April/October 2020 Power PE Exam Prep

[lturner]

Walls of text are great... Here's mine.

Last time I worked through Graffeo first. It was a good review since i've been out of school 8+ yrs.

Found Zach's course and signed up for it. Went through the entire course and filled up 3 notebooks with notes on all the videos and examples. I tabbed all those and reference them a lot. Ill probably skim through the course again over the next month and retake the quizzes. And it looks like Zach has added new stuff too!

I created a binder with all of the live class and formula sheets for Zach's class. I mostly use this binder for reference.

When i bought EngProGuides technical guide, i put it into its own binder, divided by subject. I need to go through the formula sheets though.

I also have Zach's exam, and all 3 of EPG's exams in their own 1/2 inch binders. I did all of these the last round, and plan to take them again. 

I bought the Cram book and all exams which are excellent and totally recommend since i dont see it in your list.  I only completed the first exam before the test was cancelled so i have the other 3 to take. Ill probably do one over a week instead of timed, and the other 2 as timed practice tests.

I went through 1 exam in Complex Imaginary... The exam was easier, but the code drill book was great practice. I plan to use these as practice problems.

Ive got a binder full of extra references, and plan to add more to it!

I read/skimmed a lot of Wildi last round, and i finally got a hardcopy of Blackburn in April, so im planning to skim through and tab it.

I went through several of the protection chapters and examples in the Glover book last round and plan to repeat that.

Also have the ncees practice test which i plan to take again too.

I do not have the PPI stuff like you do - i keep hearing mixed reviews about it. 

Overall, ive got 3 milk crates, but 2 are mostly extra stuff. Gonna roll a dolly into the exam!

That makes me feel like I need more! But it's apples and oranges I guess when it comes to whatever works lol.

To me PPI feels more like theory instead of application. Great reference but you can get lost in a hurry in the thick of deriving equations etc. 

I am going to look into Cram books in a few weeks. Great suggestion and just like the other poster said I am cautious to spend the money until I know it's happening this time.

 

[speakeelsy PE]

That makes me feel like I need more! But it's apples and oranges I guess when it comes to whatever works lol.

To me PPI feels more like theory instead of application. Great reference but you can get lost in a hurry in the thick of deriving equations etc. 

I am going to look into Cram books in a few weeks. Great suggestion and just like the other poster said I am cautious to spend the money until I know it's happening this time.

Everyone retains things differently so do what works for you!

I had most everything purchased for the april exam. I think the only things i've added are the 4th Cram exam, the actual engineering economics analysis, and the book of batteries which i had contemplated buying before (and i may have a slight book addiction) also thinking of adding nfpa 780.

@Chattaneer PE I did print the new handbook, and it's going in my book haul for sure. It's got some good info in a condensed format, and it might be the fastest way to find a formula.

 

[Orchid PE]

It's probably been reiterated enough times, but Graffeo is no good and the Cram exams are probably the closest thing you'll get to the real test. I swear, Mr. Flanagan must have access to the test bank or something.

 

[Orchid PE]

Does anyone know what they're doing about the NEC, NESC, and hazard code books when the test goes CBT? Will all of those be digital as well? Man, if I could've had a digital copy of the NEC to do a "ctrl+F" on that would have been awesome.

 

[Dothracki PE]

Does anyone know what they're doing about the NEC, NESC, and hazard code books when the test goes CBT? Will all of those be digital as well? Man, if I could've had a digital copy of the NEC to do a "ctrl+F" on that would have been awesome.

I believe they will have those in digital format. I have the PDF of NEC 2008, 2014, and 2017 for work and the find feature is great.

 

[DLD PE]

I believe they will have those in digital format. I have the PDF of NEC 2008, 2014, and 2017 for work and the find feature is great.

That's going to put "Tom Henry's Key Word Index" out if business lol.

 

[DLD PE]

Also just received this from NCEES.  I'm going to wear a mask during all practice exams and study periods to get used to it.

To help ensure the health, safety, and welfare of examinees and proctoring teams, NCEES is implementing the following measures for the October 2020 exam administration.

