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ARCHITECTURE, CONSTRUCTION & MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION
INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE NUMBER: ELMT 1402
COURSE TITLE: SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC
CREDITS: 3 (2 lecture, 3 lab)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Wiring methods for single family and multi-family dwellings. Includes load calculations, service entrance sizing,
proper grounding techniques, and associated safety procedures.
END-OF-COURSE-OUTCOMES
Compute the circuit sizes needed for the installation of branch circuits, feeders, and service entrance
conductors; explain the proper installation of wiring devices according to electrical codes; demonstrate
grounding methods; install ground fault circuits; identify residential wiring methods; and demonstrate proper
safety procedures.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
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Exhibit knowledge of safety rules and regulations, and demonstrate awareness of hazards in the
workplace.
Demonstrate dexterity in the selection and use of common tools utilized in the electrical trade to cut,
strip, splice and terminate wires.
Explain the function of circuit components: source, load, conductors and devices, illustrate the concepts
of voltage, current, power and resistance as they apply to common circuits.
Describe the theory of operation, application and usage of devices employed in common installations:
receptacles, single pole, three-way, four-way and dimmer switches.
Display proficiency in the use of common measuring instruments; such as multimeters, ammeters,
voltage and circuit testers; to check current, voltages, resistance and continuity.
Identify symbols and interpret blueprints and wiring schematics to perform electrical installations.
Display familiarity in recognizing and applying requirements for the three types of circuits employed in
residential installations: general purpose, small appliance and individual circuits.
Determine conductor size and type of various installations in compliance with the requirements of the
National Electrical Code.
Exhibit proficiency in performing most common installations in single and multi-family dwellings in
compliance with the requirements of the current edition of the National Electrical Code and City Code:
switches, receptacles, lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, door bells, cable and telephone outlets and
appliance circuits.
Determine proper grounding requirements for common installations.
Apply circuit properties and concepts of voltage, current and resistance of troubleshoot, diagnose and
repair faults encountered in circuits.
COURSE POLICIES
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Attendance
Students are expected to attend classes regularly, and to be on time for every class period. Students can be
dropped from a class due to excessive absences. Excessive tardiness may be considered absences. Students
are responsible for subjects, assignments, and projects covered during their absences. Consult the Student
Handbook for more details or visit http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/current-students/student-handbook
Academic Honesty
Scholastic dishonesty is treated with the utmost seriousness by the instructor and the College. Academic
dishonesty includes, but it is not limited to the willful attempt to misrepresent one’s work, cheat, plagiarize, or
impede other students’ scholastic progress. Consult the Student Handbook for more details.
Students with Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to
arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services Office at his / her
respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculties are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. For Central College, call 713 – 718 –
6164.
Cell Phones
All cell phones must be muted, set to vibrate, or turned off during class. Cell phone activity during class is
deemed disruptive to the academic process and will not be tolerated. If you need to make or receive an
emergency call, please leave the classroom.
Calculators
If the course allows the use of a calculator during class, lab projects, and exams, the student is responsible to
bring his/her calculator. Cell phones are not calculators, and are not allowed to be used for that purpose during
class, tests, or exams.
Student ID
Students are required to obtain a Student ID. For additional information, consult the Student Handbook.
Parking Rules and Regulations
Students are required to follow HCC’s regulations regarding parking and permits. For additional information, visit
http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/about-hcc/police/parking/parking-rules-and-regulations
Books, Tools and Supplies
Students are required to purchase and bring to class the required textbooks, tools, notebooks, supplies, and
writing instruments as required by the instructor.
Dress Code
Dress code must be appropriate for the class. Students must dress in a way that clothing and accessories do
not compromise their safety, and the safety of others. Proper foot wear is required in all laboratories. Absolutely
no sandals or other footwear that exposes the feet will be allowed.
Classroom & Laboratory Conduct
Proper behavior is expected in all classes and laboratories. Foul language and horseplay are not allowed.
Making or receiving cell phone calls during class are not allowed. Sleeping in class is not allowed.
Course Withdrawal
It is the responsibility of the student to officially withdraw from a course before the official withdrawal deadline. A
student who does not withdraw from a course by the deadline will receive an “F” as the final grade. Also note
that under Section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code, an institution of higher education may not allow a
student to drop more than six courses.
