Practice Test Geeks(NABCEP) North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Solar Practice Test
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Solar PV Fundamentals 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.

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  1. In a grid-tied PV system, what component is responsible for converting DC power from the array into AC power synchronized with the utility grid?

    Answer: Grid-tied inverter

    A grid-tied inverter converts DC from the PV array to AC at the correct voltage, frequency, and phase to match and feed into the utility grid.

  2. What is the purpose of anti-islanding protection in a grid-tied PV inverter?

    Answer: To shut down the inverter when grid power is lost, preventing energizing de-energized utility lines

    Anti-islanding protection shuts the inverter down during grid outages to protect utility workers from energized lines and ensure safe reconnection.

  3. A PV module has a rated power of 400W at STC. If the system's combined derating factors (temperature, soiling, wiring, inverter efficiency) equal 0.78, what is the estimated AC output power?

    Answer: 312 W

    Derated AC power = 400W × 0.78 = 312W, accounting for all system losses from STC rated power to actual AC output.

  4. What does the term 'specific yield' (or 'specific production') of a PV system represent?

    Answer: The ratio of AC energy output to DC nameplate capacity, expressed in kWh/kWp

    Specific yield (kWh/kWp) normalizes annual energy production by system nameplate capacity, enabling comparison of systems in different locations or sizes.

  5. Which of the following best describes the difference between 'irradiance' and 'insolation' in solar energy terminology?

    Answer: Irradiance is instantaneous solar power per unit area (W/m²); insolation is cumulative solar energy over time (kWh/m²)

    Irradiance is the instantaneous rate of solar energy per unit area (W/m²), while insolation is the total energy accumulated over time (kWh/m²).

  6. What is the primary function of an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracker) in a PV system?

    Answer: To continuously adjust the operating voltage of the PV array to extract maximum available power

    MPPT algorithms dynamically adjust the electrical load seen by the array to keep it operating at the voltage-current combination that delivers maximum power.

  7. When sizing a PV array for a given load, what term describes the ratio of total array output energy to total load energy demand over a given period?

    Answer: Solar fraction

    The solar fraction indicates what portion of total energy demand is met by the PV system, with the remainder supplied by the grid or backup source.