formula. GEN-A Concepts §2
K15–K20, K27 Batteries; transformers; continuity; switches and relays; fuses, breakers and current limiters; resistor coding; motors Types and operation Ch. 12 — Batteries; Lead-Acid Battery Charging Methods; Nickel-Cadmium Batteries; Lithium-Ion Batteries; Transformers; Continuity Checks; Switches; Relays; Circuit Protection Devices; Color Code; DC Motors; AC Motors Battery chemistry differences in handling. GEN-A Concepts §5
K21–K23 Semiconductors; digital logic; binary A survey Ch. 12 — Semiconductors; Transistor Theory; Basic Logic Circuits; The Integrated Circuit Why a mechanic learns any of it. GEN-A Concepts §1
K24 Electrostatic discharge Handling precautions Ch. 12 — Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Considerations What ESD actually does. GEN-A Concepts §1
K25, S7, S9 Circuit drawings and symbols, including solid-state devices and logic functions Symbols and conventions; diode marking; the basic gates and their truth tables Ch. 4 — Electrical Symbols · Ch. 12 — Circuit Protection Devices; Semiconductors; Diode Identification; Logic Polarity; Basic Logic Circuits; The Inverter Logic; The AND Gate; The OR Gate; The NAND Gate; The NOR Gate Schematic literacy — introduced in GEN-B Concepts §4. Reading a diode or a gate on a diagram — GEN-A Procedures Procedure 8
R1–R4 Taking measurements; battery handling and storage, including lithium-ion and gel cell; high-voltage circuits; working around batteries Safety practice Ch. 1 — Electrical Safety; Safety Around Hazardous Materials · Ch. 12 — Batteries; Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) Batteries; Lithium-Ion Batteries GEN-A Concepts §5, §6
S1–S4, S10–S12 Continuity, voltage, current, resistance, shorts and opens, voltage drop Meter use Ch. 12 — DC Measuring Instruments; Voltage Measurement; Current Measurement; Checking Resistance in a Circuit; Voltage Drops; Tracing Opens with the Voltmeter; Tracing Shorts with the Ohmmeter; Basic Circuit Analysis & Troubleshooting Why voltage drop is the useful measurement. GEN-A Concepts §3
S5, S6 Test a switch or relay; test a fuse or circuit breaker The devices, their failure modes, and continuity testing Ch. 12 — Switches; Relays; Circuit Protection Devices; Fuse; Circuit Breaker; Continuity Checks A breaker that resets is not a fault cleared. It tripped for a reason — GEN-A Concepts §6
S13 Inspect an aircraft battery Inspection points and the testing methods for each chemistry Ch. 12 — Batteries; Lead-Acid Battery Testing Methods; Nickel-Cadmium Batteries; Life Cycle of a Battery Lead-acid and nickel-cadmium need different handling, different PPE and different spill neutralizers — GEN-A Concepts §5

The operative sources

  • The aircraft's wiring diagrams for S7 and any real troubleshooting. The handbook teaches symbols; the aircraft's diagrams are what you will read.
  • The battery manufacturer's servicing instructions and safety data sheet for S14, R2 and R4. Lead-acid and nickel-cadmium require different handling, different PPE and different spill neutralizers — and using the wrong one makes things worse.
  • The maintenance manual's wire and protective-device tables for anything installed.

The relationships
Ohm's law V = I × R
Power P = V × I, and equivalently I²R or V²/R
Series Resistances add. Current is the same everywhere; voltages divide
Parallel Voltage is the same across each branch; currents add

License

CC BY-SA 4.0 (Licensing).