AC and DC Charger Fundamentals Course
Online course of 300 hours in AC and DC charger fundamentals. 6 modules covering conductive charging principles, the on-board charger, AC wallboxes and charging points, DC chargers, and standards, testing and equipment selection, with an assigned technical tutor.
AC and DC Charger Fundamentals Course — studying from South Africa
South Africa's transition to electromobility is gaining momentum, with automotive manufacturers evaluating electric and hybrid models and local battery and hydrogen research under way. The country has significant mineral resources, including platinum group metals relevant to fuel cells, and universities and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research support work on energy storage and hydrogen technologies. Government policy on the energy transition shapes investment in charging infrastructure and related industries. Engineers in this field work across vehicle systems, power electronics and energy storage.
Fees for South Africa: R 13 900 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Is this qualification recognised by South African bodies in electromobility, batteries or hydrogen?
ECSA is the statutory registration body for engineers in South Africa, and there is no separate national register for electromobility or hydrogen specialists. SEIUM's qualifications are private, not state degrees, and are not accredited by a national body. Whether employers or the relevant professional body recognise them is their decision, so confirm this with them before you enrol.
Are there South African employers in batteries or hydrogen who might value this training?
South Africa has growing interest in electric mobility, battery storage and green hydrogen, with activity in automotive, energy and research organisations. Employers generally look for experience, technical competence and recognised qualifications. A private online programme may help you show specialist knowledge, but it does not guarantee a job. Discuss the programme with target employers and use it alongside practical experience.
Can I manage this with work, and does employer funding exist?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you need strong English. Study is remote, so no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible, which many employers offer for professional development in general terms.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Explain the principles of AC and DC conductive charging.
Analyse on-board charger topologies.
Describe the architecture and configuration of a wallbox.
Analyse the modular architecture of a DC fast charger.
Apply charging equipment standards and their tests.
Select the right charger for each use case.
Specify a complete charging point with its protective devices.
Who it's for
- Charging point installation technicians.
- Power electronics engineers.
- Charger product engineers.
- Charging infrastructure maintenance technicians.
- Charger test engineers.
- Technical sales staff for charging equipment.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter charger manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- IEC 61851-1 (conductive charging system: general requirements)
- IEC 61851-23 (DC charging stations)
- IEC 62196-2 (AC charging plugs and socket-outlets)
- IEC 62196-3 (couplers for DC charging)
- IEC 62955 (residual direct current detecting devices)
- IEC 61851-21-2 (EMC requirements for off-board charging systems)
- Royal Decree 1053/2014 (Spanish low-voltage instruction ITC-BT-52)
- IEC 61000-3-12 (limits for harmonic currents)
- PLECS
- LTspice
- MATLAB/Simulink
- SteVe
6 modules
1.1AC charging with an on-board charger1.2DC charging with conversion at the station1.3Charging modes according to IEC 618511.4Control pilot and PWM signal1.5Proximity detection and connector engagement1.6Single-phase and three-phase supply and grid limits1.7Typical AC and DC power levels1.8Type 1, Type 2 and CCS connectors1.9Introduction to inductive charging1.10Practical exercise: reading control pilot states
2.1Boost and interleaved PFC stage2.2Isolated conversion with LLC and DAB2.3Single-phase and three-phase OBC topologies2.4Bidirectionality for V2L and V2G2.5Integration of the OBC with the traction inverter2.6OBC efficiency and power density2.7Electromagnetic compatibility of the on-board charger2.8OBC thermal management2.9Harmonic emissions from the charger2.10Lab: simulation of a boost PFC
3.1Internal architecture of a wallbox3.2Contactor, protection and energy metering3.3Residual direct current detection3.4Power limiting and load sharing between points3.5Connectivity and OCPP communication3.6RFID identification and mobile apps3.7Certified meters for billing3.8Wallbox installation and commissioning3.9Maintenance of AC charging points3.10Workshop: configuring a wallbox with OCPP
4.1Modular architecture of fast chargers4.2Active front-end rectifier4.3Isolated DC-DC output converters4.4Output voltage range from 200 to 1000 V4.5Liquid-cooled cables4.6Dynamic power sharing between connectors4.7High-level communication with the vehicle4.8DC energy metering and metrology4.9Equipment reliability and availability4.10Case study: teardown of a 150 kW charger
5.1General requirements of the charging system5.2Specific requirements for DC stations5.3Safety of plugs and socket-outlets5.4Charger emissions and immunity5.5Equipment conformity testing5.6Selecting the charger according to use5.7Purchase and installation costs5.8Labelling and signage of the charging point5.9Physical accessibility of the charging point5.10Practical exercise: technical comparison of commercial chargers
6.1User profile and use case6.2Justified choice between AC and DC6.3Technical specification of the equipment6.4Electrical connection diagram6.5Sizing of protective devices6.6Cost of equipment, civil works and grid connection6.7Maintenance plan for the charging point6.8Rejected alternatives and reasons6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PLECS, LTspice, MATLAB/Simulink and SteVe, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: selecting charging equipment for a car park, simulating the PFC stage of an on-board charger and commissioning a wallbox connected via OCPP.
Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: IEC 61851-1; IEC 61851-23; IEC 62196-2; IEC 62196-3; IEC 62955; IEC 61851-21-2; Royal Decree 1053/2014; IEC 61000-3-12.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with PLECS, LTspice, MATLAB/Simulink and SteVe, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required: you only need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme's software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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