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Solar Energy System Design & Installation Flashcards

7 cards from real NABCEP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Solar Energy System Design & Installation flashcards as text

  1. What type of roof penetration sealant is recommended for PV mounting hardware to ensure a weatherproof installation?

    Answer: Flashing kits with code-compliant waterproofing integrated into the mount

    Approved flashing kits integrate waterproofing into the mount assembly, meeting roofing standards and preventing leaks around penetrations.

  2. A string of 10 modules each with Voc of 40V is installed in a climate with a minimum design temperature of -10°F. Using the IEC 60364-7-712 method, if the voltage correction factor at -10°F is 1.25, what is the maximum string Voc?

    Answer: 500V

    Maximum Voc = 10 modules × 40V × 1.25 correction factor = 500V, which must not exceed the inverter's maximum input voltage.

  3. Which tool is most commonly used during commissioning to verify that each PV module in a string is producing power and to identify failed modules?

    Answer: Thermal infrared camera

    An infrared camera reveals hot spots, failed bypass diodes, and shading effects that indicate underperforming modules during commissioning.

  4. What is the purpose of a module-level power electronics (MLPE) device such as a microinverter or DC optimizer?

    Answer: To mitigate shading and mismatch losses by independently maximizing each module's power output

    MLPEs perform per-module maximum power point tracking, reducing losses caused by partial shading, soiling, or module mismatch.

  5. Which of the following is a key design consideration when using transformerless inverters in a PV system?

    Answer: The PV array must not have a grounded conductor under NEC 690.35 conditions

    Transformerless inverters typically require an ungrounded PV array because they lack galvanic isolation, and NEC 690.35 addresses ungrounded PV system requirements.

  6. What does the term 'specific yield' refer to in PV system performance analysis?

    Answer: Annual AC energy production per unit of installed DC capacity (kWh/kWp/year)

    Specific yield normalizes a system's annual energy production by its DC nameplate capacity, enabling comparison across different system sizes and locations.

  7. In a residential battery storage system connected to an existing PV array, what is typically required to ensure the battery can charge from the grid independently of the PV system?

    Answer: A separate AC-coupled inverter/charger with its own utility connection

    An AC-coupled inverter/charger with a utility connection allows the battery to charge from the grid when PV production is insufficient.