3 Methods:
Hands-on Electrical Maintenance and Safety Training
Electrical Engineering Analysis
Comprehensive Electrical Safety Solutions

AVO Training Institute: The Learning Experience

We believe that people learn by doing. A true hands-on experience has been the foundation of successful training programs and apprenticeships for a long time because it works. AVO’s substations, cable fields, and circuit breaker, relay and motor controls labs are designed to replicate the working environment. Students perform actual testing and maintenance under instructor supervision with quality equipment. We make integration of the newest electrical equipment technologies an ongoing effort. Watching a video, clicking through a program, or listening to a lecture can never substitute for practical experience.

We have a passion for sharing knowledge. That’s why every aspect of our curriculum is designed to facilitate student learning. Each one of our instructors has decades of field experience that provides a real world perspective in the classroom and equally important - the ability to effectively communicate that knowledge. AVO provides exceptional instructors that are articulate, resourceful, organized, patient, sensitive to students’ needs, and dedicated to providing an extraordinary learning environment. Every course curricula is carefully developed using expert analysis to result in well defined objectives that are relevant to current industry needs. Effective language, illustrations, supplementary materials, and logical presentation sequence are integrated into every course in order to make sure each student leaves with skills and tools they can use.

We are leading the electrical industry. AVO’s Director, Dennis K. Neitzel (CPE), Principal Committee Member for the NFPA 70E, Senior Member of the IEEE, and Working Group Chairman for IEEE Std. 902, has gathered the best engineers in the industry for the AVO team. We have membership and leadership affiliations organizations including the AFE, ASSE, ASTD, ASTM, FOA, IAEI, IEEE, NFPA, NETA, VPPPA and more. Through research and membership in the leading industry organizations we not only stay ahead of technology and process developments, we propose the changes that affect you.

AVO Learning Centers or Your Facility?

Open-enrollment classes are scheduled at learning centers across the U.S. Our learning centers have a variety of substations, cable fields, and circuit breaker, relay, grounding and motor controls labs that are designed to replicate the working environment.
Onsite classes are scheduled at your convenience, at your facility. You provide the classroom, students and equipment – we send our instructor, materials and can supplement your equipment if necessary. We can develop training programs specific to your equipment, facility and procedures.

Course Categories

Cable Splicing and Testing	Electronics
Circuit Breaker Maintenance	Fiber Optic Maintenance
Electrical Testing and Maintenance	Protective Relay Maintenance
Electrical Fundamentals	Substation Maintenance
Electrical Power Engineering	Telecommunications
Electrical Safety and Codes	Watthour Meter Maintenance

Electrical Apprentice Training Programs
Skilled electrical technicians are made not born. Give your new or inexperienced technicians a strong foundation in the fundamentals of electricity and choose a certification program to give them practical experience in the specifics of their trade.

Fundamentals
Basic Electricity
Electrical Safety for Industrial Facilities OR Utilities, OR NFPA 70E Electrical Safety Requirements
National Electrical Code
Electrical Print Reading
Basic Electrical Troubleshooting
Motor Control and Starters, Low Voltage

Certification Programs
Meet OSHA’s definition of a “qualified” technician. Our courses are recognized by the National Electrical Testing Association (NETA), agencies of the U.S. government, nuclear facilities and utilities nationwide. Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) are issued for successful completion of every course. Each certification program must be completed within 18 months and is valid for 3 years from the date of completion. Recertification is accomplished by successfully completing an exam which can be proctored at your facility.

Certification Types

Electrical Engineering Division - Arc-Flash Hazard Analysis

We know that it’s about more than just being in compliance. It's about making your electrical system safe and reliable.

A large number of serious electrical injuries and fatalities are caused by electrical arcs created during short circuits and switching procedures. As a result, NFPA 70E Sections 110.8(B)(1)(b) and 130.3(B), as well as NESC ANSI C2-2007 Section 410.A.3 are published standards requiring you to perform an Arc-Flash Hazard Analysis (AFHA). IEEE Std. 1584 provides guidance for performing arc-flash calculations. The regulatory driving force behind these standards is found in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132(d) and 1910.335.

The analysis will:
Identify the risk of personnel injury as a result of exposure to incident energy released during an arc flash event for each specific electrical component
Identify the appropriate ratings of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Establish the Flash Protection Boundary (approach limit distance) as required by NFPA 70E
Provide appropriate arc-flash labels per NEC® Section 110.16 requirements
Provide methods to mitigate the hazard risk where needed

Why do we need it?