• No one may enter the exam facility if they have met any of the COVID-19 qualifications listed here.
  
• Examinees and proctors will be required to wear face masks that cover the mouth and nose for the entire exam session. Face shields may not be used as a substitute for face masks but may be worn in addition to face masks. Face coverings must be removed for proper identification when instructed by a proctor. Proctors may visually inspect face coverings.
  
• Examinees will be seated alone at a table properly spaced from other tables.
  
• Examinees must practice social distancing outside the exam room before the exam starts, during breaks, and when the exam ends. Proctors will be asked to monitor examinees and ensure adequate space is being maintained.
  
• Examinees will be allowed to have the following items in the exam room, but these items may not be placed on the desktop:
      •  Hand sanitizer and wipes
      •  Extra face coverings
      •  Disposable gloves
  

If you are unable or unwilling to follow these measures, please cancel your exam as soon as possible to help us seat as many examinees as possible during this administration. You must cancel your exam before registration closes on August 20 at 3:00 p.m. EDT in order to receive a full refund of your exam registration fee. Cancellations made after registration closes are not eligible for a refund.

Please note that all exam sites must comply with local capacity and social distancing requirements, which are subject to change at any time. Although every effort will be made to seat all registered examinees, any changes that require a further reduction in capacity may result in the cancellation of your exam and a full refund of your registration fee. NCEES is monitoring the situation and evaluating options to increase testing capacities. You will be notified if other testing options become available.

NCEES

 

[Zach Stone P.E.]

Does anyone know what they're doing about the NEC, NESC, and hazard code books when the test goes CBT? Will all of those be digital as well? Man, if I could've had a digital copy of the NEC to do a "ctrl+F" on that would have been awesome.

Yup, code books will be provided via PDF!

 

[JayD]

Yup, code books will be provided via PDF!

What's your opinion Zach , about CBT power exam, reference book by NCEES and level of difficulty f exam.

Do you believe its possible to pass the exam with that reference book?

 

[JayD]

Is anyone taking the new power reference with them to the October exam?! Lol I skimmed through it the other day and it seems like a decent reference, albeit a tiny one.

I can only imagine the look on everyones' faces if someone walked into one of the previous exams with only that book and a calculator 

What now? we are all walking into exam with that tiny book and calculator only,,,,

 

[JayD]

Our entire chapter on power electronics (Power Supplies and Converters) is included in the free trial of our online study program for the electrical power PE exam.

It includes all reference text, practice problems and all example videos. Feel free to sign up and use the material for as long as you like. Don't forget to print it out to take it with you to the exam (while you still can before it transitions to CBT).

Electrical PE Review - Chapter 5.2 (NCEES® II.B.2.) Power Supplies and Converters:

1. Introduction and What to Expect
   
2. Video Example - RMS Voltage, Average Value, Peak Voltage, and Peak to Peak Voltage
   
3. Video Example - Period, Cycles, and Frequency
   
4. Video Example - Leading vs Lagging and Phase Shifts
   
5. Video Example - Phase Shifts
   
6. Converting between degrees and radians
   
7. Calculating the phase shift in seconds
   
8. Video Example - Instantaneous Power, the Product of Instantaneous Voltage and Instantaneous Current
   
9. Video Example - Instantaneous Power
   
10. Calculating Real Power (P) and Reactive Power (Q)
    
11. Video Example - Graphing Sine functions
    
12. Video Example - The Ideal Diode
    
13. Thyristor and Silicon Controlled Rectifiers (SCR's)
    
14. Video Example - Positive Half Wave Diode Rectifier
    
15. Video Example - Negative Half Wave Diode Rectifier
    
16. Video Example - Full Wave Diode Bridge Rectifier
    
17. Video Example - Full Wave Diode Bridge Rectifier with A Smoothing Capacitor
    
18. Ripple Factor, r
    
19. Ripple Voltage and Sawtooth Wave Forms
    
20. DC Voltage (VDC), or Vavg
    
21. Video Example - Ripple for Sawtooth Wave Forms
    
22. Video Example - Three Phase Half Wave Diode Rectifier
    
23. Key Formulas
    

Electrical PE Review - Free Trial Sign Up

Thanks Zach

 

[JayD]

Yup, code books will be provided via PDF!

