Elements and Performance Criteria

Lighting equipment to be maintained must include:
lanterns and lamps
control desks
dimmers

Lighting equipment to be maintained may include:
accessories
control desk peripherals
special effects items, eg strobes, mirrorballs, smoke machines, fog machines
pracs
electric props, eg electric candles
Maintenance includes any periodic work undertaken to restore equipment to optimum working condition, exclusive of work that must be undertaken by licensed electricians or specialist equipment mechanics.

Maintenance of lanterns must include:
cleaning exteriors and interiors of lanterns, lenses, reflector assembly, lantern accessories
checking of cables for intact insulation, operational restraining glands and correct fitting of plug tops
logging of lamp hours/replacement
checking of equipment including:
focus knobs and mechanisms
PAR lamps
colour runners
locking knobs and clamping mechanisms
suspension bolts and fastenings
hook clamps, or other rigging accessories
shutters and barndoors
safety chains
lamp bases
lamp alignment
light leakage
continuity and polarity of all power and data cables

Maintenance of control desks must include:
cleaning surface of control desk and peripherals
cleaning faders, push-button switches
checking that all connectors are in good order
checking operation of desk and peripherals
modifications to operator's position
checking and cleaning disk drive/backup system

Maintenance of dimmers must include:
trimming top and bottom settings as required (analogue dimmers only)
checking connectors
checking socket outlets (if fitted)
adjusting dimmer curve in digital dimmers

Where the candidate has a restricted electrical licence, maintenance may include checking:
that jug plugs or other connectors are in good working order
that internal wiring is correctly connected and in good condition
continuity of earth
continuity of circuit from plug top to lamp
that there is no connection between earth and either neutral or active

Minor repairs are carried out on an as-required basis and may cover any of the above. In addition minor repairs may include:
replacing faulty globes in lanterns, work lights, emergency lights, dressing rooms and other areas of the venue
replacing defective colour
replacing blown fuses in dimmers
replacing faulty control desk faders and push-button switches
replacing faulty control desk cards or modules
Repairs may require the calling in of specialist service technicians or returning equipment and circuit boards to specialists for repair.

Appropriate personnel may include:
other technicians
colleagues from other specialist areas
supervisors managers
production team
external suppliers

Maintenance and repair documentation may include:
equipment instructions
fault reports
maintenance records
drawings
operating manuals and maintenance instructions
design specifications

Underpinning skills and knowledge

Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills:

typical maintenance needs and schedules for the range of lighting equipment in use, including control boards, lanterns and dimmers
cleaning agents, equipment and techniques for the major types of lighting equipment
techniques and processes for detecting faults in major types of lighting equipment, including control, boards, lanterns and dimmers
common faults and associated repair procedures for the range of equipment in use
spare parts and sub-assemblies used in lighting equipment repair and maintenance
the effects of dirty lenses and reflectors and faulty and misaligned lamp holders
effects of bad ventilation on equipment, including reflector degradation and breakdown of cable insulation
the meaning and use of electrical measurements, including voltage, current resistance, power insulation and circuit continuity, having regard to magnitude, AC or DC, circuit state (energised or de-energised)
general knowledge of rules for DMX signal distribution,, including isolation and termination, and other communications protocols such as Ethernet if appropriate
legal and licensing issues that impact on the repair and maintenance of lighting equipment, including the role of the restricted electrical licence and the limitations on the type of work that can be undertaken without a licence
specific occupational health and safety issues in relation to the repair and maintenance of lighting equipment
literacy skills sufficient to interpret service documentation and manuals

Linkages to other units

This unit has linkages to a range of other lighting units and combined assessment and/or training with those units may be appropriate. It is strongly recommended that this unit be assessed with or after the following units:

CUELGT09A Apply a general knowledge of lighting to work activities
CUFSAF01B Follow health, safety and security procedures

Critical aspects of evidence

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:

ability to correctly use repair and maintenance techniques on multiple pieces of lighting equipment, including control boards, lanterns and dimmers
correct selection and use of tools
application of logical fault detection procedures
correct interpretation of service and technical manuals
knowledge of the technical features of major types of lighting equipment
knowledge of occupational health and safety issues which impact on the repair and maintenance of lighting equipment

Method and context of assessment

The assessment context must provide for:

practical demonstration of skills within an environment which has a range of operational lighting equipment on which the candidate can work
completion of fault detection, repair and maintenance tasks within typical workplace time constraints

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

direct observation of the candidate completing maintenance and repair tasks
inspection of equipment repaired or maintained by the candidate
review of maintenance schedules and repair reports prepared by the candidate
written or oral questioning to test knowledge of lighting equipment and occupational health and safety issues and regulations
review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the job performance by the candidate
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups (eg people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).

Resource requirements

Assessment of this unit requires access to:

a range of industry-current lighting equipment, including control board, lanterns and dimmers
a venue where maintenance and repairs can be completed
the tools required to complete repair and maintenance tasks

Communicating ideas and information
Explaining nature of fault to a repair technician (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Checking maintenance schedules (1)

Planning and organising activities
Working out priority of maintenance tasks (1)

Working with others and in teams
Discussing the nature of a fault (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculating number of components required (1)

Solving problems
Using fault detection procedures (2)

Using technology
Using hand tools (1)