Solar Academy: Ontario's Premier Solar Training School
5-Day PV Design & Installation (Level One) - Course Details
Solar Academy's 5-Day Solar PV Design and Installation Course (Level One) covers fundamental knowledge and reviews the design, installation, and evaluation of residential and commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The solar training, based on the NABCEP learning objectives, includes site evaluation tools and techniques, solar electric component operation and connection, system design and sizing, and standard requirements and practices. This special Ontario Solar Academy course guides students from system fundamentals to advanced mechanical and electrical concepts in accordance with Electrical Code requirements in Ontario.
Passing a final exam qualifies students for Solar Academy's "Solar Professional Certificate: Level One."
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills; familiarity with equations, fractions & algebra; ability to safely lift 50 lbs.
Passing a final exam qualifies students for Solar Academy's "Solar Professional Certificate: Level One."
Prerequisites: Basic computer skills; familiarity with equations, fractions & algebra; ability to safely lift 50 lbs.
Daily Schedule
Each day the training begins promptly at 8:30 am. The morning session is 3.5 hours. There is a lunch break from Noon to 1:00 pm. The afternoon session is 4 hours, ending at 5:00 pm. Each day there are 7.5 hours of instruction, totaling 37.5 hours of professional training over the five-day course. Thursdays we end late at 7:00 pm and Fridays we end early at 3:00 pm.
Topics Covered
- Grid-Tied PV System Design & Estimation
- Rooftop Mounting Installation
- Economic, Financial & Regulatory Considerations
- Electrical Component Selection and Functions
- Customer Site Evaluation
Course Outline
Day One
8:00am - 8:30am - Registration
8:30am - 9:00am - Introduction / Course Overview
9:00am - 10:30am - Section 1 - PV Markets & Applications
10:30am - 10:45am- Break
10:45am - 12:00pm - Section 2 - Safety Basics
12:00am - 12:30pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 1:00pm -Guest Speaker
1:00pm - 3:00pm - Section 3 - Electrical Basics
3:00pm - 3:30pm - Mini PV Module Exercise
3:30pm - 5:00pm- Section 4 - Solar Energy Fundamentals
5:00pm - 6:00pm -Reception
6:00pm- Day one concludes
Day Two
8:30am - 9:30am - Section 4 - Solar Energy Fundamentals
9:30am - 10:30am - Section 4 - Solar Energy Fundamentals
10:30am - 10:45am -Break
10:45 am - 12:00am - Section 5 - PV Module Fundamentals
12:00am - 12:30pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 1:00pm- Guest Speaker
1:00pm - 5:00 pm - Section 6 - System Components
5:00pm - Day two concludes
Day Three
8:30am - 10:30am - Section 7 - PV System Sizing Principles
10:30am - 10:45am - Break
10:45am - 12:00am - Section 8 - PV System Electrical Design
12:00 am - 12:30 pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 1:00pm - Guest Speaker
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Section 8 - PV System Electrical Design
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Hands On Training - Racking and Mounting
5:00pm - Day three concludes
Day Four
8:30am - 10:30am - Section 9 - PV System Mechanical Design
10:30am - 10:45am - Break
10:45am - 12:00am - Hands On Training - Wiring Inverter and Electrical Components
12:00am - 12:30pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 1:00pm - Guest Speaker – TBD
1:00pm - 3:00pm - RETScreen Workshop
3:00pm - 4:30 pm - Electrical Safety Workshop
4:30pm - 5:00pm - Afternoon Reception with OSA Alumni and Ontario Solar Network members
5:00pm - Day four concludes
Day Five
8:30am - 10:30am - Section 10 - Performance Analysis, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
10:30am - 10:45am - Break
10:45am - 12:00am - Exam & Exam Review
12:00am - 12:30pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 1:00pm - Guest Speaker
1:00pm - 3:00pm - Presentations and Awards
8:00am - 8:30am - Registration
8:30am - 9:00am - Introduction / Course Overview
9:00am - 10:30am - Section 1 - PV Markets & Applications
10:30am - 10:45am- Break
10:45am - 12:00pm - Section 2 - Safety Basics
12:00am - 12:30pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 1:00pm -Guest Speaker
1:00pm - 3:00pm - Section 3 - Electrical Basics
3:00pm - 3:30pm - Mini PV Module Exercise
3:30pm - 5:00pm- Section 4 - Solar Energy Fundamentals
5:00pm - 6:00pm -Reception
6:00pm- Day one concludes
Day Two
8:30am - 9:30am - Section 4 - Solar Energy Fundamentals
9:30am - 10:30am - Section 4 - Solar Energy Fundamentals
10:30am - 10:45am -Break
10:45 am - 12:00am - Section 5 - PV Module Fundamentals
12:00am - 12:30pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 1:00pm- Guest Speaker
1:00pm - 5:00 pm - Section 6 - System Components
5:00pm - Day two concludes
Day Three
8:30am - 10:30am - Section 7 - PV System Sizing Principles
10:30am - 10:45am - Break
10:45am - 12:00am - Section 8 - PV System Electrical Design
12:00 am - 12:30 pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 1:00pm - Guest Speaker
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Section 8 - PV System Electrical Design
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Hands On Training - Racking and Mounting
5:00pm - Day three concludes
Day Four
8:30am - 10:30am - Section 9 - PV System Mechanical Design
10:30am - 10:45am - Break
10:45am - 12:00am - Hands On Training - Wiring Inverter and Electrical Components
12:00am - 12:30pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 1:00pm - Guest Speaker – TBD
1:00pm - 3:00pm - RETScreen Workshop
3:00pm - 4:30 pm - Electrical Safety Workshop
4:30pm - 5:00pm - Afternoon Reception with OSA Alumni and Ontario Solar Network members
5:00pm - Day four concludes
Day Five
8:30am - 10:30am - Section 10 - Performance Analysis, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
10:30am - 10:45am - Break
10:45am - 12:00am - Exam & Exam Review
12:00am - 12:30pm - Lunch
12:30pm - 1:00pm - Guest Speaker
1:00pm - 3:00pm - Presentations and Awards