NABCEP PVDS case studies
NABCEP PVDS · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The NABCEP PV Design Specialist (PVDS) credential is a board certification for professionals who hold decision-making responsibility for the design of photovoltaic systems. NABCEP describes PV Design Specialists as experts at configuring the electrical design of a project who, in assessing the project site, can design both the mechanical and electrical design components with confidence, accuracy and safety. The NABCEP PVDS case studies are 5 cases and about 4,542 words.
1String Sizing and Busbar Capacity on a Cold-Climate Retrofit
A 1988 split-level house in a jurisdiction with a −15 °C design low and a 34 °C 2% summer design high is getting a roof-mounted PV system. The 120/240 V load center has a 200 A busbar and a 200 A main breaker at the top of the bus, with every branch breaker bottom-fed.
899 words, about 4 min2Roof Attachment Spacing and Rail Expansion on a Shingle Roof
A 6:12 composition shingle roof over 2×8 rafters at 24 in. on center and 5/8 in.
904 words, about 5 min3Shading, Setbacks, and Capacity on a Two-Plane Roof
At 38.5° N, a homeowner wants 8 kW of PV. The house has a 5/12 south plane measuring 34 ft along the ridge by 14 ft from eave to ridge, and a similar west plane.
904 words, about 5 min4Responding to Plan Review Comments on a Value-Engineered Design
An 11.4 kW residential rooftop system returns from plan review with three comments. The design is 36 × 400 W modules (Voc 45.2 V) in four strings of nine, feeding an 11.4 kW string inverter rated 47.5 A at 240 V.
949 words, about 5 min5Supply-Side Connection and Feeder Design for a Commercial Array
A 40,000 ft² warehouse has a 208Y/120 V, three-phase, four-wire service with a 1,200 A service disconnect and a CT cabinet ahead of it. The PV system is four 20 kW three-phase inverters with 208 V output, 80 kW AC total.
886 words, about 4 min