Basic Self-Assessment

Question 1: Fill in the missing items in the following table.

Electrical Quantity Symbol Unit Name
Voltage V V Volt
Current I A Amp
Resistance R Ω Ohm
Power P W Watt
Energy E Wh Watt Hour
Frequency F Hz Hertz

Question 2: Draw an AC and DC voltage and current signal below

Question 3: Calculate It, I1, I2, V1, V2 and Rt.

Rt = 50Ω + 100Ω = 150Ω

50Ω 100Ω It = I1 = I2 = 75V ÷ 150Ω = 0.5A or 500mA

75V V1 = I1 x R1 = 0.5A x 50Ω = 25V

V2 = I2 x R2 = 0.5A x 100Ω = 50V

Question 4: Calculate the Power where the voltage is 500V and the current is 10A.
P=V x I = 500V x 10A=5000W or 5kW

Question 5: In a normal 1PH home distribution box, between which two points do you measure the line voltage?
Between Live and Neutral

Question 6: In a normal 1PH home, what is the standard line voltage?

230 Volt

Question 7: What voltage do you measure when measuring between two (2) live wires in a 3PH system?
400 Volts

Question 8: How would you identify the difference between a 1PH and a 3PH distribution box or system?
There will be 3 coloured live wires and one neutral
Main switch will have 4 levers/contacts – L1, L2, L3, N

Question 9: In a series connection what happens to the voltage and in parallel what would happen to
the Ampere?

Voltage - increases / decreases Ampere – increases / decreases

Question 10: What would happen to module current if solar radiation increases?
Current increases

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Question 11: Name the 3(three) different type of Inverters commonly used in the industry?

1. Stand alone (Islanding) 2. Grid Tied 3. Hybrid

Question 12: What effect does lower temperature have on the voltage of a solar panel?

Voltage will increase

Question 13: What is the main difference between a Grid-Tied inverter and a Hybrid backup inverter?

Grid tied inverter has no batteries and switches off when there is a loss of grid

Question 14: What influences the yield of a solar panel or plant?

Irradiation / albedo effect / shading / reflection / azimuth / inclination / cleanliness of modules

Question 15: There are two (2) types of solar cells mainly used in the industry, name them?

Mono and Poly crystalline

Question 16: What are the most noticeable differences between these two panels?

Poly has wafer effect / mono has small white blocks between cells / poly has more blue-ish colour

Question 17: What is the purpose of a bypass diode?

To bypass shaded or damaged cell in a inner string

Question 18: Describe the term SoC and DoD and explain the difference between them.

State of charge – tells you how full the battery is charged

Depth of discharge – tells you how far the battery is discharged

Question 19: Four (4) panels with a Voc = 50V and Isc = 5A is connected in series.
What is the total system Voltage and Current?

200 Volt and 5 Amps

Question 20: Four (4) panels with a Voc = 50V and Isc = 5A is connected in parallel.
What is the total system Voltage and Current?

50 Volt and 20 Amps

Question 21: In the layout below, how many strings are there connected to the inverter and how are
they connected?

4 String connected in parallel

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Question 22: In the layout above each panel has a Vmp = 50V and Imp = 10A,
what is the total Vmp and Imp connected to the inverter?

300 Volt and 40Amp

Question 23: Describe the term MPP?

Maximum Power Point

Question 24: Indicate the components in the following sketch?

1. Solar Array (PV Panels/modules) 5. Inverter
2. Combiner box 6. AC Cabling
3. DC Cabling (PV cabling) 7. Metering
4. Isolators / breakers / fuses 8. Batteries

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Question 25: The following image depicts two solar panel layouts, what layout is preferred due to the shading
imposed on the panels (Left or Right) and why?

Right (horizontal). Less panels and inner strings are effected

Question 26: What is the difference between a Micro Inverter and a Power Optimizer?

Micro inverters are small grid-tie inverters mounted on each solar panel and converts DC to AC direct
Power optimizers isolate and conditions the DC power of each solar panel – DC to DC

Question 27: Describe the term STC and what are the parameters used?

Standard Test Conditions

1000 Watt per square meter
1.5 Air Mass (AM)
25 °C

Question 28: Describe the term NOCT and what are the parameters used?

