Drone Site Surveys

Want to distinguish yourself in the world of solar? Learn the process of designing solar arrays based on drone imaging. High resolution site photography is valued for its utility and visual appeal – for this class we go to the experts at Scanifly, distributing their introductory one hour training program.

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Note: This class is not available for public viewing, but you may register for free to view this webinar and check out our classroom. 1 Hour NABCEP credit available for registrants.

Learning Objectives:

Contrast 3D modeling using remote LIDAR data vs onsite drone photography to understand the values of site-based data collection.

Introduce the FAA 107 Commercial Drone pilot license and operating requirements to better understand regulations associated with commercial use of drone photography.

Explore best practices for drone image capturing, as well as technical capabilities, components, usage times, geotagged images, and recommended flight paths.

Simulate residential, commercial, carport, and utility-scale ground mount 3D models to see how geotagged image data improves site planning for various systems sizes.

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Entry Level Labor Training

In April 2020, we added 12 hours of introductory labor training for Job Corps as part of SolarLandscape’s NJ Community Solar Pilot Program.

This content combines with our material selection and NEC classes to create a solid 20 hour introductory training program for your entry level labor new hires.

If you would like to register your new hires for this program, please purchase a general admission ticket.

Program Description:

2 hour material selection lecture
12 hours of introductory field concepts: flashing, fall protection, material handling, project documentation, concrete block diagrams, etc.
6 hours of NEC

Our program improves the quality of your labor on the job site, by preparing students for things they should know before their first day on a solar job site. It includes access to our real time classroom, and can be upgraded to NABCEP education paths later.

It runs at a slower pace than our other classes and includes educational cartoons as well as manufacturer installation videos. We can customize the training plan to fit the products you install.

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Right-Sizing Solar

Learn how to determine the right relationship between a DC solar array size and the inverter output capacity and apply your knowledge to array layouts, module circuit locations, racking consideration, and design optimization issues.

Grid-tied solar will always be impacted by local grid policy, and we take an in-depth look at how. Determine if battery storage is a necessity for a project, as well as how to plan for battery additions down the road.

Selling 30 years worth of electricity to a customer is an expensive proposition. Right-sizing based on local policy and material capabilities can improve project economics, improving payback such that we can accelerate the transition towards solar power.

Learning Objectives

This course is intended to provide you with the following specific knowledge and skills:

Discuss the relationship between DC array size and AC inverter capacity to better understand system efficiency.

Understand how the supply chain can impact system design optimization.

Explore online resources to determine utility requirements and design constraints.

Perform circuit designs for one pallet of solar panels on different kinds of popular inverter systems to improve technical proficiency.

Understand how changes material selection can impact system design for project planning.

Determine a battery size needed for efficient “zero outflow” residential operation to accommodate any utility policy.

Establish a budget and simple payback to improve professional knowledge.

Identify best practices in array layout planning.

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This class is brand new and public documents are not yet available. Please find the course videos in our classroom or check back for updates.
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Introduction to Batteries

Battery storage is a new, fast-growing energy market. We focus on content that designers and installers should know – based on the instructor’s industry experience in battery application engineering and technical support.

This introduction will be engaging for even advanced installers! Our included sizing tools are better than most commercial sizing tools!

This class 2 hour introduction to lithium battery systems is intended for solar professionals. This is a perfect start to learning about the aggressively growing battery market. Learn how to design a battery system that meets customer expectations by starting with project fundamentals. What challenges do first time battery installers encounter in the field? Improve your battery project planning ability.

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Outline:

Industry Overview
Lithium chemistry
2 Hour Sizing and other design rules
Battery System Components
Battery Capacity Sizing
Charge Discharge Settings
DC Combining
Installation Flexibility

Learning Objectives:

Learn how various applications of lithium batteries enhance grid-tied health, safety, and welfare of buildings and their inhabitants.

Relate battery voltages to system performance to develop pragmatic understanding of battery bank capabilities.

Understand common battery under-sizing errors by examining battery specification sheets.

Explore various battery management system components to protect the battery against protection cases.

Review battery sizing principles for inrush current, continuous power, energy capacity, and multiple charging sources

Correlate inverter charge settings across multiple inverter systems to better understand charge conditions

Evaluate balance of system material for lithium battery combining

Understand how battery weight and environmental ratings can impact site selection

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Offgrid Residential Design

This is a two hour program focuses on residential off-grid systems. However, the material components are similar to what would be suitable for commercial battery projects up to 50kW.

Most grid-tied residential solar batteries are small and intended for back-up only. What are the considerations when planning an off-grid residential electrical system?

Growth in battery manufacturing is reducing costs of lithium ion batteries. While off-grid living is still expensive, it has never been more within reach. In certain cases, the cost of grid expansion can result in a happy off-grid solar customer. Learn more about what it takes to size a system for off-grid residential solar living.

This program covers electrical offgrid solar sizing principles and technical component discussion. The goal is to better understand the risks of offgrid living, to improve system reliability and value optimization during the project planning stage.

