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Participants will learn the fundamental concepts required for working safely with PV systems, and will design residential-sized, code compliant, batteryless grid-tied and stand-alone systems.

This in-person workshop or online course will provide an overview of the basic PV system applications. The goal of this session is to create a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with both residential and commercial PV systems. Topics include: system components, site analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety, and commissioning. Participants will learn the fundamentals of sizing a residential batteryless grid-tied system, wire sizing, overcurrent protection, and grounding. This session will also review fundamental design criteria for off-grid stand-alone systems including specifying batteries, controllers, and battery-based inverters. These concepts will be expanded upon in PV202.

This workshop is certified by the Institute of Sustainable Power (ISP) and fulfills the educational requirements for Category 'B' of NABCEP's Solar PV Installer Certification. This course also qualifies you to take the NABCEP PV Entry Level "Certificate of Knowledge" Exam (Click here for entry level exam learning objectives). The test, which consists of 60 multiple choice questions, takes approximately 2 hours to complete. The test will be administered on the last day of both the Austin and Paonia PV Design and Installation workshops. The test will not be offered in Guemes Island. The cost of the test is $100. Students must register in advance with the SEI main office (you can register online or by contacting SEI). For more information on the NABCEP Entry Level Certification, please see their website at www.nabcep.org.

If you are serious about getting into the solar industry, you should also plan to take Advanced PV: Design Criteria and NEC Compliance. This workshop is intended to follow our first tier of workshops with the next level of design criteria, wire sizing calculations, maintenance issues, troubleshooting skill, and more information on batteries, charge controllers and hybrid system. (Note: You must complete PV Design and Installation BEFORE taking Advanced PV.)

6-day vs. 10-day workshop
The Colorado PV D&I workshops include 5 days in the classroom and 5 days of hands-on installation in the SEI PV Lab Yard.

The off-site PV workshops are shortened versions of the workshops offered in Colorado. In the 6-day format, four days will be spent in the classroom and 2 days doing hands-on field work or mock installations.

4 day Puerto Rico workshop
The workshop in Puerto Rico follows the same curriculum but will be taught in Spanish. It will be mostly classroom based, with some lab exercises. The workshop is being taught in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Renewable Energy Convention of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, August 25 - 28.

Check out our Women's only PV Design & Installation workshop as well!

For more workshop details please click on the Location links below.

Students leave this workshop being able to:

• Perform power and energy calculations
• Perform a load analysis for off-grid and batteryless grid-tied systems
• Implement electrical efficiency measures to reduce system size
• Diagram an array and battery bank in series and parallel configurations
• Obtain and apply module specifications
• Determine module performance and array performance given various conditions
• Determine the azimuth and altitude angle of the sun and evaluate shading potential
• List the pros and cons of different mounting structures
• Interpret and apply data from equipment specification sheets
• Size a residential batteryless grid-tied system including the inverter, array, wiring and overcurrent protection
• List the order of commissioning/decommissioning and the potential safety hazards of PV systems
• Draw a block diagram and list the pros & cons of different system types
• Identify the proper safety protocols for working with batteries
• Define battery depth of discharge, days of autonomy, equalization and efficiency
• Identify the pros and cons of using valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) versus flooded batteries
• Specify a charge controller
• Specify a battery-based inverter given certain parameters
• Determine acceptable voltage drop for system circuits
• Perform detailed site analysis utilizing commercially available tools
  

Sessions

* Note: If you have already purchased a PV Design & Installation manual from SEI, please let us know at the time of registering, and we will deduct $60 from the cost of your tuition.

Related Reading

Photovoltaics: Design & Installation Manual by SEI

2008 National Electric Code by the National Fire Protection Agency

Code Check: Electrical by Redwood Kardon, Douglas Hansen, and Mickeal Casey

• PV Design Online
• Grid-Tied PV
• Advanced PV: Design Criteria and NEC Compliance
• Advanced PV: Design Criteria and NEC Compliance (online)
• PV Lab Week
• Solar Water Pumping
• Solar Sales, Marketing and Economics
• Solar Electricity for the Developing World

"I enjoyed the instructor's knowledge and professionalism, as well as the depth of detail to the curriculum. Since SEI is one of the few, and best, institutes for this type of training, it's well worth the money."

-- PV Design & Installation workshop participant, 2008

"SEI provided me with the knowledge and understanding I need to enter the PV industry with confidence."

-- PV Design & Installation workshop participant, 2008

"There has never been a better time to become involved in the solar energy business, and SEI provides the most comprehensive education available."

-- Steve Burman, PV Design & Installation workshop participant, 2006

Workshops begin at 9 am unless otherwise noted. Please show up at 8:30 am the first day.