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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Implement fault-finding techniques in electronic systems 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115054  Implement fault-finding techniques in electronic systems 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Audio-visual Media Production 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 04 - Communication Studies and Language Communication Studies 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  8 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be essential to technically skilled people who work in the broadcasting environment and need to use sophisticated methods and equipment to fault find professional broadcasting equipment.

People credited with this standard will be able to:
  • Read and interpret schematic diagrams.
  • Compile block diagrams of operations and functions of equipment.
  • Relate information of the block diagrams to circuit boards.
  • Test electronic systems (using instrumentation).
  • Select electronic system fault location strategies.
  • Locate faults in electronic systems. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Read and interpret schematic diagrams. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Schematic diagrams: analogue based; digital based. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The component symbols are correctly identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The function of the components are correctly defined. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The signal types and levels are correctly given. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Compile block diagrams of operations and functions of equipment. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Block diagrams: analogue based; digital based. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The block symbols are correctly identified and used in compiled block diagrams. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The function of the blocks is correctly defined in compiled block diagrams. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Block inputs and outputs signal points are identified and waveform/levels are correctly given in the compiled block diagram. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Block inputs and outputs signal points are identified and waveform/levels are correctly given and pointed out on the schematic diagram. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Relate information of the block diagrams to circuit boards. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Block diagrams: analogue based; digital based. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The components associated with each block are correctly identified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The function of the components is correctly defined and the position on the board is correctly noted. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Block inputs and outputs test points are identified correctly, and pointed out on the printed circuit boards. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Test electronic systems (using instrumentation). 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The functions of common test instrumentation are clearly defined. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Test Instrumentation: multimeter; oscilloscope; signal generator; bench PSU; logic probe.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The correct test instrumentation is selected for a given type of circuit. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Appropriate test points are correctly identified on the hardware and accurate readings taken. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The operation/function of the circuit is correctly evaluated. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Circuits: analogue; digital.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Select electronic system fault location strategies. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Faulted circuits: analogue; digital. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Fault location methods selected are correct and appropriate to the system type. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Systematic fault location methods applicable to the target system are correctly selected. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Fault location methods: sequential; non-sequential.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Individual tests are correctly selected and arranged in logical order. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Recording/procedural documentation is correctly applied. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Locate faults in electronic systems. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Circuits: analogue; digital. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    A fault location strategy is executed correctly and in the predetermined order. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The selected test equipment is used effectively to locate the fault. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The system documentation is used correctly for board-level fault location. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Providers of learning towards this unit standard will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the relevant ETQA.
    Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.

    Moderation Option:

    The moderation requirements of the relevant SETA's ETQA must be met in order to award credit to learners for this unit standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard

    The following embedded knowledge is addressed in an integrated way in the unit standard:
  • Safety precautions and safe working practices in the broadcast environment.
  • Own responsibilities and accountabilities in the workplace.
  • Standards and procedures of the organisation.
  • Communication techniques when dealing with clients and colleagues.
  • Quality assurance of product and service delivery.
  • Documentation requirements and procedures.
  • Power Supplies - both linear and switched mode.
  • Non-sequential fault location methods.
  • Systematic or sequential fault location methods.
  • Diagnoses of faulty digital and analogue circuit/system. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking to locate faults. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others (clients and colleagues) as a member of a team, group, organisation to achieve the required end-result. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage themselves in the work areas and their activities responsibly and effectively to complete tasks within deadlines. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect and analyse analogue and digital circuit information and critically evaluate the effect of this on work performance. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively (with clients and colleagues), using visual and / or language skills. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology (test equipment) effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment (work areas and venues) and health of others (clients and colleagues). 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding that the engineering world is a set of related systems and that problem-solving does not exist in isolation. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriate, fair, manageable, integrated into work or learning, valid, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Fundamental  48792   Certificate: Broadcast Engineering  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  MICTS 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Facilitation Development (PTY) LTD 
    2. HILLCROSS BUSINESS SCHOOL (PTY 
    3. OPELONG BUSINESS INSTITUTE (PT 
    4. SUPREME ICT CONSULTANTS 
    5. Varsity Institute of Science & Technology (Pty)Ltd 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.