Electrical Systems Design for the Non-Electrical Engineer

If you have no formal electrical engineering education, or you are new to the industry, this course will teach you how electrical distribution systems for commercial and industrial buildings are designed and operated. Emphasizing basic electrical concepts rather than rigorous mathematical derivations, expert instructors introduce the fundamental direct current concepts and extend them to single-phase and three-phase alternating current systems. After completing this course, you will better understand how to design low voltage (1,000 volts and below) facility electrical distribution systems. You will also gain a better understanding of the electrical codes and standards, as well as electrical system operational issues such as grounding, power quality, and arc-flash.

Learning Outcomes:

Attendees of this course will:

Better understand how low-voltage (1,000 volts and below) electrical distribution systems for commercial and industrial buildings are designed, constructed, and operated.
Learn to navigate the NEC codebook and how to design systems in compliance with the NEC (NFPA 70).
Practice applying practical design procedures for branch circuit (lighting, motor, etc.), feeders, and services using real-world examples, calculations, and activities.
Take some of the mystery out of key electrical concepts such as grounding, power factor, harmonics, and arc flash safety.

Who Should Attend:

Professionals responsible for electrical systems in commercial, institutional, or industrial facilities.
Plant & facility engineers, consultants, utility customer-interface engineers, and electrical contractors without formal EE training.
Designers and project managers seeking to improve their understanding of facility electrical distribution systems.

Select from 2 upcoming dates:

Course Details: RA00066-D637

Course Outline

Basic Concepts

Voltage, current
Resistance
Ohm’s law
Power, watts
RMS, average values
Inductance
Capacitance
Three-phase systems
Power factor

Grounding Concepts

Grounding for safety
Grounding for equipment operation

Basics of Low Voltage Power Distribution

Power factor
Transformer operations and system voltages
Neutral currents and harmonics on neutrals
Faults, fuses and circuit breakers

System Design Philosophy

Voltage levels: transformers, theory, types, connections
Overcurrent protection: fault calculations, interrupting ratings, coordination
Load study/possible loads: load characteristics, load locations

Standards, Recommended Practices, Guides, and Codes

Introduction to National Electrical Code® (NEC)

Electrical Construction Materials

Basic electrical construction materials: wire, raceways, devices, boxes, panelboards, motor control equipment, switchboards
One-line and riser diagrams

Design Procedures for Lighting, Motor, and Non-Motor Branch Circuits

Lighting and non-motor branch circuit design: harmonics consideration, NEC requirements, circuit protection
Motor branch circuit design: NEC requirements, motor protection, circuit protection, calculations
Feeder circuit design: NEC requirements, circuit protection, calculations
Problem Assignment

Design Procedures (Continued)

Service design: commercial/industrial examples, NEC constraints, utility constraints, equipment, switchboards, metering: CTs, PTs
Fault current calculations
Discussion of class problem solution
Lighting design

Advanced Concepts

Power quality and harmonics: types of disturbances, harmonics, uninterruptible power supplies, distribution techniques
Arc flash basics

Course Schedule

Location and Lodging

Course Location

Pyle Center

702 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53706

Map

866-301-1753

608-262-1122

Lodging

Fluno Center

601 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706

Map

Reserve by: March 22, 2026

Accommodations include: Complimentary WiFi and Local/Airport Shuttle. Parking available $15/night.

Online Reservations

608-441-7117

877-773-5866

Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club

One West Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53703

Map

Room: rates start at $160

Accommodations include: Complimentary WiFi, Local/Airport Shuttle, Pool, and Fitness Center.

DoubleTree by Hilton Madison Downtown

525 West Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53703

Map

Accommodations include: Enjoy complimentary business center, WiFi and Local/Airport Shuttle. Each room has a refrigerator, microwave, 42-inch HDTV, and executive desk. Parking available $15/night.

Online Reservations

800-222-8733

608-251-5511

More Madison Lodging Options

Course Notes

This is a HyFlex (in-person and online) taught course. Your registration is for ONE teaching platform only: in-person or online. Please be prepared to attend all days either in-person or online. Contact us if you have any questions or if you need to make a change.

