SOLAR TRAINING - ADVANCED PV SYSTEM DESIGN AND THE NEC (GRID-DIRECT)

Students who complete PVOL202 will be able to:

• Define the purpose of the National Electrical Code (NEC®) and NEC® terminology for PV equipment
• Determine procedures for proper installation of equipment and conductors, including minimum requirements for working space
• Examine methods for PV wire management and determine where expansion fittings are required
• Describe and identify electrical services, including split-phase and three-phase Wye (Y) and Delta (∆)
• Evaluate electrical service details to collect and record during solar site evaluation
• Identify options for NEC®-compliant PV system interconnection to the utility grid and determine whether a supply side, load side, or additional service connection is appropriate
• Identify code-compliant methods for connecting an inverter to an existing AC feeder
• Calculate PV module voltage based on temperature to ensure compatibility with system components and NEC® Section 690.7, and explore other options for maximum PV system DC voltage calculations
• Identify NEC® requirements and sizing of disconnects and overcurrent protection devices (OCPDs) in grid-direct PV systems
• Define inverter grounding configurations
• Evaluate inverter choices and system configurations, including string inverters, central inverters, and module level power electronics (MLPE)
• Identify requirements for equipment grounding, equipment grounding conductors (EGC), and grounding electrode conductors (GEC), and size the conductors according to the NEC®
• Identify common causes of ground-faults and arc-faults
• Describe ground-fault and arc-fault protection devices
• Describe benefits and appropriate locations of surge protection devices (SPD)
• Demonstrate the use of sun charts and perform calculations to determine row spacing and minimize inter-row shading
• Identify how Codes detailing access for first responders impact PV array roof layout
• Examine fire classifications that affect racking and module selection
• Detail NEC rapid shutdown requirements
• Identify load and structural considerations for low- and steep-slope roof-mounted PV systems
• Calculate wind uplift force and select appropriate lag bolts
• Review issues related to planning, design, and installation of ground-mount PV arrays
• Review PV system circuit terminology, definitions, and conductor types
• Calculate minimum overcurrent protection device (OCPD) size and conductor ampacity using appropriate adjustment and correction factors
• Calculate voltage drop and verify system operation within acceptable limits
• Examine requirements for PV system labeling
• Calculate the maximum and minimum number of modules per PV source circuit, and number of PV source circuits per inverter
• Determine size of residential grid-direct PV system based on site and customer-specific considerations including the number and wiring layout of modules, conductor and OCPD sizes, and the AC interconnections
• Determine the size of a large, multiple inverter, grid-direct PV system based on site and customer-specific considerations, including the quantity and layout of modules and inverters and the AC interconnection
• Define large-scale PV and review associated NEC® allowances and requirements
• Identify safe methods for, and electrical hazards associated with, commissioning a PV system
• Review personal protective equipment (PPE), lockout tagout methods (LOTO), and safe meter use and testing
• Define performance verification and estimate expected voltage, current, and power based on system configuration and environmental conditions
• Identify some reasons for unexpected performance test values