Normal operation cell temperature

800 Watt per sqm meter
Windspeed = 1 m/s
20 °C

Question 29: Explain the term MPPT and the purpose of MPPT. Explain the term BOS.

MPPT: Maximum Power Point Tracker

Algorithms & electronics built into inverter and charge controllers to maximize string output.
Maximum power point moves constantly due to changes in irradiation and temperatures of modules
BOS: All other components other than PV Modules

Question 30: Draw an IV Curve incl. the 5 important points on the curve

Isc
Imp Mpp

V
Vmp VoC
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Question 31: Draw a basic Grid Tied System

Grid
PV Array

= Inverter
Bi-directional
meter

~
AC Coupled
Load

Question 32: What happens to the current on a shaded PV cell?

Current decreases due to higher resistance

Question 33: How many cells would a PV module normally have and what would the voltage be?

60 or 72 full cells and 144 half cells / average 0.5 Volt per cell

Question 34: Name at least 4 weather related factors that would influence the yield of a
PV System?

Ambient temperature / irradiation (clouds) / reflection (albedo) / wind conditions

Question 35: Name the main differences between a Super Hybrid and Hybrid (back-up) Inverter

Super hybrid has grid tied (syncs with the grid) and a back-up (battery) side and can thus
feed excess power back into the grid (bi-directional) – if permitted. Will feed high loads(non-essential) and
low loads(essential). Grid tied side(non-essentials) will switch off during load shedding. Normal hybrid
inverter will normally only be connected to essential loads to save battery power during loadshedding

Question 36: Name at least 4 items to be considered when mounting an inverter and equipment?

Exposure to elements that could influence the performance or

guarantee / manufacturers installation specifications / SANS 10142

Question 37: What needs to be considered when installing solar modules on a roof

Azimuth / inclination / type of roof / sturdiness of roof / existing and potential shading
in future / manufacturers installation specification(clamping zones etc) / SANS 10142

Question 38: Name all the parts needed when installing solar panels on a tiled roof

Roof brackets / rails / end clamps / mid clamps / bonding material (equalization clips)

Question 39: What is the most important thing to do before installing any solar equipment?

Study the equipment Installation and Data Sheets thoroughly 5

Question 40: Calculate the kWh per day of a household that spends R3000.00 per month(30days)
@ R2.50 kWh per municipality rate

R3000.00 / Month ÷ R2.50 kWh = 1200 kWh / month

1200 kWh ÷ 30days = 40 kWh / day

Question 41: How would you fasten solar modules on a flat concrete roof and what is important
to determine before installing any solar module on any roof type?

Ensure the roof are in good condition and would be able to handle the additional load
Anchored (Chemical), Concrete ballasts and Attached (Brackets)

Question 42: List at least 12 steps of installing PV modules and inverter on a tiled roof

Measure roof / determine position of roof hooks and mount roof hooks / Grind bottom of roof tiles
where brackets will be mounted / mount and level rails / measure voltage on each PV module before installing
on roof / route PV wires to combiner box / Bond & earth modules and rails / install inverter and battery(optional) /
measure string voltages before connecting to inverter / do all cabling, breakers, isolators, surge protection
Fuses, etc / commission system and hand over to client

Question 43: Name a few important things regarding any installation

Ensure the client has an up to date CoC, Check installation and data sheets, never step or place
items on modules, never exceed bending radius of cables, never disconnect cables or wiring under load,
never drill additional holes into modules aluminium frame, check for wiring chafing

Question 44: When designing a PV string what is most important relating to the inverter that you
are going to use?

a. Voltage of the string not to high – inverter will damage

b. Voltage not to low – inverter won’t start-up

Question 46: What is the purpose of a charge controller?

Charge controller changes the voltage from the PV array to the correct voltage to charge
the batteries

Question 45: What legal regulations must you conform to when installing a solar system and
explain the term?

SANS 10142-1
South African National Standards

Question 46: Why is it important to have a monitoring system on your system:

To make sure that the system performs at it’s peak all the time / to have access to data obtained and
to then ensure that nothing prohibits the system for not obtaining the yield as expected / to act in case
of a failure