This course uses the Canvas course management and Zoom platforms. A UW NetID is required to access Canvas and supplemental course materials and resources. Your registration confirmation email will walk you through the NetID process and how to access the Canvas course website.

For in-person students: physical course materials will be available on the first day of class.

For online students: course materials are shipped to you. Please look for an email two weeks before the course regarding the address you would like your course materials shipped to. The email will include a link to an online address verification form.

Enrollments are allowed up to the first day of the course. However, the course materials may not arrive before the start of the course for enrollment within 5 business days of the course start date.

Instructors and Program Director

Instructors
James Krier
Senior Engineer
Jim Krier PE, is a Principal Engineer at Alliant Energy in Madison, Wisconsin. He has held numerous engineering and managerial positions and has specialized in providing power quality engineering services to industrial and commercial customers for more than 26 years. His experience includes harmonic studies, power factor correction, wiring and grounding studies, power quality monitoring, arc flash hazards, surge suppression, substation project management, medium voltage electrical system design, distributed generation, and electrical troubleshooting.
Ryan Kallies
Electrical Engineer
Mr. Kallies PE, LEED AP is a Project Manager and Electrical Engineer at Affiliated Engineers, Inc. in Madison, Wisconsin. His specialty includes knowledge of the special electrical requirements for large scale, technically diverse facilities, such as medical, manufacturing, research, high containment research, data centers and multi-building campus environments. His expertise is in power system design with an emphasis in distribution systems from 15kV to 120V.
Kevin Rogers
Program Director
Kevin Rogers is an electrical engineer with a background in electrical power systems. He is a registered professional engineer, and his 18 years of industry experience spans across electric utility, government, commercial, and industrial applications. His technical responsibilities have included design and commissioning of mission-critical facilities, underground medium voltage distribution planning, design, and operations, high-voltage substation design, and relaying protection and control for complex interconnections.
Program Director
Kevin Rogers

Total Credits:

CEU 3.5,

PDH 35,

LU/HSW 35,

Course Administration

Fee Information

This course has two attendance options, face-to-face or online.

Face-to-face attendance fee includes morning and afternoon breaks, scheduled lunches, the 2023 NEC codebook, and course materials.

Online attendance fee includes online instruction, an NEC codebook, and course materials. Online attendees will access course sessions via the Zoom web conferencing platform.

Discounts

Team Discount. Receive $300 off the registration fee, per person, when 2 or more people from the same organization enroll. Team affiliation will be confirmed during the registration process.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
Provide the registrations representative with:
- the course name, dates, and/or course number.
- the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Request Purchase Order information from registration@cerc.wisc.edu
- If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email registration@cerc.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

Cancellation Policy

If you cannot attend, please notify us no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.

Course Details: RA00066-D638

Course Outline

Basic Concepts

Voltage, current
Resistance
Ohm’s law
Power, watts
RMS, average values
Inductance
Capacitance
Three-phase systems
Power factor

Grounding Concepts

Grounding for safety
Grounding for equipment operation

Basics of Low Voltage Power Distribution

Power factor
Transformer operations and system voltages
Neutral currents and harmonics on neutrals
Faults, fuses and circuit breakers

System Design Philosophy

Voltage levels: transformers, theory, types, connections
Overcurrent protection: fault calculations, interrupting ratings, coordination
Load study/possible loads: load characteristics, load locations

Standards, Recommended Practices, Guides, and Codes

Introduction to National Electrical Code® (NEC)

Electrical Construction Materials

Basic electrical construction materials: wire, raceways, devices, boxes, panelboards, motor control equipment, switchboards
One-line and riser diagrams

Design Procedures for Lighting, Motor, and Non-Motor Branch Circuits

Lighting and non-motor branch circuit design: harmonics consideration, NEC requirements, circuit protection
Motor branch circuit design: NEC requirements, motor protection, circuit protection, calculations
Feeder circuit design: NEC requirements, circuit protection, calculations
Problem Assignment

Design Procedures (Continued)

Service design: commercial/industrial examples, NEC constraints, utility constraints, equipment, switchboards, metering: CTs, PTs
Fault current calculations
Discussion of class problem solution
Lighting design