COURSE TIMELINE, CONTENTS & ACTIVITIES
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Module 1: Introduction to Solar Energy and Solar Electricity
1. Read Module 1 Facilitator Guide
2. Read appropriate sections of Solar Electric Handbook: Photovoltaic Fundamentals and
Applications. Boston: Pearson, 2013
3. Adapt schedule presented in Module 1 Facilitator Guide to HCC Central Schedule: 2 – 8 hour
days and 16 hours of class time will be the converted to the first 19 – 3 hour classes or 10
weeks. Ideas presented here:
Class 1: Facility Overview and Class Introduction –
Class
Week 1 Class 1
Week 1 Class 2
Questions:
Topics
Unit 1 Overview of Renewable Energy and the Solar
Industry
Facility overview and introduction
Course overview – “Where are we going”
 Calendar
 Course text, print, web resources
 Other references
 Presentation Slides 1 – 12
NABCEP and Learning Objectives
 Expectations of participants: class participation,
reading/assignment completion, NABCEP
Learning Objectives.
 Presentation Slides 13 - 21
To do for preparation for this:
1. Study the NABCEP section on the flash drive and
go to www.NABCEP.org. Check out the whole site
but pay particular attention to the Entry Level
section in left hand menu
2. Read and get familiar with the NABCEP Learning
Objectives – found on flash drive and in Entry
Level on NABCEP site.
Break
Lab Activity 1*: Introduction to PV Lab (found in back of
Module 1 Facilitator Guide Pg. 227
Note this is basically a tour of lab facilities. You could take
them to the outside portable building. Show them the
equipment inside and the modules on the roof. Then go
back inside and get them familiar with the safety gear
they will be using for the labs and show them the mobile
units and everything else available inside. Explain any lab
facilities inside that will be available for class.
Class Wrap up
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and day overview
Overview renewable Energy and PV Systems
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Time
10 minutes
20 minutes
60 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10
80 minutes
What did you do
here
What did you do?
Week 2 Day 1
Questions:
What did you do
here and how long
to go through this
section?
What did you do?
Week 2 Day 1
Week 2 Day 2
What happened
here?
Week 3 Day 1
What happened
here?
Week 3 Day 2
 The Case for Renewable Energy
 Overview of Renewable Systems
 Overview of PV Systems
 Presentation Slides 24 - 64
To prepare:
Read in textbook: Unit 1 Chapters 1, and 2
Go through slides 24-64 in Facilitators Guide and PPT
Get familiar with slides so you don’t have to read the
slides but can talk to them. Plan to spend approx. 2 min
per slide.
Break
Class Lab
Questions and class wrap up
Total time
Sign in, Questions, and Day overview
PV Markets
 Electrical Distribution
 Advantage/Disadvantages to PV Systems
 Slides 65-79
To prepare:
Go through slides 65-79
Prepare to get students to give their ideas of advantages
and disadvantages of PV systems before showing them
the slides in class (10 to 15 minute discussion)
Day wrap up
Class Lab
Questions, class wrap up
Total Time
Labor Day off
Unit 2 Electricity and Components
Sign in and class overview
Basics of Electricity
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
60 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
80 minutes
Break
Basics of Electricity
Day wrap up
Total Time
Sign in and class overview
Basics of Electricity
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
80 minutes
Break
Basics of Electricity
Day wrap up
Total Time
Sign in and class overview
Class Lab ? What happened here?
Break
What happened here?
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
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10 minutes
Week 4 Day 1
Week 4 Day 2
Week 5 Class 1
Week 5 Class 2
Week 6 Class 1
Class wrap up
Total Time
Sign in and class overview
What happened here?
Break
What happened here?
Class Wrap up
Total Time
Sign in and class overview
Lab Activity 2: Introduction to Systems and Components
Go to back of Module 1 Facilitator Guide pg. 218
Be prepared to show them diagrams of each type of PV
system: Grid interactive, grid tied with battery backup,
and off grid.
Go back to outside lab in portable building. Show them all
the components that make up a grid tied system, a grid
tied with battery backup system, and an off grid system.