Get in compliance—an accident at your facility means inspectors showing up. Avoid exorbitant fines, damaged equipment and the anguish of knowing you could have prevented an injury or fatality.

You can be too cautious in assigning PPE. This will result in higher maintenance costs and reduced productivity due to the inefficiencies of wearing awkward, bulky PPE that may not be needed. You can protect your personnel and control costs.

Your protective devices may not really be protecting your equipment. Save yourself the time and money wasted when a protective device fails due to inadequate rating.

There are no shortcuts. Accurate data in equals accurate data out.

Scope
1. Data Gathering
AVO never estimates or uses outdated data in an analysis. Our field technician(s) will perform onsite data gathering from all applicable electrical components required to build an SKM PTW model of your facilities power system. You decide if you do or do not want to exceed the minimum recommendations of IEEE Std. 1584 by including lower voltage components that may effect the final calculations of the analysis. Data will be gathered from the nameplates and settings information on circuit breakers, switchboards, fuses, relays, transformers, motors, generators and cable dimensions. If AVO gathers the data a qualified facility electrician or technician will need to be available for removal of panel covers and open disconnects. You have the option to have your staff trained in data collection using our forms instead of using AVO’s field technicians. The duration of this process depends on the type and size of your facility and the number of components.

2. Analysis
One-line Diagram Development/Update - uses the gathered data showing the current configuration and modes of operation for the power system. We use SKM PTW software (preferred) or any other electrical engineering software that you require for creating one-line diagrams and modeling the components.
Short-Circuit Study - based on accurate one-line diagrams. Determines the magnitude of currents flowing throughout the power system at critical points during various time intervals after a “fault” occurs. These calculations are required for determining interrupting ratings of equipment and the coordination of protective relays, circuit breakers and fuses. Based upon accurate utility positive and zero sequence source impedance information supplied by you.
Equipment Evaluation - based on Short-Circuit Study. This evaluation compares component short-circuit ratings and continuous ratings with calculated short-circuit and operating conditions. We will notify you of any devices that are inadequate to safely interrupt computed available fault current.
Protective Device Coordination Study (optional) - based on Short-Circuit Study and device time-current curves. Determines the appropriate type of protective device, location and settings for adequate equipment protection. This effectively reduces the amount of equipment effected by an overcurrent trip and the amount of incident energy a technician is subjected to in the event of an arc-flash. Sufficient operating times are maintained to allow for inrush currents experienced when energizing transformers or starting motors.
Arc-Flash Hazard Analysis - based on available short-circuit current, protective device clearing time and other applicable one-line diagram information necessary to calculate incident energy levels and flash protection boundaries at all relevant equipment busses. Actual available fault current at the bus and total clearing time of the upstream protective devices greatly effects incident energy.
Load Flow Study (optional) - uses software to simulate actual steady-state power system operating conditions. This study ensures the power system is adequately designed to satisfy desired electrical operation performance. We will determine proper component or circuit loading, bus voltage profiles, real and reactive power flow, power system losses, and transformer tap settings.

3. Final Report
High quality warning labels are printed for each component evaluated in the Arc-Flash Hazard Analysis. The labels identify appropriate PPE category and class, limited, restricted and prohibited approach distances, minimum arc rating, flash protection boundary distance and shock hazard when a cover is removed. You can elect for AVO’s field technicians to correctly install the labels for your equipment or you can perform installation. The completed report and one-line diagrams can be presented onsite upon request.

Technical Resource Center
Choose from hundreds of electrical reference materials recommended by our expert instructors. We add new products often so click here for our complete catalog.

Electrical Safety Tools and PPE
ElectriCalc Pro
Electrical DVD Series
Find reference texts covering:
Basic electricity
Batteries/chargers
Cables
Capacitor banks
Circuit breakers
Electrical print reading
Electrical safety codes
Electrical safety procedures
Electronics
Engineering
Fiber optics
Grounding
Motor controls
Installation and wiring
Instrumentation and controls
Insulation testing
Maintenance and testing
Math and measurements
Meters
Motors, generators and transformers
Power quality
Powerline
Programmable logic controllers
Protective relays
Switches and sectionalizers
Telecommunications
Troubleshooting
Variable Frequency Drives
Wiring

AVO is your partner for cultivating electrical systems safety and reliability.