I’m testing in a few weeks for an expired renewal (been on the beach awhile). Has anyone taken this test recently that may have some insight as to what to expect? Also, I’ll be going after my 2 A/E unlimited at some unknown point in the future after that. Any thoughts on that test as well?
Chief Ltd NC and 2A/E are practically identical. I took both last year and at least half the questions were literally the same questions.
The Motors and Safety were fairly easy. I didn’t study for either and passed them both. The General wasn’t too difficult but there were several refrigeration questions that you needed the psychometric chart for so you might want to refresh on that. Electrical included a fair amount of logic diagrams and motor controllers. Also know motor and generator construction operation.
Like you I had been on the beach for a while and had just gone back to sea. It didn’t take me a lot of studying. Electrical was definitely the hardest for me but it always has been.
[QUOTE=tugbotman;79279]I’m testing in a few weeks for an expired renewal (been on the beach awhile). Has anyone taken this test recently that may have some insight as to what to expect? Also, I’ll be going after my 2 A/E unlimited at some unknown point in the future after that. Any thoughts on that test as well?[/QUOTE]
One person I know recently took the CE/Ltd Oceans test. He prepared thoroughly but still ran into some questions he had never seen, especially on electrical. He passed but afterward called the supplier of his study software to tell them about it. He was told the USCG is changing the questions and they will not be available on the USCG website any longer. According to what he was told the USCG will not release any more exam questions to anyone, period. So, I guess this means you need to know the material.
This guy used the Hawsepipe software and the reference material included, I have heard from others it is very good. Good luck.
I used the hawsepipe.net software too. I didn’t find the practice tests too helpful but I had 3rd-Chief U/L on one disc. I think I got a lot of 3rd questions, at least 10-15 pump capacity questions every time of which I saw zero on the test. I did think the reference material was very good and taking the test was helpful in knowing what to reference but I didn’t find much correlation between my scores on the practice tests and my actual exam score.
The USCG took the questions off the website a few years ago.
It’s been over 30 years since I set for an original 2nd. Back then, 3rds and 2nds tested on certain days of the month and 1st and Chief on others. From what I could glean from the guys sitting for 3rd, the only real difference in the exams was juice.
I scanned through a study guide a couple of years ago and there were many basic questions on ladder logic and current loops.
I just read where the NMA was successful in getting the question pool released.
NMA = National Mariners Association?
The questions should be released, if only so people like Joe Murphy can proof them. The coast guard doesn’t have a good record for getting the answers correct on their own questions.
I’ve been on the beach for about 8 years now. All the knowledge is up in the computer somewhere, I just need to navigate through the fog on some of the refrigeration and electrical stuff to pull it out.
I’ve been using the Haynes books as well as the study software discs from mariner advancement. Not to mention a AHRI HVAC and reefer textbook. Anybody have any suggestions for a well-written electrical textbook that focuses on motors, controllers, vfd’s, etc. that are inline with the current technology out there. Electricity has never been my strongest subject, but I do want to get a better grasp of it and certainly advance my troubleshooting abilities.
Still wondering what NMA is myself …anyway guys thanks for the input, its much appreciated.
National Mariners Association…http://www.nationalmariners.us/
[QUOTE=tugbotman;79628]I’ve been on the beach for about 8 years now. All the knowledge is up in the computer somewhere, I just need to navigate through the fog on some of the refrigeration and electrical stuff to pull it out.
I’ve been using the Haynes books as well as the study software discs from mariner advancement. Not to mention a AHRI HVAC and reefer textbook. Anybody have any suggestions for a well-written electrical textbook that focuses on motors, controllers, vfd’s, etc. that are inline with the current technology out there. Electricity has never been my strongest subject, but I do want to get a better grasp of it and certainly advance my troubleshooting abilities.
Still wondering what NMA is myself …anyway guys thanks for the input, its much appreciated.[/QUOTE]
You will find very little in any of the study material on VFD’s. Because there are really only 2 big companys that make them Seimens, and Alstom/conver team, and that info is trade secerets.
Baker lyman has a good electricity book I used
My buddy just took these tests a few weeks ago. The electrical test, he said, was 100% different. The new one has colors, less formulas, more realistic questions. He studied hard for a few months, looked over every question available from our programs and books, and told us 50% of his test questions he had never seen before.
All the other tests were the same with all the questions being in the test bank.
I passed!!! As expected, electricity and generals were tough and had a lot of questions and illustrations that I had never seen before. But, the time put in paid off. Guess this means I can start making the telephone calls to HOS and ECO before I head down there. Very happy and relieved.
Congrats on your upgrade. I am testing for my CE Limited oceans next week. To comment on the other comments about the test questions. I have run into the same. After contacting the book publisher I used he pretty much verified what has already been said. HOWEVER he filed a complaint in court and won a few months ago. He sent me a copy of the letter the USCG commandant sent to the commander of the NMC ordering him to publish the questions again under the Freedom of Information act. It is in the process but like all thing govt it will take some time.
The questions are already back up. No drawings yet but there is a note that they are reviewing copyright issues prior to posting. Of course since I’m sure they got permission to use them in the first place I can’t see why they couldn’t post the drawings too.