Have them get familiar with the component names and
functions.
Break
Lab continued
Class Wrap up
Total Time
Sign in and class overview
Basic Electricity
 Currents
 Circuits
 Series & Parallel Connections
Read in Textbook: Unit 2 Ch. 3
Go through slides 82- 95
Break
Basic Electricity: Slides 96 - 123
Wrap up and questions
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and day overview
Quiz 1 on basics of electricity
Break
Class Lab
Questions and class wrap up
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and class overview
PV System Components
 Stand Alone
 Utility Interactive PV
 Go through slides: 125-144 Stand Alone systems
Read in text book: Unit 2 Ch. 4
To be prepared:
Go through slides 17 - 174
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10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
10 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
80 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
80 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
60 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
50 minutes
Break
Week 6 Class 2
Week 7 Class 1
Week 7 Class 2
Week 8 Class 1
Week 8 Class 2
10 minutes
Week 6 Class 1 continued
Slides 145 – 172 Utility Interactive systems and
applications
Questions and class wrap up
Total time
Sign in, questions, class overview
Class Lab
Break
Lab continued
Questions and class wrap up
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and class overview
Energy Storage
 Batteries
 Slides 173 - 198
To be prepared for week:
Go through slides 173-224
Break
Class Lab
Wrap up and assignment for next class
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and class overview
Energy Storage
 Equalizing
 Building a Battery Bank
 Slides 198 - 224
Break
Controllers
Slides: 225-249
Questions and class wrap up
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and class overview
Inverters
Slides: 250 – 278
Break
Lab Activity 3: Component Identification pg. 219
Questions and class wrap up
Total Time
Sign in, questions, class overview
Quiz 2: Components and review
Break
Unit 3: Modules, Series and Parallel, and Meters
Structure and Function of PV Cells, Modules, Panels, and
Arrays: Slides 279 - 309
•
Photovoltaic cells, semiconductors, modules
To be prepared:
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100 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
80 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
80 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
80 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
80 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
Week 9 Class 1
Week 9 Class 2
Week 10 Class 1
Week 10 Class 2
Week 11 Class 1
In Textbook: Read Unit 3 Chapter 5
Go through slides 279-309
Questions and class wrap up
Sign in, questions, class overview
Structure and Function of PV Cells, Modules, Panels, and
Arrays: Slides 310 - 362
•
IV Curve
•
Module Performance
To be prepared:
Go through slides 310-362
Break
Lab activity 4: Multimeter Applications pg. 221
Wrap up and assignment for next class
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and class overview
Series & Parallel Connections
•
Slides 365 – 399
•
Work through each problem on slides in class
To be prepared:
In textbook: Read Unit 3 Chapter 6
Go through slides 365- 399
Break
Battery Series & Parallel Worksheet – handouts
From: Module 1 Facilitator’s Guide pg. 225-229
Wrap up and assignments for next class: Take home
Battery series and parallel work sheet – handouts
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and class overview
Unit 4: Solar Site Analysis and Mounting
To be prepared:
In textbook read Unit 4 Ch. 8
Go through slides and facilitators guide for slides 398
through 530
Solar Resource: Slides 398 - 444
Break
Array Orientation and performance: Slides 445 - 469
Total Class time
Sign in, questions, class overview
Site Analysis: Slides 470 - 528
Break
Site Analysis Lab
Questions and class wrap up
Total Class Time
Sign in and class overview
Mechanical Integration: 531 – 588
To be prepared:
Go through slides 531-588
Break
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10 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
10 minutes
60 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
60 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
10 minutes
Quiz on solar resource and site analysis
Wrap up and assignment for next week
Total Time
70 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
Module 2: General PV and Installation
4. Read Module 2 Facilitator Guide
5. Read appropriate sections of Solar Electric Handbook: Photovoltaic Fundamentals and
