Solar
NABCEP
Design and Installation
NABCEP PV Associate (PVA) Continuing Education
About this course
This course is designed to meet the continuing education requirements (CEUs) for NABCEP PV Associate renewal, but it is also a great course for anyone who would like to become more familiar with the National Electrical Code.
This course explains how the NEC is organized and gives an overview of the important terms and concepts in each chapter. It is a great introduction to using the NEC and a helpful review for students who want navigate the code more efficiently.
Course outline
7 modules
9:13 hours
of video lectures
Module 1 • 9 assignments
NABCEP PV Associate (PVA) Continuing Education
Module 1 • 9 assignments
NABCEP PV Associate (PVA) Continuing Education
- NABCEP PV Associate (PVA) Continuing Education (02:58 minutes) Preview
- 2017 NEC Free Download and 2020 NEC Free Access
- Books and resources
- Set up email notifications and your student profile
- Introduce yourself on the discussion board
- Discussion Board Request from Sean and Notes on Posting Discussion Board Questions
- Connect with your instructor Sean on LinkedIn
- Live Online Proctoring (LOP) for All NABCEP Exams!
- Photovoltaic Systems and the National Electric Code Book by Sean White and Bill Brooks
Welcome • 2 assignments
Orientation Materials
Welcome • 2 assignments
Orientation Materials
This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.
- Set up email notifications and your student profile
- Introduce yourself on the discussion board
Module 2 • 12 assignments
NEC Overview
Module 2 • 12 assignments
NEC Overview
- Overview: NEC Articles 100 Definitions and 110 Requirements for Electrical Installations (10:11 minutes)
- Overview: NEC Articles 200-250 including 230 Services, 240 Overcurrent Protection and 250 Grounding and Bonding (10:10 minutes)
- Overview: NEC Chapter 3 Wiring Methods and Materials, including the 310 Tables and different Articles on installing Conduits, such as EMT or Cables (11:07 minutes)
- Overview: NEC Chapters 4, 5 & 6. 4 is Equipment for General Use and includes 480 Storage Batteries, 5 is Special Occupancies and 6 is Special Equipment and includes 690 PV! (20:42 minutes)
- Overview: NEC Chapter 7 Video 1 of 2 including Articles 705 Interconnections, 706 Energy Storage Systems and 710 Stand-Alone Systems (23:31 minutes) Preview
- Overview: NEC Chapter 7 Video 2 of 2, including Articles 710 Stand Alone Systems and 712 DC Microgrids (24:27 minutes)
- Overview: NEC Chapter 9 Tables and Annex C Conduit and Tubing Fill Tables for Conductors and Fixture Wires of the Same Size (08:26 minutes)
- Memorize and Familiarize - Video 9 Useful Information (19:36 minutes)
- Memorize and Familiarize Video 10: More Useful Information (25:13 minutes)
- NEC Article 100 Definitions Part 1 (29:56 minutes)
- NEC Article 100 Definitions Part 2 (16:35 minutes)
- NEC Article 100 Definitions Part 3 (17:55 minutes)
Module 3 • 9 assignments
NEC Article 690
Module 3 • 9 assignments
NEC Article 690
- 2020 NEC Article 690 Intro and what defines a PV system (13:24 minutes)
- 2020 NEC 690.1 AC and DC Coupling, 690.2 definitions (15:39 minutes)
- 2020 NEC 690.7 Voltage (10:05 minutes)
- 2020 NEC 690.8 Current! (16:11 minutes)
- 2020 NEC 690.8(A)(2) Circuits Connected to Electronic Power Converters (19:51 minutes)
- 2020 NEC 690.9 Overcurrent Protection (13:13 minutes)
- Bill Brooks on Rapid Shutdown Part 1 Outside of the Array Boundary (14:50 minutes) Preview
- Bill Brooks on Rapid Shutdown Part 2 inside of the Array Boundary (20:07 minutes)
- 691 Large-Scale Photovoltaic (04:18 minutes)
Module 4 • 7 assignments
NEC Article 706 (Energy Storage Systems) and 705 (Interconnections)
Module 4 • 7 assignments
NEC Article 706 (Energy Storage Systems) and 705 (Interconnections)
- 2020 National Electrical Code 706 With Bill Brooks Part 1 (20:04 minutes)
- 2020 National Electrical Code 706 With Bill Brooks Part 2 (17:26 minutes)
- Energy Storage System Code in the NEC besides Article 706 ESS Part 1 (22:21 minutes)
- Energy Storage System Code in the NEC besides Article 706 ESS Part 2 (16:10 minutes)
- NEC 4- Chapter 6, 7, 8 and 9 (21:14 minutes)
- NEC Article 705 Interconnected Power Production Sources Part 1 (21:31 minutes)
- NEC Article 705 Interconnected Power Production Sources Part 2 (17:52 minutes)
Module 5 • 8 assignments
More Codes and Standards
Module 5 • 8 assignments
More Codes and Standards
- Grounding electrode schemes and transformers with emphasis on utility-scale (double advanced topic) (21:27 minutes)
- Answer to Question on Connecting PV System to a Split Bus Panel (10:59 minutes)
- Code-Compliant Conductor Sizing - SolarPro (PDF) (.pdf)
- Code Compliant Conductor Sizing: an updated take on a 2011 SolarPro Article Part 1 (16:41 minutes)
- Code Compliant Conductor Sizing: an updated take on a 2011 SolarPro Article Part 2 (18:55 minutes)
- Wire Sizing (Chapter 12 PV and the NEC) (.pdf)
- PV UL Listing 1703 transitioned to UL 61730 (.pdf)
- 690.12(B)(2)(1) Rapid Shutdown UL Listing
Conclusion • 4 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
Conclusion • 4 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!
- 1 Year of Access to Course Materials
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Continuing Education Units
Approved NABCEP CEU Hours
| NABCEP Credential | Advanced Hours for Exam | Recertification CEU Hours | NEC | JTA | RE Elective | Building or Fire Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 0 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 0 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 0 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Instructors
Sean White
2014 IREC Trainer of the Year, HeatSpring / White House Energy Inc. / Sean White Solar / Norcal Solar
Sean White was the 2014 Interstate Renewable Energy Council Trainer of the Year. He is an IREC Certified Solar PV Master Trainer and has authored several books on solar. He contributed to the development of the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Job Task Analysis and has been a member of the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Technical Committee. Sean is a...
Bill Brooks
Principal, Brooks Engineering
Bill Brooks PE, of Brooks Engineering LLC, has over 30 years of experience designing, installing, and evaluating grid-connected PV systems. More than 12,000 installers and inspectors have attended his courses throughout the U.S. and abroad. His field troubleshooting skills have been valuable in determining where problems occur to focus training on those issues of...