Boots on the Roof, one of the best solar/wind training providers in the San Francisco bay area, is currently enrolling students into its upcoming Solar PV and Wind Energy training boot camp.  Students can get certified as solar PV installers. The training program includes hands-on labs, classroom activities focusing on solar electric system design, safety regulations, installation and extra business topics related to photovoltaic.  To learn more about dates, locations, and course details,  click here.

Why? The answer is because wiring a building to run off of solar power requires very different technologies and skill sets than wiring a building to run off of the local electrical power grid.

Using local grid power, regular home construction electricians are used to accessing a constant, regulated, steady flow of electricity from the local power grid. All they have to do is distribute that constant flow of electricity throughout the building via the standard residential electrical wiring network.

Solar power, however, is much more complex. Under solar power systems, electricity comes not from the local power grid, but from the sun. Solar panels in the roof convert sunlight to electricity. Consequently, the flow of electricity is neither regulated nor constant. To overcome this problem, electricity generated by the solar panels is stored in battery banks. The batteries, in turn, provide a regulated, steady flow of electricity to the building. If the batteries are depleted, the home electrical network needs to be able to switch seamlessly back over to the local power grid.

All this, obviously, adds an extra layer of complexity to wiring a building’s electrical network. Any electrician specialized in dealing with it will be in high demand in the solar power industry.

How will I use my Solar Power Training Certification–What Does a Solar Electrician Do?

In addition to wiring a home or building with the usual electrical network, a solar electricians must also set up the solar energy battery banks. This is not as easy as it sounds. The solar electrician must know what type of batteries to use, and how many will be needed. If there is more than one battery (as with all but the most basic solar power system there will be), the solar electrician will need to set up load-balancing equipment to charge and deplete the multiple batteries evenly. The electricity will also need to be converted from DC power to the 120-volt AC power used in the building’s wall outlets.

Solar electricians also need to be also to install instrumentation to measure the charge in the battery banks, and control mechanisms to switch over to local grid power when the battery banks are almost drained. Today, very few homes are capable of being powered entirely by solar energy. Most use a combination of solar and grid power, using the solar power produced merely to reduce their monthly power bill.

How Do I Become a Solar Electrician?

At least an Associate’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field would be the required to qualify as a Solar Electrician. Obviously, a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree you be preferable. If possible, attend a solar school rather than a community college or a vocational school program to get solar panel installation training. Not only will a solar school train you in the specializations needed to work with solar power systems, but you’ll learn more about solar power in general. Both of these will make your degree more attractive for a solar power company, and increase your chances of being hired.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable Energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar PV Installation Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

• They produce free energy;
• Solar panel systems are ecological, they don’t affect the environment or produce residues;
• Energy produced by solar panel systems is drainless;
• Solar panel systems don’t need complicated equipment for processing or transporting the resources, prior their usage.

There are many companies specializing in producing solar panel systems. Solar panel systems work on a simple principle: they convert solar radiation in heat and the heat is used for heating water. Therefore, you can obtain hot water for domestic purposes or for heating systems. Moreover, electricity produced by solar panel systems is far more convenient than the classic energy bill you see every month. There are absolutely no drawbacks when it comes to solar panel systems. Whether you decide to use them for lowering your energy or heating expenses or for gaining independence from the traditional energy networks, solar panel systems are an excellent choice.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar Thermal Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar Thermal Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

Solar water heaters, known also under the name of solar domestic hot water system could prove to provide a method that is cost effective in providing hot water in a home. They are able to be of use in almost any climate. The sunshine they use for a fuel source is free.

The systems that solar water heaters use include components like solar collectors and storage tanks. The two kinds of solar water heaters are active, which needs controls and circulating pumps, and passive which does not. The majority of solar water heaters have to have storage tanks with good insulation. Storage tanks for solar use have another inlet and outlet valve that is connected in and out of the collector. For systems that have two tanks, solar water heaters preheat the water prior to entering a standard water heater. For systems that have only one tank, the back-up water heater is paired with solar storage in the one tank.

A solar power home most likely will take advantage of one of three kinds of solar collectors. These are:

1. Glazed or unglazed flat-plate collectors
2. Integral collector-storage systems (also called batch systems or ICS)
3. Evacuated-tube solar collectors

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar PV Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

PV solar panels (PV is short for photovoltaic) are collectors that capture solar radiation or radiant heat from sunlight and convert it to useable energy in the form of electrical current that then can be used to power appliances or other devices within the home or building. Most PV solar panels are connected in arrays that can be either mounted on the roof of a structure, or other places where it will receive the maximum exposure to the sun’s rays. The solar array may then be attached to the electrical system of the house by a cable.

If the house or building is close enough to a utility power grid, it can be added in through a net metering system. This net meter is able to run forwards and backwards so that the consumer can draw wattage from the grid if it is too dark or overcast to generate power. Any overage in wattage generated may be sold back to the grid to be used by other customers.

If a house is not close enough to a utility grid to conveniently hook on, a system of storage batteries can be installed which can store enough electrical current to take care of any power needs until such time as the PV solar panels can capture sunlight again and recharge the batteries. When connected to solar heating systems, photovoltaic solar panels can heat a house or provide hot water.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar PV Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

Training in solar energy will come into play especially in the area of solar install training. The solar technician will be able to design a system that generates enough electrical power to meet the needs of the homeowner. This new technology will bring electricity to houses that in the past have had to go without because they were too remote from any power grid system to be able to take advantage of it.

