Electrical code training…it’s not rocket science – not by a long shot.  But installing solar is still a technical enough (and dangerous enough) discipline that you need to know what you’re doing – plain and simple.

Properly installed, solar panels can generate clean, free energy that dramatically reduces (if not eliminates) electricity bills.  Improperly installed, solar panels can cause fires, shortages, electric shocks, and even death.

Despite the relative lack of mandatory certifications in the solar installer industry, you’re still dealing with high voltage electrical equipment.  Why electrical safety certification remains optional is a mystery to many – but the potential downsides of voluntary or inadequate training are abundantly clear.

Having a firm foundation in the National Electrical Code (NEC) not only makes you a more employable candidate, but it also makes you a safer and more responsible installer.  And the advantages don’t simply start and end with you – all of your team members and clients also benefit from safer installations.

If you’re serious about becoming a long-term professional solar PV installer, there are a million reasons to complete electrical code training and very few (if any) reasons not to.

Most Solar PV Programs Don’t Include Electrical Code Training

One of the biggest obstacles to electrical code training is the relative lack of educational options in the already confusing sea of “voluntary” certifications.  It’s a sad state of affairs, but it’s entirely possible to complete “industry standard” solar training without ever taking a single class in electrical safety and start-up sequences.

How this ever came to be, I’ll never really know.  What I’m certain of, however, is that every part of this equation needs to change.

Solar already has enough hurdles to overcome, thanks to popular misconceptions about the technology plus the occasional high-profile bankruptcy.  The last thing we need are the types of easily preventable solar fires that result from poor or non-existent electrical code training.

At US Solar Institute, we’ve partnered up with the leading authority on safety – Underwriters Laboratories (UL) – to offer a one-time electrical code training module with UL’s senior electrical instructor, Mark Ode.

Designed to address the glaring gap in standard solar PV installation training, this 5-day workshop is perfect for anyone studying for the prestigious Underwriters Laboratories Certified Solar Installer Exam – one of the most rigorous but widely recognized certifications in the industry.

Topics for this special class will include:

  • 2011 National Electrical Code, Article 690
  • BOS type, size, and selection
  • Engineering solar system size, cost, and performance
  • Solar disconnecting
  • Safety start-up sequences
  • System maintenance and operation
  • Conductors & OCP

Rise Above the Competition – Become an Electrical Safety Guru

The solar installer industry is fragmented enough that completing even the most basic training already sets you apart.  But the industry is developing rapidly as residential and commercial clients increasingly demand stronger credentials from the “professionals” they hire to install high voltage electrical equipment on their properties.

By completing our Underwriters Laboratories electrical code and solar PV safety training, you’ll be miles ahead of the competition.  You’ll also be a safer and much healthier installer – win-win.

The next (and only) upcoming course is scheduled from June 18 – 22, 2012.  Don’t miss this opportunity.  Slots are limited so sign up today!