12/21/2024 10:53:08 PM	REEN 156 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  REEN 156	Title:  PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
Full Title:  Photovoltaic Systems Design and Installation
Last Reviewed:1/28/2019

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	2.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	35.00
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	3.00		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	52.50
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	5.00			Contact Total	87.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  70.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  RENRG 156

Catalog Description:

Introduction to photovoltaic technology and its practical application. Focus is on residential and small commercial photovoltaic systems: how they work, the equipment required, and maximizing energy harvest in both utility interactive and off-grid applications. Provides the basic understanding required to size, site, design, and install code-compliant solar energy systems. Course is registered provider of the NABCEP Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge Exam (optional at end of semester).

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion or Current Enrollment in ELEC 51A

Recommended Preparation:
Course Completion of MATH 150A OR MATH 150

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Introduction to photovoltaic technology and its practical application. Focus is on residential and small commercial photovoltaic systems: how they work, the equipment required, and maximizing energy harvest in both utility interactive and off-grid applications. Provides the basic understanding required to size, site, design, and install code-compliant solar energy systems. Course is registered provider of the NABCEP Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge Exam (optional at end of semester).

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:Course Completion or Current Enrollment in ELEC 51A
Recommended:Course Completion of MATH 150A OR MATH 150
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Not Certificate/Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Explain photovoltaic module characteristics, specifications, and response to the Sun.

2.  Conduct a solar site evaluation for installation of a photovoltaic system.

3.  Optimally size utility interactive and off-grid photovoltaic systems to electrical demand.

4.  Select appropriate inverters and balance of system components.

5.  Perform a basic National Electrical Code (NEC) compliant photovoltaic (PV) array

    installation.

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Discuss the history of photovoltaic technology.

2. Use current-voltage curves (IV curves) to interpret photovoltaic response to sunlight and

    temperature.

3. Read a sun chart and understand Earth's movements around the Sun.

4. Chose appropriate personal protection equipment when working with PV.

5. Use standard industry tools to determine a site's shading and to measure the total solar

    resource fraction available.

6. Perform a load analysis for both utility interactive and off-grid system sizing.

7. Match PV modules to inverter by using both manual string sizing calculations and

    manufacturer's string sizing tools.

8. Select appropriate racking and balance of system components for roof and ground mounted

    arrays.

Topics and Scope

I. Energy Overview

    A. Production

    B. Uses

    C. Conservation

II. Photovoltaic History, Applications, Types of Systems

    A. Photovoltaics cell development: 1839--today

     B. Early applications

    C. Technology uses today

III. Photovoltaics Economics and Political Environment

    A. Net-metering vs. feed-in-tariffs

    B. Federal incentives

    C. State incentives

IV. Electricity and PV

    A. Voltage, current, resistance

    B. Ohm's Law

    C. Alternating current (AC) & direct current (DC)

    D. Power vs. energy

    E. Digital multimeter use

V. Photovoltaic Safety

    A. Electricity physiology

    B. Lock out/tag out procedures

    C. Fall safety

    D. Personal protection equipment

    E. Battery safety

    F. NEC regulations

VI. Photovoltaic Modules

    A. Mono & poly crystalline

    B. Amorphous & thin film

    C. IV curve irradiance response

    D. IV curve temperature response

     E. Test conditions: STC (factory standard test conditions) & PTC (PV USA test conditions)

VII. Solar Resource

    A. Peak sun hours

     B. Units of irradiation & insolation

    C. Azimuth, tilt, and latitude

     D. Sun charts

    E. Seasons

VIII. Load Analysis

    A. Rate schedule tiers

    B. Time-of-use

    C. Energy requirements (kWhrs)

    D. Critical loads

IX. System Sizing

    A. DC vs. AC kWhrs

    B. Derate factors

X. Site Review

    A. Compass declination

    B. Shade evaluation tools: PathFinder, SunEye, Protractor

    C. Mounting azimuth & tilt

    D. Utility service panel

XI. Equipment Selection

    A. Modules

    B. Inverters

    C. Racking

XII. Design

    A. Layout

    B. Row spacing

    C. Roof vs. ground

XIII. Permitting

    A. Site plans

    B. Layouts

    C. Line diagrams

XIV. Installation

    A. Structural requirements

    B. Mounting

    C. Roof types

    D. Wire runs

XV. Off-Grid System Design

    A. Load analysis - amp hours & watts

    B. System voltages

    C. Batteries

    D. Charge controllers

    E. Array sizing

XVI. Performance Analysis and Troubleshooting

    A. Expected output

    B. Diagnostic measurements

    C. Failure modes & causes

 

All topics covered in both the lecture and lab portions of the course.

Assignments:

Lecture-Related Assignments:

1. Read approximately one textbook chapter per week

2. Weekly problem sets

3. Quizzes (5-10)

4. Midterm

5. Final exam

 

Lab-Related Assignments:

1. Weekly lab activities

2. PV system design project

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 0 - 0%
None
This is a degree applicable course but assessment tools based on writing are not included because problem solving assessments are more appropriate for this course.
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 10 - 40%
Problem sets
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 20 - 50%
Lab assignments; PV system design project
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 20 - 40%
Quizzes, midterm, final exam: multiple choice, completion, true-false
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Photovoltaic Systems. 3rd ed. National Joint Apprenticeship and Training. American Technical Publishers. 2012 (classic)

Solar Energy International: Photovoltaics Design and Installation Manual, New Society Publishers. 2004 (classic)

Instructor prepared materials

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