Course Agenda (Course Code 100)

Stand Alone Solar Power Systems: Design And Installation

Course Code 100

Course Agenda

Note: This course is for design and installation.  Sessions relating to design e are marked with a (D), relating to installation are marked with an (I).

At the start of each day and sometimes immediately after lunch exercises are undertaken based on the previous work.

Day 1

8:30 – 8:45: Welcome and Introduction
8:45 – 9:00:  Brief overview of the course
9:00 – 9: 30: Break
9:30 – 12:00: Discussion of course manual

12:00 – 12:30: Safety
Personal safety
Safety of components
On-site inspection and risk assessment

12:30 – 1:30 – Break
1:30 – 3:00 what is solar energy?
Uses of solar energy
Advantages of solar energy

Introduction to solar home systems
What solar home systems?
Components of solar home systems
Functions of components

  • Panel
  • Charge controller
  • Battery
  • Inverter
  • Cables
  •  Loads

3:00 – 4:00: Workshop
Testing of panels

Day 2

8:30 – 9:00: Workshop
Testing of batteries
Workshop: Safety Clothing to be worn when working with wet lead batteries
Workshop: Testing and measuring voltage of cells
Workshop: Using hydrometer to measure Specific Gravity

9:00 – 9:30 – Break

9:30 -12:30: Connection of batteries and panels in:

  • Series connection
  • Parallel connection
  • Series parallel

Workshop connection of batteries and panels in

  • Series
  • Parallel
  • Series/Parallel

12:30 – 1: 30 Break
1:30 – 2:00: Irradiation and peak sun hours
Concept of peak sun hours (PSH)

2:00 – 3:00: Drawing exercise on series and parallel connection of batteries and panels

Day 3

8:30 – 9:00: Revision of the first two days

9:00 – 9:30: Break
9:30 – 12: 30: Systems sizing

  • Estimating loads
  • Daily energy use
  • Total Amp-hr  demand per day
  • Sizing and specifying batteries
  • Battery capacity

12:30 – 1:30 Break

1:30 – 4:00 System Installation

  • Sizing of controllers and inverters
  • Sizing solar array
  • Cable sizing
  • Example of solar home systems
  • Solar installation tips
  • Maintenance
  • Trouble shooting

Day 4

8:30 – 9:00 Workshop

  • Connecting up the whole system

10: 10:30       

  • Fault finding
  • Trouble shooting

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch Break
1:30 – 4:00

  • Workshop on voltage drop
  • Class Exercises
  • Questions and answers

Day 5

8:30 – 9:00 On- Site installation

One-On-One discussion (30mins with each participant)

Public Notice
In light of COVID 19 outbreak... DSTC courses can now be taken online via ZOOM app with virtual face to face sessions with our senior technical trainer... Nicholas Opoku Kwarteng. Join our next virtual class from 11th to 20th May.... call 02466976905 for details or visit www.dstcafrica.org The first week of the course provides an overview of the basic PV system applications, primarily focusing on standalone systems. The goal of this training is to create a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with all PV systems, including: system components, site analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety, and commissioning. The course will also cover the basics of wire sizing, overcurrent protection, and grounding.