Conventions used in this book
How this book is organized
Part 1: Here comes the sun: shedding some light on PV systems
Part 2: Digging into complete systems details
Part 3: Sizing a PV system
Part 4: installing a PV system
Part 1: Here Comes The Sun: Shedding Some Light On PV Systems
Chapter 1: Photovoltaic revolution
Peeking into the past, present, and future of PV installations
Acquainting yourself with typical PV applications
Checking out PV pros and cons
Looking into the future of PV
Introducing PV components and systems
Knowing your electricity A-B-Cs
Surveying a PV system site
Delving into PV system details
Wiring and safety devices
Conductors and safety devices
Bringing a PV system to life
Putting together the mechanical parts
Adding the electrical parts
Commissioning, inspecting, and maintaining a system
Introducing the sections of code you need to know
Chapter 2: Checking Out Common Components And Systems
Introducing the components that make up PV systems
Disconnects and over current protection
Differentiating between PV system types
Figuring out the right system type for any situation
Customer is connected to the grid
Customer isn't connected to the grid
Chapter 3: Powering through electricity basics
Going with the flow: current
Distinguishing between direct current and alternating current
Measuring current with a meter
May the (electromotive) force be with you: voltage
Grasping the concept of voltage
Getting a grip on nominal voltage and operating voltage
Making a stop: resistance
Connecting current, voltage, and resistance with ohm's law
Pondering power and energy
Recognizing the differences between power and energy
Relating power to current, voltage, and resistance with the power equation
Calculating energy in terms of watt-hours
Introducing amp-hours, a companion to watt-hours
Wrapping together current, voltage, resistance, power and energy
Another electricity concept: circuit configurations
Chapter 4: Warming up to the solar resource
High (or low) energy: solar radiation
Distinguishing between direct radiation and diffuse radiation
Determining the intensity of solar radiation: irradiance
Calculating solar radiation energy: irradiation
Just for a day: peak sun hours
Examining the effects of the sun's path on the earth
Getting a grip on seasonal effects
Understanding the sun's relationship to your location: altitude and azimuth
Opening up to the solar window
Positioning PV modules to make the most of the solar resource
Orienting your array to the azimuth
Chapter 5: Properly selecting a site for PV system
Setting the stage for a site survey
Putting aside enough time
Creating a standard site-survey form
Picture this: documenting your entire site survey with digital photos
Collecting basic information during a site survey
Structural and mechanical information
Measuring information in degrees
Understanding magnetic declination
Calculating the array's tilt angle and azimuth
Exploring shading-analysis tools
Interpreting the data and bringing it all together
Analyzing reports from you shading-analysis tool
Considering the total solar resource factor
Using other collected information to plan out the design and installation
Part 2: Digging Into Complete System Details
Chapter 6: PV modules: from sand to electricity
Creating solar electricity: it all starts with a cell
Getting a grip on cell construction and manufacturing
Connecting cell construction to the photovoltaic effect
Reviewing common types of PV modules
Checking out crystalline modules
Looking at thin film modules
Pointing out electrical specifications on PV modules
Voltage temperature coefficient
Surveying test conditions for PV modules
Environmental effects on standard test conditions
Relating current and voltage in IV curves
IV curve with varying temperature
IV curve with varying irradiance
Chapter 7: Basics of batteries
Fundamentals of battery anatomy and operation
Constructing a battery, from cell to bank
Discovering how batteries charge and discharge
Comparing different types of batteries
Comprehending battery capacity
Considering the C rate for capacity
Recognizing factors that affect capacity
Specifying the type of battery to use
Specifying the battery bank size
Chapter 8: Keeping current and voltage in check: charge controllers
Essentials of charge controllers
Seeing how a charge controller works in stages
Surveying special effects provided by some charge controllers
Maximum power point tracking technology
Pros and cons of MPPT controllers
Pulse-width modulation technology
Pros and cons of PWM controllers
Specifying a charge controller
Chapter 9: Inverters: AC (from) DC
Getting the good on grid-direct inverters
Importance of transformers
Investigating battery-based inverters
Utility-interactive inverter operation
Stand-alone inverter operation
Standard features for all battery-based inverters
Sizes of battery-based inverters
Low-frequency transformer technology
Chapter 10: Staying secure: wiring and safety components
Defining the circuits in a PV system
Checking out types of conductors
Considering kinds of conduit
Perusing over current protection devices
Focusing on ground fault protection
Looking at the basics of labels.
