Electrical Controls & Troubleshooting | Q&A | Grade A | 100% Correct
(Verified Answers) – NEIEP Program
Subject: NEIEP 700 – Elevator Electrical Systems, Relay Logic, Motor Controls, Safety Circuits,
Troubleshooting
Source: National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP), ASME A17.1, Elevator Industry
Standards
Format: Q&A Guide with Technical Rationale | 100% Verified for NEIEP Certification Exam
Bull rope
Correct Answer: Endless looped rope powering early elevators
1. Bull ropes were continuous loops that provided traction for early drum and hydraulic
elevators.
2. They eliminated the need for winding drums and allowed counterweighted systems.
3. Modern elevators use steel cables or belts, but the concept originated with bull ropes.
Floor stop accuracy
Correct Answer: Improvement in AC motor elevators over DC
1. Early AC elevators had poor floor-leveling accuracy compared to DC systems.
2. Advancements in AC variable voltage variable frequency (VVVF) drives improved stopping
accuracy.
3. Modern AC drives match or exceed the precision of traditional DC motor control.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
Correct Answer: Regulatory body for US elevator operations
1. ASME A17.1 Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators is the national standard.
2. The code covers design, construction, installation, and maintenance requirements.
3. Local jurisdictions adopt ASME standards with possible amendments.
,Straight line wiring diagram
Correct Answer: Uses lines and symbols for electrical circuits
1. Straight-line (ladder) diagrams show electrical circuits in a logical format.
2. Components appear as symbols with lines representing conductors.
3. Power flows from left to right; troubleshooting uses these schematics.
VOM multimeter
Correct Answer: Volt, ohms, and milliampere measuring device
1. VOM (Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter) measures voltage, resistance, and small currents.
2. Essential for troubleshooting elevator electrical circuits.
3. Modern digital multimeters (DMM) have replaced analog VOMs for most applications.
Capacitor
Correct Answer: Stores and discharges electrical energy
1. Capacitors store energy in an electrostatic field between conductive plates.
2. Used in power supplies, motor starting, and timing circuits.
3. Can retain dangerous charge even after power is removed.
10k ohm resistor
Correct Answer: Safely discharges electrical energy from a capacitor
1. Bleeder resistors provide a safe path for capacitor discharge.
2. Typical values range from 5k to 50k ohms depending on voltage.
3. Always verify zero voltage before servicing capacitor circuits.
Selective collective control
Correct Answer: Elevator system not changing direction until highest call answered
1. Selective collective control answers all calls in one direction before reversing.
2. Improves efficiency by minimizing direction changes.
3. Common in older relay-controlled elevator systems.
, Contact wipe
Correct Answer: Rubbing motion to keep relay contacts clean
1. Wiping action removes oxidation and contamination from contacts.
2. Contacts are designed with sliding or rolling motion upon closure.
3. Insufficient wipe causes high resistance and relay failure.
Magnetic field
Correct Answer: Generated by relay coil to pull armature
1. Electromagnets convert electrical current into mechanical motion.
2. Coil current creates magnetic flux through the core and armature.
3. Armature seals against the core when magnetic force exceeds spring tension.
Plug type relay
Correct Answer: Most common relay design
1. Plug-in relays feature removable bases for easy replacement.
2. Available in various contact configurations (SPDT, DPDT, 4PDT).
3. Industry standard for elevator control panels.
Electrical interlock
Correct Answer: Prevents multiple relays from energizing simultaneously
1. Interlocks use normally closed contacts to block competing circuits.
2. Essential for preventing conflicting commands (e.g., up and down at same time).
3. Implemented via series contacts or mechanical walking beams.
Diode
Correct Answer: Allows current flow in one direction
1. Diodes are semiconductor devices that conduct only in forward bias.
2. Used in rectifiers, freewheeling circuits, and logic gates.
3. Forward voltage drop typically 0.7V for silicon diodes.