ENEL270-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

Principles of Electronics and Devices

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

Linear amplifiers. Operational amplifiers. Operational amplifier circuits. Nonlinear devices: diodes & transistors. Switching circuits. Power supplies, AC to DC conversion.

This course introduces circuits and devices used in electronic systems for sensing and
actuation. Topics covered include linear amplifiers, operational amplifiers and their
circuits, nonlinear devices (diodes and transistors), switching circuits, power supplies and
AC to DC conversion. Applications covered include interfacing with sensors, analogue to
digital conversion and switch mode power supplies.

Learning Outcomes

  • At the conclusion of this course you should be able to:

  • LO1: Identify, recognise, and apply fundamental electronic concepts in simple electronic systems (WA1)

  • LO2: Identify electronic components, use these in simple electronic systems, and recognise their limitations (WA1, WA5)

  • LO3: Identify, analyse, measure and predict the behaviour of opamp circuits for a specific application (WA2, WA3)

  • LO4: Identify, analyse, measure and predict the behaviour of basic amplifier, transistor and multistage amplifier circuits (WA2, WA3)

  • LO5: Perform experiments to determine, investigate and communicate electronic circuit behaviour in a team environment. (WA4, WA5, WA9, WA10)
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Employable, innovative and enterprising

      Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.

      Biculturally competent and confident

      Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.

      Engaged with the community

      Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.

Prerequisites

Subject to the approval of the Faculty of Engineering Dean (Academic)

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Thursday 12:00 - 13:00 E9 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lecture B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 12:00 - 13:00 C3 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lecture C
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 12:00 - 13:00 C3 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 09:00 - 12:00 Elec 210 Electronics Lab
23 Feb - 29 Mar
4 May - 31 May
02 Thursday 09:00 - 12:00 Elec 210 Electronics Lab
23 Feb - 29 Mar
4 May - 31 May
03 Friday 09:00 - 12:00 Elec 210 Electronics Lab
23 Feb - 29 Mar
4 May - 31 May
04 Monday 09:00 - 12:00 Elec 210 Electronics Lab
23 Feb - 29 Mar
4 May - 31 May
Tutorial A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Friday 16:00 - 17:00 Jack Erskine 340
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
02 Friday 16:00 - 17:00 Jack Erskine 445
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
03 Friday 16:00 - 17:00 Jack Erskine 101
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
04 Friday 16:00 - 17:00 Jack Erskine 111
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
05 Friday 16:00 - 17:00 Jack Erskine 315
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May

Course Coordinator

Ciaran Moore

Lecturers

Paul Gaynor and Rick Millane

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
2 Quizzes 5%
Test 35%
Labs 20%
Final Exam 40%

Textbooks / Resources

Recommended Reading

B. Carter and R. Mancini; Op Amps for Everyone ; E Book; Elsevier Science & Technology, 2018 (https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/canterbury/detail.action?docID=4914160).

N. Storey; Electronics: A Systems Approach ; 5th Edition or later; Pearson, 2013.

R.L. Boylestad and L. Nashelsky; Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory ; 11th Edition or later - E Book; Prentice Hall, 2014 (https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/canterbury/detail.action?docID=5176598).

Additional Course Outline Information

Academic integrity

Scaling of marks:

In order to maintain consistency across courses and fairness for students, scaling of raw marks occurs. In the Faculty of Engineering, target course GPAs are calculated based on the performance of the cohort of students in their courses in the previous year. Scaling of the raw total course marks is normally performed so that when converted to grades (using UC Grade Scale) the outgoing GPA is in line with the target GPA for a course. Scaling up or down can occur. The Grading Scale for the University: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/study/study-support-info/study-related-topics/grading-scale

Artificial Intelligence Tools:

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for each of the assessments in ENEL270 is summarised below. No AI use is allowed in the test and exam because these are closed-book invigilated assessments. Students are always responsible for the accuracy of the submitted works, regardless of which tools are used.

Quizzes: Generative AI tools are not restricted for this assessment.
Laboratories: Generative AI tools are not restricted for this assessment.
Test:  Generative AI tools cannot be used for this assessment.
Exam: Generative AI tools cannot be used for this assessment.

Mahi ā-Ākonga | Workload (expected distribution of student hours, note 15 points = 150 hours):

Activity Time (hours)

Contact Hours
Lectures: 36 hours
Tutorials:  12 hours
Laboratories: 27 hours

Independent Study
Review of lectures: 36 hours
Test and exam preparation: 16 hours
Quizzes: 2 hours
Tutorial preparation: 12 hours
Laboratory Preparation: 9 hours

Total 150

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,392.00

International fee $6,690.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Electrical and Computer Engineering .

All ENEL270 Occurrences

  • ENEL270-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026