This program was written by a NABCEP-certified PV installer and mechanical engineer to help technical professionals better understand solar and battery project scope.

Learning Objectives

This course is intended to provide you with the following specific knowledge and skills:

  • Identify local solar performance during cloudy weather conditions to improve reliability.
  • Evaluate the technical capabilities of off-grid battery inverters to improve project planning.
  • Perform a sizing example for off-grid residential new construction to build design skill.
  • Understand the design risks of low and high voltage battery banks to improve safety.
  • Review component specification sheets to increase technical knowledge.
  • Learn how to manage electrical loads and optimize appliance selection.
  • Detail wiring diagrams of residential-sized offgrid systems to improve technical proficiency.
  • Understand common balance-of-system material to improve system professionalism.

Battery storage is a new, fast-growing energy market. In this live webinar, you will be introduced to residential battery inverter systems with an emphasis on grid-connected systems like the ever famous Tesla Powerwall. This is not a powerwall class, this is a class to help you better understand the capabilities, costs, and design practices of lithium ion technologies as well as associated design and material selection.

Please register for one of our products to gain access to our classroom.

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Introduction to NEC

This 2 hour program is written to introduce building professionals and engineers to the early sections of National Electric Code. It covers common faults, workmanship best practices, clearance spaces, grounding, and basic electric components discussed in Articles 100-400 of NEC.

Solar and batteries are relatively new industries which require a technical professional to be aware of electrical safety and design risks.
But the specialized sections of National Electric Code are a better understood with general knowledge covered by the introductory chapters of the codebook.

Solar and battery projects are used throughout class as examples, but this class focuses on the introductory requirements of NEC for those projects.
Written for a technical audience, this course is well suited for advancing residential construction knowledge or basic electrical knowledge in general.

Learning Objectives

This course is intended to provide you with the following specific knowledge and skills:

  • Detail general vocabulary and balance of system components common to building-based solar and battery storage as they appear in National Electric Code to improve technical knowledge.
  • Understand fundamentals of building grounding and electrical fault detection for site safety benefit.
  • Review the primary sections of National Electric Code in a comprehensive, sequential manner to improve general electrical knowledge.
  • Identify general items which are necessary to install a code-compliant onsite electrical system, using solar and battery projects as examples.
  • Understand how code is created from real world design issues to improve basic understanding of how electricity works.
  • Review conductor cable jacket types to improve project design and drawings.
  • Learn various parts of electric code common to industry solar or electrical examinations.
  • Develop an understanding of the general balance-of-system planning requirements for onsite renewable and battery projects.

We teach this program live within our online classroom. Please register for one of our products to gain access to the classroom.

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NEC for Batteries and Solar

This 2 hour program reviews sections of NEC specific to onsite solar and batteries, including NEC 2020 updates on rapid shutdown and lithium ion technology. This class is perfect for improving onsite electrical knowledge of solar or batteries to improve project planning, technical proficiency, or industry certification. The most popular items of National Electric Code as related to solar design and batteries are discussed, with similarities and differences between residential and commercial project requirements.

This course is written for building professionals seeking to improve their knowledge of National Electric Code and understanding of electricity in general.

Note: National Electric Code is a private organization and does not publish their code book for free. Erring on the side of caution, we do not publish our NEC classes for free. You must register to gain access to this course content.

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Learning Objectives

Review physical protection, clearance, and ventilation requirements for designing residential and commercial battery room layouts.

Understand rapid shutdown and NEC 2020 disconnect requirements for increased project safety.

Determine labeling and security requirements for improved site awareness and emergency preparedness.

Perform basic overcurrent protection calculations for breaker and fuse specification to improve project safety.

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Smart Home Load Control Text

This program is a two hour introduction to smart homes with an emphasis on electricity controls.

If you would like to take this for continuing education, please register here.

If you would the audio/visual experience, please click here.

Figure 1 – Outline 

Welcome to our smart home load control class. We’re going to start off with some basics and use a smart home energy controller as an example, using open-source code and generic hardware. The intent of this program is to introduce you to the value of building energy management and train you how to implement a low cost test project on your home or business.

This class is available for continuing education. It comes with videos and live instructor interaction. We even have a low priced general admission registration for those who want to join our Discord classroom and take the class for fun. Or you can continue here for free. Please share this resource for non-commercial use.

I use smart home technology in my solar design practice – I’m really not a smart home guy, I’m a solar installer who found himself doing smart home stuff to improve the value of on-site solar and batteries. It turns out there are applications for energy management that can be smaller and more valuable than solar or batteries, and by implementing such a project, you can collect valuable site data to assist your more ambitious energy planning.

A smart home project can be a great learning experience. But there are some pitfalls, so I thought we would start out with a high level overview of the most controversial issues, with a nod to health, safety, and welfare for our continuing education audience. Then we will talk more specifically about setting up a local energy controller, as well as its value to home and business.

Continue here:
https://community.solar/smart-home/cloud-services-are-hard-to-avoid/

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