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Information and tutorials for the Blackboard course system
Photovoltaic Installer and Maintenance Training
SPARE—Solar Power as Renewable Energy
ESF is proud to continue its established tradition of SPARE in 2011!
Our 4-day Basic Photovoltaic Installer Course is a board-recognized training program through North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Our Advanced Photovoltaic courses are geared toward PV installers and engineers who have experience with photovoltaic systems and offer participants an overview of commercial PV systems in a format that combines online learning with a one day classroom session.
Basic SPARE
A 4-day on-site course
Our 4-day Basic Photovoltaic Installer Course is board-recognized by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). In this course students will learn the basics of how to site, design and install photovoltaic (PV) systems. The course includes sizing systems for both grid-connected and off-grid PV systems. Also, the solar resource and the problems associated with shading, orientation and tilt will be reviewed. Basic sizing and system design in relation to electrical load will be discussed. Safety practices for installers and the study of the electrical code for PV systems will be covered in some detail. Students will learn about various mounting systems for PV arrays and how they affect roofs. As part of the class, students will build a working PV system.
Basic SPARE Prerequisites
The successful SPARE participant should have either a high school diploma or a GED. Men and women in the HVAC, electrical and ironworker trades are particularly encouraged to explore this value-added training.
Advanced SPARE
A combination of online study with one in-person session (see change for Fall 2011 course below)
Our Advanced Photovoltaic course is geared toward PV installers and engineers who have experience with photovoltaic systems and offers participants an overview of commercial PV systems. The course emphasizes orienteering, wind and weight loading and permitting. This course will be taught using a combination of online learning and one in-person class. Students will receive a link to Blackboard, a Web-based course-management system, by email with assistance to log on and learn the material over a four week period of time prior to the in-person class. The online experience will include homework with problems to solve and feedback from Dr. Gay Canough.
Advanced SPARE Prerequisites
Participants should have taken the Basic SPARE course or have similar knowledge of PV basics. Students should have access via computer to the internet. Homework assignments require basic calculations and basic knowledge of algebra and trigonometry. Participants should have a calculator and the skills to operate it.
Basic SPARE
2012 Dates:
March 12-15, 2012, 110 Moon Library, SUNY-ESF, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210
May 21-24, 2012, 110 Moon Library, SUNY-ESF, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210
Advanced SPARE:
2012 Dates:
TBA: Please check back
PV installer courses (PDF)
To sign up, go to the Registration page.
News from NYSERDA: NYSERDA has extended the deadline to become NABCEP certified to June 30. 2012. NYSERDA isrequiring all PV installers in New York State who want to offer NYSERDA incentives and be listed on the NYSERDA approved installers list to be NABCEP certified. Installers who are not concerned with offering incentives, install off-grid or install in a municipal electric district currently aren't required. All other building and installation code requirements still apply. Many installers are already For more information regarding NABCEP Certification and the pre-certification exam see the Course Overview section of the navigation box.
Want to be placed on an email list to get up-to-date information regarding SPARE? Send your name, mailing address and email address to mhstefl@esf.edu and ask to be put on the SPARE mailing list!
Images from Past Courses
- Images from February 8 - 11, 2010 Course (PDF)
- Images from June 9 - 12, 2008 Course (PDF)
- Images from September 17-20, 2007 Course (PDF)
- Images from April 2-5, 2007 Course (PDF)
- Images from the 2005 and 2006 Courses
More information
Contact: Maura Harling Stefl at 315.470.6889 or mhstefl@esf.edu