Applications. Boston: Pearson, 2013
6. Adapt schedule presented in Module 2 Facilitator Guide to HCC Central Schedule: 2 – 8 hour
days and 16 hours of class time will be the converted to the first 6 – 3 hour classes or 3
weeks. Ideas presented here:
Class 1: Facility Overview and Class Introduction –
Class
Week 11 Class 2
Week 12 Class 1
Topics
Unit 5: Grid-Direct System Sizing
To prepare:
Read in Textbook:
Go through slides: 1 - 42
Sign in, Questions, and Day overview
Grid Direct Inverters: Slides 1 - 32
Grid Direct System Sizing: Slides 33 – 42
Break
Unit 6: Grounding, Wiring, and Overcurrent Protection
To Prepare:
Read in textbook:
Go through slides: 43 NEC Requirements: Slides 43 - 56
PV Electrical Design - Voltage Calculations:
Slides 57- 76
Wrap up and Assignments for next class
Total time
Sign in, Questions, and Day overview
PV Electric System Design Continued:
1. Current Calculations: Slides 77 – 92
2. Overcurrent Calculations: Slides 93 – 95
3. Wire Sizing: Slides 96 - 112
Time
Break
PV Electric System Design continued: Slides 113- 146
 Ground fault
 Disconnects
 Conduit requirements
 Grounding
 Interconnection
 Labeling
Wrap up and Assignments for next class
10 minute
80 minutes
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10 minutes
60 minutes
20 minutes
10 minutes
20 min
50 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
70 minutes
10 minutes
Week 12 Class 2
Week 13 Class 1
Week 13 Class 2
Week 14 Class 1
Total Time
Sign in, Questions, and Day overview
Lab Activity 2: Photovoltaic Direct DC System
Go to back of Module 2 Facilitator Guide pg
Break
Unit 7: Safely Installing and Commissioning Grid-Direct
Systems
To be prepared:
Go through slides:
Read in textbook pages:
PV Installation Safety: Slides 148 - 188
 Fall Protection
 Stairways and Ladders
180 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
Wrap up, questions, and assignments for next class
Total time
Sign in, questions, and day overview
PV Installation Safety continued: Slides 189 – 230
Scaffolds
 Scaffolds and fall hazards
 Excavations
 Tools
Break
PV Installation Safety continued: Slides 231 – 262
 Electrical Safety
 Personal Protection Equipment
Commissioning: Slides 263 - 269
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
80 minutes
Wrap up and assignment for next class
Total time
Sign in, questions, and class overview
Maintenance: Slides 270 - 289
Troubleshooting: Slides 290 – 300
Break
Unit 8: Battery Based Systems
To be prepared:
In Textbook: Read
Go through slides:
Quick review:
 Energy Storage and Batteries: Slides 301- 356
 Charge Controllers: Slides 356 – 380
 Inverters: Slides 381 – 396
Some slides will be repeats – move through quickly or
hide for presentation
Battery Safety: 397 – 423
Wrap up and assignment for next class
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and class overview
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
40 minutes
20 minutes
10 minutes
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10 minutes
60 minutes
10 minutes
60 minutes
10 minutes
40 minutes
50 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
Week 14 Class 2
Week 15 Class 1
Week 15 Class 2
Week 16 Class 1
Week 16 Class 2
Stand Alone System Sizing: Slides 424 - 452
Break
Lab Activity 7: Load Analysis - Found in Facilitators Guide
page
Wrap up and assignments for next class
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and class overview
Lab Activity 8: Module Installation
Facilitators Guide page:
Break
System Installation module Lab continued
Lab review and class wrap up
Total Class Time
Sign in and class overview
60 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
Lab Activity 9: Inverter Installation and Wiring
Break
Lab Activity 9: Inverter Installation and Wiring
Lab Review and Discussion
Class wrap up
Total Time
Module 3: NABCEP Entry Level Test Prep
Sign In, questions, and class overview
Exam Overview and Learning Objectives:
Slides 1 - 21
Break
Sample Questions – go through together in class:
Slides 22 - 71
Wrap up and Assignment for next week
Total Time
Sign in, questions, and class overview
Class Exam – 60 questions (2 minutes each – 2 hours)
Break
Score exam
Review of exam
Class wrap up
90 minutes
10 minutes
30 minutes
20 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
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10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
90 minutes
10 minutes
50 minutes
20 minutes
180
10 minutes
10 minutes
30 minutes
10 minutes
120 minutes
10 minutes
180 minutes
10 minutes
120 minutes
10 minutes
50 minutes