Advanced Concepts

Power quality and harmonics: types of disturbances, harmonics, uninterruptible power supplies, distribution techniques
Arc flash basics

Course Schedule

Location and Lodging

Course Location

Pyle Center

702 Langdon Street
Madison, WI 53706

Map

866-301-1753

608-262-1122

Lodging

DoubleTree by Hilton Madison Downtown

525 West Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53703

Map

Room: rates start at $189

Reserve by: August 23, 2026

Online Reservations

800-222-8733

608-251-5511

Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club

One West Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53703

Map

Room: rates start at $160

Accommodations include: Complimentary WiFi, Local/Airport Shuttle, Pool, and Fitness Center.

Fluno Center

601 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706

Map

Accommodations include: Your stay includes hot breakfast buffet, fitness center, business center, convenient on-site parking. Guest rooms are complete with Keurig coffee maker, refrigerator, complimentary high-speed Internet, and 40-inch, flat screen, high-def TVs.

Online Reservations

608-441-7117

877-773-5866

More Madison Lodging Options

Course Notes

For in-person students: physical course materials will be available on the first day of class.

Enrollments are allowed up to the first day of the course. However, the course materials may not arrive before the start of the course for enrollment within 5 business days of the course start date.

Instructors and Program Director

Instructors
James Krier
Senior Engineer
Jim Krier PE, is a Principal Engineer at Alliant Energy in Madison, Wisconsin. He has held numerous engineering and managerial positions and has specialized in providing power quality engineering services to industrial and commercial customers for more than 26 years. His experience includes harmonic studies, power factor correction, wiring and grounding studies, power quality monitoring, arc flash hazards, surge suppression, substation project management, medium voltage electrical system design, distributed generation, and electrical troubleshooting.
Ryan Kallies
Electrical Engineer
Mr. Kallies PE, LEED AP is a Project Manager and Electrical Engineer at Affiliated Engineers, Inc. in Madison, Wisconsin. His specialty includes knowledge of the special electrical requirements for large scale, technically diverse facilities, such as medical, manufacturing, research, high containment research, data centers and multi-building campus environments. His expertise is in power system design with an emphasis in distribution systems from 15kV to 120V.
Kevin Rogers
Program Director
Kevin Rogers is an electrical engineer with a background in electrical power systems. He is a registered professional engineer, and his 18 years of industry experience spans across electric utility, government, commercial, and industrial applications. His technical responsibilities have included design and commissioning of mission-critical facilities, underground medium voltage distribution planning, design, and operations, high-voltage substation design, and relaying protection and control for complex interconnections.
Program Director
Kevin Rogers

Total Credits:

CEU 3.5,

PDH 35,

LU/HSW 35,

Course Administration

Fee Information

This course has two attendance options, face-to-face or online.

Face-to-face attendance fee includes morning and afternoon breaks, scheduled lunches, the 2023 NEC codebook, and course materials.

Online attendance fee includes online instruction, an NEC codebook, and course materials. Online attendees will access course sessions via the Zoom web conferencing platform.

Discounts

Team 2+: When two or more sign up from same employer, your course fee is $1745.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
Provide the registrations representative with:
- the course name, dates, and/or course number.
- the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Request Purchase Order information from registration@cerc.wisc.edu
- If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email registration@cerc.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

Cancellation Policy

Create a custom learning experience

We can deliver this course as an on-site learning experience tailored to your organization’s specific training needs.

Electrical Systems Design for the Non-Electrical Engineer

Learning Outcomes:

Who Should Attend:

Select from 2 upcoming dates:

Stay Connected

Course Details: RA00066-D637

Course Outline

Course Schedule

Location and Lodging

Course Notes

Instructors and Program Director

Course Administration

Fee Information

Discounts

Payment Options

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

Event Cancellation

Cancellation Policy

Stay Connected

Course Details: RA00066-D638

Course Outline

Course Schedule

Location and Lodging

Course Notes

Instructors and Program Director

Course Administration

Fee Information

Discounts

Payment Options

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

Event Cancellation

Cancellation Policy

Create a custom learning experience

Related Courses

Past Courses