MTE 420Power Electronics and Motor Drives

Units: 0.50
Faculty: Engineering
Subject: Mechatronics Engineering

When it runs

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Analysis, design and control of power electronic converters, principles of operation and control of DC and special-purpose motors, power electronics-based control of DC and special-purpose motors.

Prerequisites

Must have completed the following:
- MTE320 - Actuators and Power Electronics (0.50)

Antirequisites

Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
- ECE463 - Design and Applications of Power Electronic Converters (0.50)

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
Section	Class	Enrolled	Meets
LEC 001	5040	56 / 60	TTh 10:00–11:20
LAB 101	5374	15 / 15	Sep 25 13:30–16:20 Oct 9 13:30–16:20 Nov 6 13:30–16:20 Nov 20 13:30–16:20 Dec 4 13:30–16:20
LAB 102	5375	11 / 15	Sep 18 13:30–16:20 Oct 2 13:30–16:20 Oct 23 13:30–16:20 Nov 13 13:30–16:20 Nov 27 13:30–16:20
LAB 103	5376	15 / 15	Sep 25 08:30–11:20 Oct 9 08:30–11:20 Nov 6 08:30–11:20 Nov 20 08:30–11:20 Dec 4 08:30–11:20
LAB 104	5377	15 / 15	Sep 18 08:30–11:20 Oct 2 08:30–11:20 Oct 23 08:30–11:20 Nov 13 08:30–11:20 Nov 27 08:30–11:20
TUT 201	5378	56 / 60	T 11:30–12:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

71% liked it62% easy68% useful

From 21 ratings and 8 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

The course is interesting especially for those who like circuits and motors. However, the labs are a bit strict if you are not used to reading a protocol line by line.

Jan 2026 · liked itOn UW Flow Remove this
wouldn't call it a super easy course. don't take unless you really want to to do / learn high voltage power electronics and about motors. course has a lot of content and midterm was tough but final was very fair

Dec 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW Flow Remove this
This was a solid course! Although Kazerani's lecture style was not as organized as in MTE320 (no course notes provided this time), the course was still well-taught. Labs had a similar format to MTE320, so the lab and report is doable within the lab period. Projects are in PSIM and are also not too bad. Exams are tougher than MTE320 in terms of the course content but still fair.

Mar 2025 · liked itOn UW Flow Remove this
Kazerani is one of my favourite professors, if not my favourite in all of undergrad. If you're coming from MTE 320, expect a slightly different teaching style (a bit less board writing and a lot more powerpoint style lectures unfortunately). The content can be quite difficult at times and he gives challenging exams, but it's a good course if you want to understand the fundamentals of buck/boost converters, AC/DC converters/inverters, and motor drives/operating conditions.

Dec 2024 · liked itOn UW Flow Remove this
Great course for understanding motor drives and how power is transmitted

Jan 2018 · liked itOn UW Flow Remove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

4 posts and comments in 2 threads mention MTE 420, November 2016 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2017

Oct 28, 2017 Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… MTE 203 MTE 204 MTE 219 MTE 220 MTE 241 MTE 262 MTE 300B MTE 322 MTE 360 MTE 380 MTE 400A MTE 420 MTE 481 MTE 544 MTE 545 MTHEL 131 MTHEL 300 MUSIC 100 MUSIC 110 MUSIC 111 MUSIC 116 MUSIC 117 MUSIC 121W MUSIC 140 MUSIC 181AW MUSIC 216 MUSIC 217 MUSIC 222 MUSIC 226 MUSIC 227 …”

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Fall 2016

Nov 9, 2016 Trons/Mechs, course selection help please? 1 point, 4 comments

“I'm in SYDE, and looking at a few courses to take as technical electives. Thoughts on ME 269 (electromechanical devices and power processing) and MTE 320 (actuators and power electronics)? …”

u/Shu-Wei: “… I'm currently taking the sequel to these courses, MTE 420, and I haven't noticed any large gaps in knowledge when compared to my tron peers (who took MTE 320). …”

u/cooliokats: “… How are you liking MTE 420 in comparision to the SYDE electrical courses that we took?”

u/Shu-Wei: “… If you want to take MTE 420, it doesn't matter which one you end up taking IMO. I think the main difference is that ME 269 does not cover DC servo and stepper motors but has more emphasis on 3 phase systems. …”