Part 3: Sizing A PV System
Chapter 11: Sizing a grid-direct system
First things first: evaluating the budget and the available array area
Estimating the site's annual energy production
Sizing the array to meet your client's energy consumption
Determining annual energy consumption
Looking at contract options with the utility
Using consumption and contract options to select an array's needed power value
Getting ready to match an inverter to an array
Matching power values for an array and an inverter
Coming up with the right voltage values for your array and inverter
Establishing the inverter's AC voltage
Defining the inverter's DC voltage window
Calculating the modules' maximum DC voltage contribution
Figuring out the modules' minimum DC voltage contribution
Bringing it all together: combining your power and voltage information
One last check: the inverter's maximum current input
Chapter 12: Sizing a battery-based system
Get loaded: looking at loads in a battery-based system
Evaluating the loads that the battery bank must serve
Calculating the energy required during an outage for utility-interactive systems
Determining the average daily energy consumption for stand-alone systems
Temperature used for battery operation
Figuring out the battery capacity you need
Strung along: wiring the battery bank
Sizing the array in a utility-interactive system
Sizing the array in a stand-alone system
Sizing the charge controller
Power or amperage specifications
Check before you move on: comparing the size to the battery capacity
Calculating the power draw
Evaluating inverter and array power output
Incorporating a generator
Chapter 13: Sizing conductors, conduit, and safety components
Defining the PV circuits' maximum and continuous current
Calculating non-PV circuits' maximum current
Considering conditions of use with some handy tables
Putting together the details to determine conductor sizing
Accounting for voltage drop after you size your conductors
Sizing over current protection devices and disconnects
Beginning with a few basics
Placing protection PV circuits
Protecting inverter circuits
Part 4: Installing A PV System
Chapter 14: Permitting process
Obtaining permits before you install a PV system
In the beginning: having the right licenses and certifications
Home grown: permitting for residential systems
Big business: permitting for commercial systems
Not just pretty pictures: creating drawing sets
Calling out components clearly
Depicting equipment locations
Showing conductor-sizing calculations
Chapter 15: Staying safe anytime you work on a PV system
Getting a grip on general construction site safety
Identifying job-site obstacles and putting on protective gear right away
Safely working alone and with others
Taking in tips for tool safety
Limiting your exposure to the elements
Stowing a first-aid kit on the job site
Selecting your stash of ladders
Properly setting up any ladder
Raising the issue of rooftop safety
Restraining yourself with fall protection
Maintaining safe walkways
Examining electrical safety
Staying aware of general shock hazards
Charging ahead with battery safety
Chapter 16: Assembling the mechanical parts
Surveying PV array mounting methods
Building -integrated mounting
Considering loading when you mount an array on a roof
Accounting for additional dead load
Properly attaching an array to a roof
Making attachments with lag screws
Sealing roof penetrations with flashing
Supporting ground and top-of-pole mounting
Chapter 17: Integrating the electrical elements
Location is everything: knowing where to place electrical equipment
Manufacturer's requirements for equipment locations
Locations for disconnecting means
Combiner boxes and junction boxes and wiring, oh my!
Seeing red (and green and white): color-coding
Managing wires on PV modules
Protecting wires with conduit
Bonding yourself to grounding
Connecting to the utility
Determining the utility's requirements
Making a load side or line side connection
Chapter 18: Commissioning, inspecting, and maintaining a PV system
Making a list and checking it twice: preparing for commissioning
Mechanical elements? Check!
Electrical elements? Check!
Start 'er up: the commissioning process
Gathering the gear you need
Commissioning different types of systems
Verifying that the system is working
Arming yourself for inspection issues
Not having "a neat and workmanlike manner"
Forgetting about aesthetics
Failing to manage conductors on the array
Neglecting to label the system
Surveying system maintenance
Maintenance on a higher level: taking care of battery banks
Chapter 19: Ten ways to avoid common code mistakes
Providing proper working clearance
Supplying the right structural support
Keeping water out of buildings with flashing
Ensuring all conductors have the necessary ratings
Managing the conductors on modules
Selecting the correct conduit
Labeling the system properly
Chapter 20: Ten ways to maximize energy production for your clients
Orient the array correctly
Configure the array properly
Work within the limits of the utility voltage
Choose the correct inverter
Size conductors appropriately
Advise clients to monitor their system
Clean the array periodically
Inspect the array annually
