Solar Systems Associate

Hours: 190 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Open, Mentor Supported
Retail Price: $1,995.00

Course Overview:

Heating water with the sun is a practice almost as old as humankind itself. This Solar Water Heating Specialist course is a guide to this clean and cost-effective technology.

Beginning with a review of the history of solar water and space heating systems from prehistory to the present, this course presents an introduction to modern solar energy systems, energy conservation, and energy economics.

This course covers:

• Types of solar collectors, solar water, and space heating systems and solar pool heating systems, including their advantages and disadvantages
• System components, their installation, operation, and maintenance
• System sizing and siting
• Choosing the appropriate system

This course also focuses on the financial aspects of solar water or space heating systems, clearly showing that such systems generate significant savings in the long run.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Define the core elements of solar water heating
• Identify various solar heating systems
• Identify the steps involved in choosing the right system
• Identify the steps to install and operate a solar heating system
• Identify the steps to maintain a solar heating system

The Photovoltaic System Professional is a comprehensive course and guide to installation of residential and commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems. This course covers the principles of PV electricity and how to effectively incorporate it into stand-alone or utility-connected electrical systems. We give detailed illustrations to clarify the concepts behind PV system operation.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Define the core elements of photovoltaics and solar energy technology
• Define systems components, configurations, and battery types
• Identify elements of charge controllers and inverters
• Identify components of mechanical and electrical integration
• Identify permitting codes and regulations

Course Outline:

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 1
Understanding Solar Water Heating

• History of Solar Water Heating
• Economics of Solar Water Heating
• History of Fossil Fuels
• Life-Cycle Costing
• Types of Solar Collectors
• Other System Components
• Storage Tanks
• Heat Exchangers
• Pumps, Piping, & Pipe Insulation

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 2
Solar Water & Space Heating Systems

• Pressurized Antifreeze Systems
• Drainback Systems
• Integral Collector Storage Systems
• Thermosiphon Systems
• Solar Heated Pools
• Solar Heated Hot Tubs & Spas
• Liquid-Type Solar Heating Systems
• Heat Delivery Methods
• High-Mass Systems

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 3
Choosing the Right System

• Siting a Solar Energy System
• Sizing a Solar Water Heating System
• Sizing a Solar Space Heating System
• Sizing Components
• Sizing Expansion Tanks
• Sizing Air Heating Systems

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 4
System Installation, Operation, & Maintenance

• Installing Solar Water Heating Systems
• Handling & Mounting Solar Collectors
• Mounting the Heat Exchanger
• Plumbing the System
• Testing the System
• Installing Solar Pool Heating Systems
• Installing Radiant Floor Tubing
• Charging a Pressurized System
• Controls & Power Sources
• Maintenance

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 1   
Overview of Photovoltaic Systems

• Photovoltaics
• PV Applications
• PV Industry
• Solar Energy Technologies
• Solar Radiation
• The Sun
• Sun-Earth Relationships
• Array Orientation
• Solar Radiation Data Sets
• Estimating Array Performance

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 2  
Planning, System Components, Configurations

• Site Surveys
• Preplanning
• Preliminary Assessment
• Preparing Proposals
• Installation Planning
• Electrical Energy Sources
• PV System Configurations
• Photovoltaic Cells
• Current-Voltage (I-V) Curves
• Device Response
• Modules and Arrays     

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 3   
Batteries and Charge Controllers

• Battery Principles
• Battery Types
• Battery Systems
• Charge Controller Features
• Charge Controller Types
• Charge Controller Setpoints
• Charge Controller Applications

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 4    
Inverters, Systems Sizing, Mechanical Integration

• AC Power
• Power Conditioning Units
• Inverter Features and Specifications
• Sizing Methodologies
• Sizing Calculations
• Mechanical Considerations
• Array Mounting Systems
• Mechanical Integration

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 5  
Electrical Integration & Utility Interconnection

• National Electrical Code
• Voltage and Current Requirements
• Conductors and Wiring Methods
• Overcurrent Protection
• Disconnects
• Grounding
• Battery Systems
• Distributed Generation
• Utility Interconnection Policies

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 6    
Inspection & Maintenance

• Building Codes and Regulations
• Permitting
• Inspection
• Commissioning
• Maintenance
• Monitoring
• Troubleshooting
• Economic Analysis
• Incentives
• Cost Analysis

All necessary materials are included.

System Requirements:

• Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)

• Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.