SOLR 230 Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Solar Photovoltaic Systems will provide the learner with the knowledge and skills necessary to pass the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals Basic Installation Certification. Successful students will be able to gain the skills and application necessary to gain employment as an entry level installer in a rapidly growing industry.
SOLR 230Solar Photovoltaic Systems
Please note: This is not a course syllabus. A course syllabus is unique to a particular section of a course by instructor. This curriculum guide provides general information about a course.
I. General Information
Department
Trade & Industry
II. Course Specification
Course Type
Program Requirement
Credit Hours Narrative
4 Credits
Semester Contact Hours Lecture
30
Semester Contact Hours Lab
60
Grading Method
Letter grade
III. Catalog Course Description
Solar Photovoltaic Systems will provide the learner with the knowledge and skills necessary to pass the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals Basic Installation Certification. Successful students will be able to gain the skills and application necessary to gain employment as an entry level installer in a rapidly growing industry.
IV. Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:
- Describe the operation of a PV cell
- Describe the operation of a PV module
- Describe the photovoltaic module safety rules
- Describe how to connect and operate a photovoltaic module
- Describe the current-voltage characteristics of a photovoltaic module
- Describe how to measure the open circuit voltage of a PV module
- Describe how to measure the short-circuit current of a PV module
- Describe how to measure the output of a photovoltaic module
- Describe the environmental factors that affect PV output
- Describe how to calculate PV output given changes in solar irradiance
- Describe how to calculate PV output given changes in temperature
- Define PV module efficiency
- Explain how PV modules are specified
- Describe the types of PV module materials
- Explain how PV modules are manufactured and tested
- Describe the construction of a flat-plate PV module
- Describe the construction of a thin-film PV module
- Describe the current-voltage characteristics of a PV array
- Describe how to calculate the theoretical output of a PV array
- Describe how arrays are connected
- Describe the construction of a combiner box
- Describe the operation of a bypass diode
- Describe the basic operation of a solar battery
- Describe the basic construction of a solar battery
- Describe solar battery safety rules
- Describe how to measure the open-circuit voltage of a solar battery
- Define battery capacity and give its units of measure
- Describe the discharge characteristics of a battery
- Describe how to calculate battery discharge rate
- Describe the classifications of batteries
- Describe the types of solar batteries
- Explain how solar batteries are specified
- Describe the operation of a battery bank
- Describe how to connect a battery bank given a schematic
- Describe the four stages of battery charging
- Define charge acceptance and overcharge
- Describe the function of a charge controller and list four types
- The operation of an MPPT charge controller
- Describe how to connect a charge controller
- Describe the regulation set points for a charge controller
- Describe how to adjust charge controller settings
- Describe the operation of a charge-controlled PV system
- Describe the types of inverter waveforms
- Describe the types of PV inverters
- Describe the operation of a stand-alone PV inverter
- Describe the operation of a stand-alone PV system
- Describe the operation of an interactive PV inverter
- Describe the operation of a grid-connected PV system without battery backup
- Describe the operation of a micro inverter
- Describe the operation of a bimodal inverter
- Describe the operation of a grid-connected PV system with battery backup
- Define photovoltaic troubleshooting and explain its importance
- Describe two levels of PV troubleshooting
- Describe the types of PV troubleshooting tests
- Describe PV troubleshooting methodologies
- Describe the causes of stand-alone AC PV system faults
- Describe how to troubleshoot a stand-alone AC PV system
- Describe how to troubleshoot an interactive PV system
- Demonstrative Outcomes:
- Connect and operate a photovoltaic module
- Measure the open-circuit voltage of a PV module
- Measure the short-circuit current of a PV module
- Measure the operating point of a PV module
- Calculate PV output given changes in solar irradiance
- Calculate PV output given changes in ambient temperature
- Determine PV module efficiency
- Interpret PV module specifications
- Calculate the theoretical power output of a PV array
- Connect a PV array given a wiring diagram
- Measure the open-circuit voltage of a solar battery
- Calculate battery discharge rate
- Interpret a solar battery specification
- Calculate battery bank output given a series or parallel bank schematic
- Connect a battery bank given a schematic
- Connect a charge controller
- Adjust charge controller settings
- Operate a charge-controlled PV system
- Connect and operate a stand-alone AC PV system
- Connect and operate an interactive PV system
- Connect and operate a grid-connected PV system with battery backup
- Troubleshoot a stand-alone AC PV system
- Troubleshoot an interactive AC PV system without battery backup
- Troubleshoot an interactive AC PV system with battery backup
V. Topical Outline (Course Content)
VI. Delivery Methodologies