PV 301: Basic Photovoltaics and Site Assessment for Installers

Mon, Apr 20 - Tue, Apr 21

This course is intended to introduce a potential PV installer to the important aspects of selecting a good site for a PV system and the basics of PV system components. We have designed this course to be the first class in a series that will establish a solid informed foundation on which you as a system installer can build. This class will touch on both battery based (stand alone) systems and utility-interactive (grid tied) systems. Although it is primarily a lecture class, there are several labs that offer the opportunity to use equipment. By the end of this class you should feel comfortable conducting a site evaluation; understand how to make component selections; understand how to size the major components of a PV system: PV array, battery bank, inverter and charge controller. This class is ISP Accredited and counts toward the NABCEP educational requirement. More information about NABCEP certification can be found on the NABCEP website. The PV Design and Installation Manual is included in the price of tuition. If you plan to install your own system or install as a profession, start here and plan to take PV 302: Intermediate PV Design next.

Lecture Topics:

Markets and applications for different types of PV systems
Electricity basics
Conducting a site assessment
The important role of energy efficiency
Characteristics of PV system components and component selection
Basic component sizing: an introduction to system design
Working safely with photovoltaics
Economics of PV


When:	Day 1: Mon, Apr 20 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
	Day 2: Tue, Apr 21 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Cost:	$300

Registration closed - This class has already happened

Instructors

Eric Pedersen

Eric Pedersen joined AltE in late 2007 and has been fast becoming our in-house sales expert for Solar Electric. He has a marketing degree from University of Texas and a passion for working towards worldwide resource sustainability. When he made the career switch to renewable energy, he made a choice to learn as much as he can so he can pass that learning on to others. In his free time Eric can be found wandering about outside somewhere soaking up all that good clean nature.

James Cormican

James joined the AltE team in 2005 and is currently our Sales Engineer, specializing in Photovoltaic system design. James earned his degree in Renewable Energy from San Juan College in New Mexico. He is responsible for the prepackaged systems on our website as well as being the lead of our technical support team. James is also tireless in his ability to talk and teach renewable energy to anyone who will listen! When he's not working with renewable energy, he is likely refereeing soccer games, or doting over one of his Volkswagens.

Complete Schedule for this Class

Important Information

Class enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis, as class size is limited. To reserve a space please pay the entire tuition upon sign-up. Classes are subject to cancellation due to low enrollment, and you will be notified in advance if a class you had previously enrolled in is cancelled.

Location

Hudson, MA

Headquarters

The Alternative Energy Store
43 Broad Street
Suite A408
Hudson, MA 01749

Accommodations

The Holiday Inn Express in Hudson, MA, offers special room rates to Alternative Energy Store students! You will receive reservation information in a separate email shortly after enrolling in the class.

Directions

From Logan Airport, Boston, MA: (Total Est. Time: 50 minutes Total Est. Distance: 42.17 miles Map)
1: Start out going WEST toward TERMINAL C (Portions toll). 0.9 miles
2: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto ramp. <0.1 miles
3: Merge onto I-90 W / MASS PIKE / MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE (Portions toll). 30.7 miles
4: Merge onto I-495 N via EXIT 11A toward MARLBOROUGH / N.H.-MAINE. 7.8 miles
5: Merge onto MA-85 CONN E / HUDSON ST via EXIT 25A toward RT-85 / HUDSON. 1.7 miles
6: Turn LEFT onto MA-85 / WASHINGTON ST. 0.1 miles
7: Turn RIGHT onto BROAD ST. 0.7 miles
8: End at 43 Broad St Hudson, MA 01749-2558

From 495:
Take Exit 25A onto Hudson Street. Go about a mile to the 2nd set of stop lights and take a left onto Route 85. Take your first right onto Broad Street. Follow Broad Street for about 3/4 of a mile. On the left hand side after you cross a small bridge you should see a large brick building, known as the Hudson Mills Building at 43 Broad Street. Park in the front and take the main lobby elevator to the 4th floor. Our office is on the far Southeast side of the building. Follow the signs to find your way.

From Other Points:
Please use this Mapquest map with our address as the destination (43 Broad Street, Hudson, MA 01749).