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Examine basic electrical parameters, circuits, measuring devices and hazards
Assessment Strategies
Written assignment, quiz
Criteria
Recognize the principal electrical safety hazards associated with PV systems, including electrical shock and arc flash
Describe basic electrical parameters including electrical charge, current, voltage, power and resistance
Relate basic electrical parameters to their hydraulic analogies (volume, flow, pressure, hydraulic power and friction)
Explain the difference between electrical power (rate of work performed) and energy (total work performed)
Identify basic electrical test equipment and its purpose, including voltmeters, ammeters, ohmmeters and watt-hour meters
Apply Ohm’s Law in analyzing simple electrical circuits, and to calculate voltage, current, resistance or power given any other two parameters
Determine how PV modules are configured in series and parallel to build voltage, current and power output for interfacing with inverters, charge controllers, batteries and other equipment
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Evaluate a location for placement of a photovoltaic system
Assessment Strategies
Written assignment, quiz
Criteria
Explore solar radiation fundamentals
Define basic terminology, including solar radiation, solar irradiance, solar irradiation, solar insolation, solar constant, air mass, ecliptic plane, equatorial plane, pyranometer, solar declination, solstice, equinox, solar time, solar altitude angle, solar azimuth angle, solar window, array tilt angle, array azimuth angle, and solar incidence angle
Differentiate between solar irradiance (power), solar irradiation (energy)
Determine factors involved in energy production of a given location (peak sun, peak sun hours, and insolation)
Determine consequences of array shading and best practices for minimizing shading and preserving array output
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Analyze how photovoltaic modules operate, are built, measured and connected
Assessment Strategies
Written assignment, quiz
Criteria
Explain how a solar cell converts sunlight into electrical power
Distinguish between PV cells, modules, panels and arrays
Identify the five key electrical output parameters for PV modules using manufacturers’ literature (Voc, Isc, Vmp, Imp and Pmp)
Label output parameters on a current-voltage (I-V) curve
Analyze the effects of varying incident solar irradiance and cell temperature on PV module electrical output
Illustrate results of changing solar irradiance and cell temperature on an I-V curve and indicate changes in current, voltage and power
Illustrate the effects of connecting similar and dissimilar PV modules in series and in parallel on electrical output using I-V curves
Define various performance rating and measurement conditions for PV modules and arrays, including STC, SOC, NOCT, and PTC
Compare components and the construction for a typical flat-plate PV module made from crystalline silicon solar cells to thin-film modules
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Explain how common photovoltaic system components are connected in typical systems and their function in these systems
Assessment Strategies
Written assignment, quiz
Criteria
Describe the purpose and principles of operation for major PV system components, including PV modules and arrays, inverters and chargers, charge controllers, energy storage and other sources
Describe the types of PV system balance of system components, their functions and specifications, including conductors, conduit and raceway systems, overcurrent protection, switchgear, junction and combiner boxes, terminations and connectors
Identify the primary types, functions, features, specifications, settings and performance indicators associated with PV system power processing equipment, including inverters, chargers, charge controllers, and maximum power point trackers
Identify basic types of PV systems, their major subsystems and components, and the electrical and mechanical BOS components required