Date/Time
Date(s) - 08/12/2024 - 08/17/2024
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Location
Zane State College


August 12-17, 2024:  One week in-person solar course with instructor-led sessions, hands-on labs in Zanesville, Ohio

The Residential Solar Installation & Design course is sponsored by Zane State College.  This solar course is a comprehensive learning experience designed to take students with little or no background in electrical systems and/or solar photovoltaics.

The course provides solid foundation for those wishing to enter the industry, design and install their own residential PV system, or simply understand how this emerging and important technology works.

By the end of the course, students should have all the skills necessary to design and install residential-scale solar electric systems.  Students will also be certified (assuming you pass the examination) as a Level 1 ETA PV Installer – a credential recognized around the globe.

So how does the solar course work?

Online Self-Paced Study:  Registered students will have access to the 46-hour + online Residential Solar Installation & Design prior to the course dates.  This course tracks with the provided textbook (Understanding Photovoltaics), and is organized into 11 chapters, 71 major topic areas – with 11 review quizzes, 25 lab projects, over 550 narrated slides, dozens of integrated videos, links to online resources and materials for added comprehension and more.

Upon registration, each student will be given access to this program and a copy of the textbook and can begin studying at their own pace.  There is a lot of material to cover during a short period of time – so any advance work prior to class will be helpful.

Weekly Zoom Sessions:  We hold a weekly Zoom call every Tuesday at Noon (called Solar Noon Tuesdays).  You are welcome to join to discuss questions you may have or to simply listen to updates and concerns of other students or installers from around the nation.

Instructor-Led Class:  Beginning on Monday August 12th, we will hold face-to-face instructor-led sessions.  These sessions will take place from 8 am to around 4:30 pm each day, Monday – Friday.  The lectures will be interspersed with hands-on labs, as there is just so long you can sit in one place.  There will be a review session of the week’s content on Saturday morning prior to the certification examination.

Instructor Availability via E-mail:  Often questions arise and can’t wait for the next Zoom meeting.  An instructor is available to answer questions via e-mail throughout the course.

Hands-On Labs:  Throughout the class we will then host course hands-on labs, that provide opportunity to work directly with actual PV systems and also fulfills the hands-on requirements of the ETA PV Level 1 certification.  The hands on labs take about 8 hours complete.  Students will work in small groups and follow appropriate COVID-19 protocols.

 

Certification Examination:  We will conduct the certification examination Saturday morning at Zane State College.  The examination consists of 75 multiple choice questions (with a 2-hour time limit).  Passing score is 75%.

ETA now offers remote proctoring of their examinations through ExamRoom AI if you are unable to attend the examination in person (or if you need to retake the exam – one free retake is offered by ETA).   In this way students can take the examination from their own device, with a live remote proctor monitoring the process.  Help is available to walk students through the process of registering for the examination.  The certification examination fee ($155 to ETA) is included in your course registration.  However you will need to pay the $14 proctoring fee to ExamRoom AI if you choose the remote proctoring option.

(*by registering, student taking the solar course agrees to the terms outlined in the Waiver of Liability)

Course Content:

