Solar Training - Battery-based PV System Fundamentals - On Demand

Prerequisites: Before participating in the PV203 PREP course, students are required to complete PV101, an equivalent course from another organization, or demonstrate field experience and pass a placement quiz.  Please contact sei@solarenergy.org if you feel you are qualified to skip the prerequisite course.

PV203 PREP:
This online course allows immediate access so you can start your battery-based solar education on your own schedule!  PV203 PREP is an online, on-demand, 18 credit hour course covering fundamental principals of battery-based solar PV installation and design, as addressed in NABCEP's Entry Level Exam Learning Objectives and PV Installer Job Task Analysis. This course has been designed to give students the battery-based fundamentals required to take PV301L: Solar Electric Lab Week (Battery-based), and the NABCEP Entry Level Exam. Enrollment in this course gives 6 weeks access.  This course 'PREP's you for the NABCEP Exams and/or PV301L, and can be taken as a shorter version of our full PVOL203.

Students who complete the PV203 PREP Course will be able to perform the following:
• Describe how each component is configured for various types of PV systems: PV direct, stand–alone, PV/hybrid, and grid-tied with battery-backup
• Diagram battery banks in various series and parallel configurations and calculate values for current, voltage, power, and energy
• Calculate load estimates
• Identify the appropriate inverter for small stand-alone systems, residential applications, and grid-tied with battery back-up systems
• Compare and contrast DC coupled and AC coupled PV systems
• Identify the pros/cons of using sealed versus flooded batteries
• Determine the state of charge of a battery
• List safety precautions and equipment required to work with batteries
• List the features, options, and metering available on charge controllers
• Describe how maximum power point tracking and voltage step-down affect a system
• Describe the differences when sizing battery-based systems compared to grid-direct systems
• Choose a peak sun hour value based on design criteria
• Describe how shading can affect a battery-based system
• Describe why and when breakers are used rather than fuses
• List the National Electrical Code articles that reference battery-based PV systems
• Label a 3-line diagram with grounding and disconnect terminology
• Define the maximum voltage drop allowed for the proper functioning of a battery-based PV system

Contact Training Hours (shown on Record of Completion): 18 hours

NABCEP Training Hours:

• o    6 NEC (Code Based) Hours
• o    6 Job Task Analysis Hours
• o    6 Non-Technical Hours

North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP):  See our NABCEP information page at www.solarenergy.org/nabcep-certification or www.nabcep.org for more information on the additional requirements for the PV Installer Certification.

For information on SEI's Solar Professionals Certificate Program please click here.  For information on SEI's workshop and training program policies please click here.