Local Historic Preservation Training Center Holds Photovoltaics Course at FCC

The National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center recently partnered with Frederick Community College’s Customized Training department to teach park service employees about the installation and maintenance of photovoltaic equipment. This is the first East Coast photovoltaic training opportunity for the group.

Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity. Twenty-five employees from throughout the region participated in the week-long training held at FCC’s Advanced Workforce Training Center.

Featuring a large open space and a building mock-up, the Advanced Workforce Training Center provided ample space and a physical structure on which to do practical applications in teaching installation and maintenance of photovoltaic equipment. The instructors for the course were Zayn Bradley and Rollie Belles of Sustainable Energy Systems.

The class explained photovoltaic theory, used hands-on exercises and covered on-grid and off-grid systems. The theory portion of the class covered photovoltaic systems, applications, technologies, components and safety. Hands-on exercises included roof tie-offs (harnessing), calculating loads and system sizing requirements, wiring, installing rack systems and solar panels, connecting battery arrays to panels, and troubleshooting. The final day of training incorporated a field trip to a solar array in the area that provides power to a home and business.

For information about planning customized training opportunities with FCC, contact Terri Householder, Customized Training program manager, at thouseholder@frederick.edu or call 301.846.2404.