Training in  solar energy will also bring the availability of hot water to places where the only way to get it was to heat it over wood fires or use fossil fuels like coal or bottled propane gas. By using a tank-less solar hot water system powered by solar energy, people in remote areas can now enjoy the benefits of a nearly unlimited supply of hot water that will not affect the environment negatively. A solar system will also allow the use of technology like a computer where this was not possible before. One important example of this is the installation of small solar systems that power remote monitoring sensors for things like pipelines, earthquake activity or phone availability for emergencies.

It is clear that training on solar energy will provide a job path that will be very much in demand in the future as the need for renewable energy mushrooms. Even if the economy continues to decline, this is one career that will show steady growth in light of the ever-increasing need for qualified workers.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar PV Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

A solar hot water system can come in one of several forms. One particular style consists of a tankless hot water system that runs off the electricity generated by solar panels installed on the structure. Whenever hot water is needed, just the hot water that will be used is heated, offering a savings in energy costs to the homeowner because water does not need to be kept heated and circulated in a tank as is done with the older water tank technology.

The other system has specialty plumbing which runs under solar panels and is heated by the radiant heat that is collected by the solar panels. When it also is part of a system that provides heat to the structure, it runs through piping placed in the floors or walls, sending the cooled water back up to be reheated when the sun strikes the solar panels again. This particular configuration might require specialized solar panels installation training to insure that the panels and plumbing cause no damage to the structure in the event of a malfunction.

Even solar hot water systems that are gas fired might have to have electrical circuitry installed to fire the starter or ignition system, so it is still quite possible to gain a saving in energy costs by making use of the electrical energy generated by solar panels, rather than having to buy power from the local utility grid.

Ideally, solar hot water training or solar panels installation training will help someone who is already in the contracting business to integrate this new, green technology into new construction. In addition, the contractor can make this technology available to those who are looking to do remodeling and who want to upgrade from older, less energy-efficient systems. Through these solar training classes, the resulting replacement of the old technology will prove to be a savings both in reduced power usage by the consumer, and will draw less on vanishing resources like the coal now used to generate a significant portion of the electricity consumed today.

Boots on the Roof, a leading Renewable energy training institute, is enrolling students into its Solar Thermal Training classes. For more information on qualifications, Training Dates and Locations, click here.

Many times solar thermal training and solar hot water training will go hand in hand with the training that those currently in the construction business already have in HVAC. This solar technology training will allow the contractor or installer to design a system which will make use of the newer, more energy efficient technology to heat a structure using a combination of solar panels that can collect the radiant heat provided by the sun and special plumbing which can be used to transfer heat from water warmed by the sun into the structure.

Solar thermal training and solar hot water training can also be done in the context of aiding engineers and architects make use of concepts learned as a part of this training to design structures that can make use of solar energy to provide heat to a structure, or to avoid excess heat during the daylight hours, yet retaining the heat from day during the cooler nights. Some of the solar heat can come into the structure in the form of ambient light that shines down on building materials specifically chosen to store heat in the day, yet slowly dissipate it to provide heating during the nighttime. This provides almost a double savings to the consumer because not only does it save on electricity not used to power indoor lights, but it saves in power that is not needed to run a solar hot water heater system like a boiler or furnace.

Solar technology training can also help those already in the construction industry get the education necessary to seamlessly integrate solar generation and heating systems into the wiring and plumbing already in a structure. By knowing the weight of the solar panels, the installer can help figure out whether or not the roof can safely support the extra load the panels would place on it.

Solar technology training can also prepare technicians to troubleshoot and repair solar hot water heaters that may be malfunctioning. These technicians can be trained separately from those who do installations, adding an added dimension to an existing business looking to take advantage of the economic opportunities the new, green technology can provide, especially in light of the declining economy. While older, less energy efficient building techniques are suffering; those who are knowledgeable in the new systems are experiencing rapid growth and job security for the near future.

To help make learning more accessible, several manufacturers and dealers offer training in solar hot water panels and solar water heaters. PV installation training workshops for both beginners and experienced professionals cover the basics, installation, maintenance and topics of solar pv components. Webinars are becoming quite popular because you can take these courses right from the comfort of your home.

There are different types of solar hot water systems; active, which has circulating pumps and controls and passive which do not. Because we deal with varying climates, there needs to be some type of control for those areas prone to freezing temperatures. These are known as the indirect circulation systems that pump and circulate a heat transfer fluid that is non freezing through the collectors as well as a heat exchanger. Water is heated and flowed into the home. As you might imagine, this solar water heater is more expensive than the passive system.

The passive solar hot water system is usually more reliable than their active partner and lasts longer. These units work best where the temperature rarely falls below freezing and in households where the bulk of the hot water needs are in the daytime and early evening hours. Learning how an integral collector-storage passive system or a thermosyphon system operates isn’t really that difficult once you have the hands on approach in your training sessions and a good grasp on the mechanics of the solar hot water systems.

Proper installation is crucial, taking several factors into account. Solar resources, local building code requirements, climate, and safety all need to be addressed before the purchase. There is also maintenance that will need to be performed as your equipment begins to age. Some states have already begun to require a valid plumber’s and/or solar contractor’s license. Check with your state’s contractor licensing board. This might be a good time to become licensed for the future of solar hot water heaters.

Perhaps you are looking into becoming a solar hot water dealer and need to understand the basics plus receive certification necessary to start your own business. In this case, most manufacturers are more than willing to help you approach your new venture with as much knowledge as you can handle about their products.

Other ways to learn about this popular new energy saving system is to get involved with an online solar forum or plan to attend a solar and pv seminar. Most people do not realize the waste of energy in something as simple as a hot water heater. The facts alone may interest you enough to enter the solar hot water heater business. Get involved and get solar educated.

Boots on the Roof is currently enrolling students into its upcoming Solar Thermal training boot camp. To learn more about dates, locations, and course details,  click here.