Solar Power Systems

• SETWORK 57102 comprises definitions, statement completions, calculations, estimations, descriptions, and true/false questions regarding solar power systems.

Definitions

• Site assessment educates the customer on the potential benefits of a PV system and gathers information about the proposed site.
• Heat load analysis analyzes heat loss or gain in a home.
• Roof mounted solar panels refers to solar panel arrays on a roof.
• Solar irradiance is sunlight intensity, measured in W/m2.
• A circuit combiner takes multiple inputs to produce a single output.

Statement Completion

• When assessing solar power needs, the amount of power currently being used is a primary consideration.
• It is best to obtain electric bills for the past 12 months during a site assessment.
• Crystalline silicon panels generate roughly 15 watts per square foot of space.
• A solar pathfinder or similar instrument gathers shading data.
• Connecting two or more panels in series increases voltage in a solar panel array.
• Wiring several strings of panels in parallel increases current in a solar panel array.
• Optimal solar panel installation areas need an average of six full hours of sunlight for best system performance.
• A pathfinder determines shade cover from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
• Batteries should be installed in a protective environment at or near room temperature.
• Fall protection must be worn at heights of 6 feet.
• A roof ground should have a minimum of 6 AWG solid copper.
• Most charge controllers are size 12x24.
• On a Solar Pathfinder™ sun path chart, the vertical lines represent azimuth angles.

Calculations

• 1500 mA converts to 1.5 A.
• 3200kW converts to 3.2 MW.
• 5600Wh converts to 5.6 kWh.
• 5000kWh converts to 5 MWh.
• 5000 mAh converts to 5 Ah.
• 100Ah converts to 100000 mAh.
• With I = 5mA and R = 2kΩ, E = 10V
• With I = 50mA and R = 3kΩ, P = 7.5W
• With E = 3.2kV and I = 100A, P = 0.32MW
• With P = 6kW and R = 0.5 kΩ, I = 3.46A
• With energy consumption of 200kWh and a system voltage of 24V, battery capacity is 8333 Ah.

Descriptions

• Angle finder (Figure 2), Solar Pathfinder (Figure 4), Solmetric Suneye, Long-reel measure (Figure 1), Charge controller (Figure 33), FLA Battery (Figure 34)

True or False

• AGM batteries are maintenance-free and do not require special storage -- TRUE.
• Visual inspection of the roof is the primary method of evaluation -- TRUE.
• Installing solar panels at least 3 feet above ground level is one way to protect them -- FALSE.
• Solar panels require approximately 2 hours of intense sunlight to operate properly -- FALSE.
• Compass angles are referenced from either magnetic south or true south -- TRUE.
• Any shaded areas must be documented -- TRUE.
• Magnetic compasses may not give a true reading when used on a metal roof -- TRUE.
• Charge controllers are often located far from the batteries -- FALSE.