[QUOTE=ChiefRob;79631]You will find very little in any of the study material on VFD’s. Because there are really only 2 big companys that make them Seimens, and Alstom/conver team, and that info is trade secerets.
[/QUOTE]
How can you say that? There are a few dozen manufacturers of VFDs and almost every one of them has a website that provides documentation and training materials. They are so common these days that they are used to control shitter vent fans. It is difficult to find an air conditioning unit that doesn’t include one and there is so much competition to supply them the manufacturers are doing backflips to get people to buy theirs.
If you are talking about large electrical propulsion drives then there are fewer manufacturers and no, they don’t want any old bubba to tweak them or blow himself up they don’t provide much in way of “do-it-yourself” aids but they do offer formal training for those who already have HV training and know the basics. The fundamentals are the same for everyone and there is a ton of educational materials available online to explain how the systems work and why.
[QUOTE=Steamer;83964]How can you say that? There are a few dozen manufacturers of VFDs and almost every one of them has a website that provides documentation and training materials. They are so common these days that they are used to control shitter vent fans. It is difficult to find an air conditioning unit that doesn’t include one and there is so much competition to supply them the manufacturers are doing backflips to get people to buy theirs.
If you are talking about large electrical propulsion drives then there are fewer manufacturers and no, they don’t want any old bubba to tweak them or blow himself up they don’t provide much in way of “do-it-yourself” aids but they do offer formal training for those who already have HV training and know the basics. The fundamentals are the same for everyone and there is a ton of educational materials available online to explain how the systems work and why.[/QUOTE]
I worked for a tanker company that had ships up in Alaska. We actually retro fitted VFD’s on the salt water pumps to use in the winter when the water is icy. Worked pretty good on the the salt water supply, but the company thought it was a good idea to also put it on the IG scrubber pump. That was not a good idea. You can not keep the IG going with variable flow.
Thanks…can’t wait to use it now, it was just issued and mailed from NMC today. If you have any specific questions about what I saw on the test just pm me and I’ll try to answer them for you. Good luck
[QUOTE=Steamer;83964]How can you say that? There are a few dozen manufacturers of VFDs and almost every one of them has a website that provides documentation and training materials. They are so common these days that they are used to control shitter vent fans. It is difficult to find an air conditioning unit that doesn’t include one and there is so much competition to supply them the manufacturers are doing backflips to get people to buy theirs.
If you are talking about large electrical propulsion drives then there are fewer manufacturers and no, they don’t want any old bubba to tweak them or blow himself up they don’t provide much in way of “do-it-yourself” aids but they do offer formal training for those who already have HV training and know the basics. The fundamentals are the same for everyone and there is a ton of educational materials available online to explain how the systems work and why.[/QUOTE]
My response was to the guys question about study material for taking a coast guard test, which there is very little VFD info on anything the coast guard has, or will test you on. Mostly becase they are 20 to 40 years behind the industry with the tests.
But I was mostly refering to the more modern boats with VFD’s as part of the propulsion system, weather it be shafts, Z-drives or tunnel thrusters. I was refering to the 690 volt systems that is most common today on the vessels, there are 2 company;s that probably have 75% of the market share when you speak of propulsion systems for vessels. Those are Seimens and Alstom/conver team. I know ABB is making a VFD now, along with Wartsila, but they are not very common except on the European boats, and they still lag way behind Seimens. I know Seimens makes VFD’s for everything, from exhaust blowers on your kitchen stove to huge coal mining equipment.
I know you can find basic info on small VFD’s probably any where, but the info that is spefic to each manufactures drive system will not be put out in public to much. I work with both systems, and they are very different in how they produce the same basic thing.
I agree you don’t want just any joe smuck sticking his fingers in a 690V DC cabinet…
I have been through the Seimens and SPOC (a small American manufacter of VFD’s) factory training, and learned about the conver team stuff mostly from trial by fire, and picking the tech’s brain when we have to get one out…
The SPOC VFD system is very similar to the conver team drives but also not very common, in the marine side.
SPOC has been making VFD’s for a long time, mostly for motors on land based drilling rigs, and large mining equipment, they have been trying to get into the marine industry for a while, like you say basically giving a few systems away to try to get there name out there. I am sure there are many more.
Hopefully I’m good. My dad was an electrician and worked on Harriers for the navy for the last 30 yrs. He is helping me
I took and passed all but electricity. But I wasn’t expecting to take it onmy first visit. Found out it counts as an attempt whether I take it or not. Gave it a shot made a 53. Not too bad considering I never even opened the book. Gonna try again when I get home next month. Used to each module was done individually as yours 3 attempts. Now its a visit counts for all. Also proctors said there is a copyright issue with illustrations being worked out. But I haven’t seen anything on logic but it sure was on that test. At least 10 questions on it.
PM me your email I have a PDF on logic my QMED’s used when studying. They both passed so it must be good material.
Got it and used it along with some stuff I found on the internet. Passed this morning. Now waiting on paperwork so I can go float around the carribean