Objectives[edit | edit source]
By the end of the Solar PV Installation and Design Principles module, students will understand:
- PV module, solar and electricity basics
- PV markets and applications
- PV safety, sizing, system design, maintenance, analysis and trouble shooting
- what it is really like on the job site
Goals[edit | edit source]
The following are some of the main goals for the Solar PV Installation and Design Principles module.
Concepts[edit | edit source]
By the end of the Solar PV Installation and Design Principles module, students will understand the following concepts (among others):
- Max power versus daily energy
- Series versus parallel configuration
- Cells, modules and arrays
- Solar window and shading effects
- Grid intertie
- Solar rebates, credits and feed in tariffs
Vocabulary and units[edit | edit source]
By the end of the Solar PV Installation and Design Principles module, students will be able to confidently use the following vocabulary and/or units (among others):
- PV, cell, module, array, DC, AC, Maximum Power Point, Open Circuit, Short Circuit, Grid intertie, Stand alone, Inverter, Charge controller, Disconnect, Nominal, Insolation, Full sun
- kWh/(m2*day), W/m2, Voc, Isc, Imp, Vmp, Amps, Volts
Calculations[edit | edit source]
By the end of the Solar PV Installation and Design Principles module, students will be able to do the following calculations (among others):
- Instantaneous power
- Daily and Yearly energy
How to[edit | edit source]
By the end of the Solar PV Installation and Design Principles module, students will be comfortable doing the following (among others):
- Use photovoltaic test equipment
- Use volt and amp meters
- Properly size system
- Install panels & all equipment to grid intertie
Field trips[edit | edit source]
By the end of the Solar PV Installation and Design Principles module, students will be have gone on the following field trips (possibly among others):
- Residential PV installation
- University PV installation or testing station (e.g. HEIF music building PV system or Sci-D at HSU)
- Commercial installation (e.g. Kokatat)