C&G 2922-34 Solar PV study guide
C&G 2922-34 Solar PV · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
C&G 2922-34 is the City & Guilds qualification in the Installation and Maintenance of Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems, a Level 3, competence-focused award for people who already work in electrical installation and want to extend their work into grid-connected small-scale solar PV. Candidates typically arrive able to select protective devices, size cables, test circuits and work safely at height, and the qualification builds directly on those skills rather than teaching electrical fundamentals from scratch. The C&G 2922-34 Solar PV study guide has 5 sections and about 1,987 words.
01Health, safety and regulatory requirements for small scale solar PV
A PV array is a current-limited source that is live whenever there is daylight. There is no functional switch at the module, so the only way to make the DC side safe for work is to isolate, lock off, prove dead and cover or otherwise control the array.
418 words, about 2 min02Site survey, system design and component selection
A survey records roof covering, pitch, azimuth, rafter size and spacing (fixings must land on structure, not just sarking), roof age and condition, wind zone, shading from chimneys, trees, dormers and future growth, cable routes, inverter position, meter position and earthing arrangement (TN-S, TN-C-S or TT). Structural loading matters: a typical framed module is roughly 20–25 kg, so a 4 kWp array adds only around 15 kg/m² spread over the roof - modest, but the point loads at the fixings are not.
390 words, about 2 min03Installation of solar PV modules, mounting systems and cabling
On-roof systems use roof hooks fixed into rafters or battens, with flashing to keep the roof watertight, then aluminium rails and mid/end clamps. Respect the manufacturer's clamp zones - typically within a defined band 200–450 mm from the module edge - because clamping outside the zone can void the warranty and stress the frame.
395 words, about 2 min04Connection to consumer units, inverters and electrical distribution
A grid-connected inverter needs a dedicated final circuit from the consumer unit, a lockable AC isolator adjacent to the inverter, and a method of isolation acceptable to the DNO. The inverter should not be in a bedroom, escape route or unventilated cupboard; follow the manufacturer's clearances.
395 words, about 2 min05Commissioning, testing, fault finding and maintenance
IEC 62446-1 is the reference for PV system documentation, commissioning and testing. A typical sequence: visual inspection (labelling, connectors, cable support, earthing, IP ratings, clearances), protective earthing and bonding continuity, string polarity and open-circuit voltage, short-circuit or operating current with irradiance and module temperature recorded, insulation resistance of each string to earth, then functional checks of the inverter, AC protection, RCD and any export limitation.
389 words, about 2 min