  • Chapter 1 – Introduction to Photovoltaics
    • Changes in the industry
    • Incentive programs
    • Codes and Certifications
  • Chapter 2 – Solar Cells and Modules
    • How photovoltaic cells work
    • Solar cell efficiency
    • Factors affecting cell performance
    • Types of photovoltaic cells
    • Emerging technologies
    • Solar panel specifications
  • Chapter 3 – Types of Photovoltaic Systems
    • Stand-alone Systems
    • Grid-tied Systems
      • String Inverter
      • Microinverters
      • Power Optimizers
    • DC Coupled Systems
    • AC Coupled Systems
    • Hybrid systems
  • Chapter 4 – Basic Electrical Concepts
    • How Electricity is Measured
    • Electrical Safety
    • Difference between Watts, Watt-Hours and Watts/Hour
    • Electrical Circuits
      • Connecting in Series and Parallel
    • Direct and Alternating Current
    • Resistance
    • Bonding and Grounding
  • Chapter 5: Parts of the PV System
    • Solar Panels
    • Solar Panel Connectors
    • Combiner/Junction Boxes
    • Lightning & Surge Protection
    • Wiring the System
      • Effect of Temperature on Wire
      • Types of Wire
      • Color Coding of Wires
    • DC Disconnects
    • Overcurrent Protection
    • Charge Controller
    • Inverters
      • Stand-Alone Inverters
      • Inverter waveforms
      • Grid-Tied Inverters
      • Bimodal Inverters
      • Micro Inverters
      • Power Optimizers
      • AC-Coupled Multimode Inverters
    • AC Disconnect
    • Electrical Panel
    • Battery Banks
      • Major Types of Batteries
      • Battery Cycles
      • Effect of Temperature on Batteries
      • Battery Safety
      • How Batteries are Rated
      • Lithium Ion Batteries
      • Emerging Battery Technology
  • Chapter 6: Conducting a Site Survey
    • Determining Available Sunlight
      • Solar insolation maps,
      • using PV Watts
      • Use of a Solar Pathfinder
      • Solar window
    • Locating true south (lines of declination)
    • Shading issues
    • Panel orientation (altitude and azimuth)
    • Array mounting options and issues
      • Rooftop
        • Available area
        • Structural integrity
        • Stand off requirements
        • Loading issues
        • Inter row shading
      • Ground mounted
      • Top pole
        • Side pole
        • Tracking systems
      • Building Integrated systems
      • Determining location of balance of systems
  • Chapter 7: Designing the System (Grid-Tied System)
    • Determining load requirements
    • Selecting a panel
    • Determining system inefficiencies
      • Inverter efficiencies
      • BOS inefficiencies
    • Wiring selection and voltage drop issues
      • Temperature adjustments
    • Estimating the size of the array
    • Calculating number of panels given specifications and load requirements
      • Determine maximum voltage of system and adjust for temperature variations
      • Calculate number of panels and number of strings
    • Determine compatibility to BOS components
    • Grounding, bonding and over-current issues
    • Pricing the system as designed (current costs, incentives)
    • Connecting to the grid
    • Troubleshooting problems
  • Designing the System (Battery-based Systems)
    • Types of batteries (lead acid, lithium ion, etc)
    • Determining nominal voltage
    • Calculating Amp hour storage requirements
    • Depth of discharge
    • Temperature adjustments
    • Battery bank sizing calculations
    • How batteries are charged
      • Bulk charge
      • Absorption charge
      • Floating charge
    • Battery storage and maintenance issues
      • Venting
      • Equalization
      • Measuring state of charge
    • Battery safety issues
    • Economic Comparisons of various system options
    • Calculating payback on systems
  • Chapter 8:  Paperwork
    • Required Documentation/Application Package
      • Interconnect Agreements
      • Net Metering Agreements
      • Required Permits
      • Commissioning Forms
      • Installation Checklists
      • Operation and Maintenance Documentation
  • Chapter 9:  System Installation
    • Racking Systems
    • Loading Issues
    • Climbing Safety
    • Ground Mounted Systems
    • Conduit Installation and Fill Issues
  • Chapter 10:  Testing & Commissioning the System
    • Final Installation Checklist
    • Visual Inspection
    • Verification of Code Compliance
    • Electrical System Verification Testing
    • System Functioning Testing
    • Verify Array Power and Energy Production against STC
    • Derating Factor Components
  • Chapter 11:  System Maintenance and Troubleshooting
    • Monitoring Performance
    • Typical Systems Problems and how to Correct Them
    • System Maintenance

Hands-On Labs Include:

  • Using a multi-meter
  • Wire selection and termination
  • Making MC4 jumpers in the field
  • Creating a simple circuit
  • Connecting panels and batteries in series, parallel, and a combination of the two
  • Climbing safety
  • Testing a solar panel
  • Assembling and connecting a complete string inverter system (mounting panels on racks, connecting to a combiner box, hooking up a DC disconnect,  wiring the inverter, connecting to the AC disconnect, and then connecting to the circuit breaker panel)
  • Mounting and connecting micro inverters
  • Assembling a hybrid system (integrating wind and solar), testing diverted load charge controller
  • Making and testing a solar generator
  • Doing a site assessment, including working with an irradiance meter and a Solar Pathfinder
  • Sizing wire based on load and temperature
  • Selecting and pricing all components
  • Working through the design (start to finish) of a residential PV system

This course prepares students to sit for the ETA Photovoltaic Installer (PVI) Level 1. It is the first level of ETA’s certifications designed to assess renewable energy professionals. It is also a great first step for those seeking to enter the PV industry, and perhaps later prepare to sit for the ETA Photovoltaic Installer Level 2 or  NABCEP PV certification programs.  Some jurisdictions (the state of Illinois, for example) require certification in order for an installer to install PV systems or apply for solar incentive programs.  The ETA PV Level 1 certification meets these requirements in most cases.

This course is offered  in partnership with several not-for-profits.  The fee for this six-week course is $970 and includes:  Instruction, hands-on labs, textbook and lab material, and ETA examination fees.  This course may be eligible for VA and Americorps funding.  Scholarships, on rare occasions may also be available based on need.  Contact annie@bluerockstation.com at 740-252-6295 for further details regarding the management of fees.

Early Registration Fee:  $970 (includes ETA examination fee, online course, textbook, tool kit, course materials and instructor led sessions)*

(*by registering, the student taking the solar course agrees to the terms outlined in the Waiver of Liability)

Solar PV Certification Workshop (Residential) – one week in-person class/labs