Solar Energy International basic course, final day

Friday was graduation day for the 10-day basic course in PV design and installation. Most of the students have been here two weeks, and many are staying on for the advanced course next week. About a dozen took the two-hour NABCEP entry-level test on Friday evening.

The morning saw final wiring and adjustments on some of the lab projects. My group spent some time in the morning figuring out the voltage drop in the #8 AC line from the PV inverter to the Sunny Island microgrid emulator. Then we connected the Sunny Island to the 48-volt battery bank, the grid transformer, and the PV array inverter. We turned everything on and waited while the Sunny Island exchanged data with the other units and came on line.

After lunch, Ed Eaton convened a study group for students taking the NABCEP test, and the rest of our group put together a schematic of the Sunny Island rig, suitable for use in explaining the complex system to an inspector.

The graduation ceremony at 3:30 pm was a casual affair - Kris, Flint and Kyle handed out the diplomas and everyone promised to keep in touch.

I'm going to follow up with my classmates over the next couple of years, and see where their solar careers go.

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Posted by Seth Masia, SOLAR TODAY | pv technology, July 2009, electric fun

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Comments (4)

Add Control Buttons

Hey, I was wondering if you could add control buttons on the blog pages to go next or back to the next blog article, not the main page. Right now you have to hit the browser back button then click the next blog article to read, and so on, and so on to read all the blogs. That gets tiresome and you lose you what you have or haven't read. Chilllll.

Bruce Arkwright , July 20, 2009

Re: Add Control Buttons

Bruce: Thanks for the good suggestion. We're looking into adding this feature. — SOLAR TODAY

Brooke Simmons , July 21, 2009

PV design and installation/certification course

Useful info for standard duration and certification. Valid or licensed business needs
third-party certification from either public (non-profit?) or private authority/entity
and a national smartgrid would, likewise, require re-training, re-evaluation, overhaul
of operator's manuals. Is this type of legislation being written into our progressive
policy initiatives? Let me know by whom or where this sort of work is being managed.

Michael , July 23, 2009

Green Job Training, an excellent example!

Yes! This is what the green revolution needs! More people getting the training they need and becoming part of the energy solution for the nation. Careers in solar are on the rise, and this is another excellent example of this trend. The solar revolution begins with those willing to work to make it happen. whether it be starting their own solar business or joining some already established, Solar jobs are only on the rise. The green revolution is here, and its time to join in like this class here has done.

For those of you who want training, why not join in the revolution now?
http://www.bootsontheroof.com/

Matthew Rames , July 27, 2009

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