Which edition it will be ?NFPA 70E??

 

[Dothracki PE]

Which edition it will be ?NFPA 70E??

The code editions are the same as previous exam cycle. 2017 NEC (NFPA 70), 2017 NESC, and 2018 NFPA 70E.

 

[Orchid PE]

What now? we are all walking into exam with that tiny book and calculator only,,,,

Sure, but the exam is different. I'm sure NCEES developed a lot of new questions for the question bank, and probably removed many that were normally answered using personal references. NCEES also said that they would provide additional information within the problems as necessary. I think they're going to do their best not to leave people high and dry on questions, even though some will have to be answered based solely on experience (as it should be).

I still don't envy the people taking the Power PE CBT Exam the first time around.

 

[JayD]

Sure, but the exam is different. I'm sure NCEES developed a lot of new questions for the question bank, and probably removed many that were normally answered using personal references. NCEES also said that they would provide additional information within the problems as necessary. I think they're going to do their best not to leave people high and dry on questions, even though some will have to be answered based solely on experience (as it should be).

I still don't envy the people taking the Power PE CBT Exam the first time around.

True.

Ain't you going for CBT? Do NCEES issue new sample exam book? 

 

[Dothracki PE]

True.

Ain't you going for CBT? Do NCEES issue new sample exam book? 

I think the PE in @Chattaneer PE means he already passed. Unless he is looking to take it again on CBT for fun?

They did issue a new sample exam, but it didn't change much from the previous iteration. Only a handful of questions just changed in format to show the changes in answer types possible since the exam is going to be more than just multiple choice (i.e. fill in the blank, select all that apply, etc.) also the specifications changed. See the following link for more information on this: https://account.ncees.org/exam-prep/388

 

[Orchid PE]

Has anyone tried taking sample exams using only the NCEES reference book? How did it go?

 

[akyip]

Has anyone tried taking sample exams using only the NCEES reference book? How did it go?

I'm starting to try to get used to taking practice exams with the NCEES reference exam. It feels inadequate...

IMO, it feels just barely adequate for the NCEES sample exam, and at this point I have so many concepts drilled into my head from previous (repetitive) practices of sample exams that it's more of experience (for lack of a better word) than the reference handbook that helps me get by.

For more difficult practice exams such as Cram for Exam volumes, Electrical PE Review, and Engineering Pro Guides, the NCEES reference handbook definitely feels insufficient. For example, I don't think I see anything on wattmeter measuring methods in the NCEES reference handbook...

That is my two cents. At this point, I'm starting to try to remember through second-nature certain concepts, understanding them better, and drilling them into my head, now that this exam is no longer open book except for the provided handbook...

 

[Orchid PE]

I'm starting to try to get used to taking practice exams with the NCEES reference exam. It feels inadequate...

IMO, it feels just barely adequate for the NCEES sample exam, and at this point I have so many concepts drilled into my head from previous (repetitive) practices of sample exams that it's more of experience (for lack of a better word) than the reference handbook that helps me get by.

For more difficult practice exams such as Cram for Exam volumes, Electrical PE Review, and Engineering Pro Guides, the NCEES reference handbook definitely feels insufficient. For example, I don't think I see anything on wattmeter measuring methods in the NCEES reference handbook...

That is my two cents. At this point, I'm starting to try to remember through second-nature certain concepts, understanding them better, and drilling them into my head, now that this exam is no longer open book except for the provided handbook...

You'll probably do well on the exam. Just remember you and everyone else are in the same boat, so just try to do better than everyone else!

 

[akyip]

You'll probably do well on the exam. Just remember you and everyone else are in the same boat, so just try to do better than everyone else!

I hope so... I'm just worried that on the actual exam I'll run into something very conceptual which isn't covered by the reference handbook haha.

The earliest time slot I was able to register for actually taking exam is January as of right now...