Course Details

Included in Course:
Your tuition fee includes instruction, materials, text book, examination fee, extensive labs and daily catered lunch on all 6 days. All students also receive a course completion certificate on the last day. Students who pass the certification exam on the last day are awarded the Boots Certified Solar PV Professional certification.

Detailed Content for 6 Day Solar PV Course:

1. INTRODUCTION TO PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
   Introduction to Solar Energy and PV Systems
   Overview of Solar Industry
   PV Systems Grid-Tie and Off-grid
   Electricity Basics
   Power, Energy and Electricity
   Hands-on Lab: Measuring AC power
   Electricity Arithmetic
   PV System Components and Configurations
   Solar panels, inverters, mounting, BOS
   Solar Energy Fundamentals
   Sun – earth relationship, sun path
   Hands-on Lab: Orientation and tilt
   Hands-on Lab: The power of the sun, in Watts
   
2. SYSTEM DESIGN
   Solar Site Survey
   The elements of site survey
   Hands-on Lab: Site analysis. Roof measurement and Site Worksheet
   PV System Sizing
   Grid-Tie Systems
   Site factors affect performance
   Sizing the PV System, using manual and online tools
   Economic Analysis
   System Cost
   Payback/ROI
   
3. ELECTRICAL CONNECTION
   Electrical Integration
   Safety of DC and AC Power
   The main electrical components
   Hands-on Lab: Assemble Balance of System (BOS)
   Wire sizing, specifications and rating DC and AC
   Utility Integration
   Breaker sizing and the 120% Rule
   Utility and code regulations
   Next day objectives, homework
   
4. MAJOR COMPONENTS OF A PV SYSTEM
   PV cells,  modules and arrays
   All about solar cells and modules
   Modules specifications: Watts, Voc, Isc, Vnominal
   IV curves, Series and parallel array circuits
   Hands-on Lab: Open circuit and IV curves
   Inverters
   Operation and Efficiency
   Model and size, Specifications
   Online sizing and performance tools
   Mechanical Integration
   Mounting Systems Options for Roof and Ground
   Roof loading Performance issues
   Hands-on Lab: Roof mount
   
5. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
   Commissioning, Maintenance, Troubleshooting
   Commissioning - Starting it up
   Maintenance, service, Trouble shooting common situations
   Performance Monitoring
   Permitting
   Jurisdiction and authority
   National Electrical Code NEC
   Safety (again)
   Live Installation
   Lab: Connect PV array to BOS and utility power
   
6. OFF-GRID SYSTEMS
   Off-grid and remote power applications
   Batteries and charge controllers
   Back-up, Hybrid and Bimodal systems
   
7. THE BUSINESS OF SOLAR
   Energy and the Economy
   The Solar Industry
   Project Financials: Rebates, Tax Credits, Financing
   Know the Market for PV
   Your Business
   Sales
   The Sales Process
   Closing the Sale
   Tracking Leads and Customers
   Estimates, Contracts and Proposals
   Marketing
   Define and reach your customers
   Marketing strategies
   Next steps
   Evaluation