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Solar Technician Training Workshop
NOTE: AGENDA INCLUDED
Solar Hot Water Technician Training Workshop
REFURBISHMENT AND INSTALLATION OF LARGE AND SMALL
SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS
June 2-3, 1995
Albuquerque, NM
Sponsored by:
Sandia National Laboratories
Conducted by:
Renewable Energy & Efficiency Training Institute
and
SEMCO/AAA Solar
Background
The owners of thousands of non-functioning solar hot water systems (large
and small) are eager to get them working again. However, most businesses
in the Solar Thermal Industry today lack qualified service technicians who
can perform the simple repairs needed. Many qualified people, who were
trained in the 80's, are now either in business for themselves or have
moved on to greener pastures. The bottom line is this: if our industry
cannot find technicians, then we must train them. To that end, this
workshop is offered to you and your employees.
Workshop Content
The first of this series of traveling workshops will be
held on Friday and Saturday, June 2 and 3, 1995 at the National Solar
Thermal Test Facility at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. The
two day workshop will cover several types of solar water heating systems
and will emphasize maintenance and repair, because if technicians can
troubleshoot and repair older existing equipment then they can also
install new equipment. The workshop is split between classroom
lecture/discussion and hands-on exercises with printed instructions.
Attendees will assemble and troubleshoot several types of solar water
heating systems. All attendees will receive a course text and a
manufacturers spec book, which will be a handy reference in the field. At
the end of the workshop there will be a self-evaluation quiz for attendees
to gauge what they have learned and what other information might be
useful.
Who Should Attend
The typical attendee for this workshop is probably
already employed by a renewable energy company in some capacity and needs
to be brought up to speed to fill a niche in their company. The workshop
is not limited to such people. Contractors in related trades, architects,
engineers, and academic and government renewable energy professionals are
also welcome.
If you are not sure if this workshop is for you, call "Smitty" at SEMCO
(800) 246-8803. Attendees should plan on bringing a small box of hand
tools including multimeter, electrical tools, and small adjustable
wrenches.
Who Should NOT Attend
If you are presently servicing solar hot water systems with little trouble
and/or feel you have a good understanding of the industry and the
equipment it has generated in the last 15 years, then this workshop will
waste your time and ours.
Instructors
Chuck Marken (AAA Solar), Odes Caster (AAA Solar), Jeff "Smitty" Schmitt
(SEMCO), and Tim Connolly (SEMCO) will be teaching the workshop.
Collectively they have over 55 years of experience in the solar business
and have installed or serviced over 10,000 solar water heating systems.
Registration
Deadline for registration is May 15. Class size will be limited to 25
people on a first-come- first-served basis. To register, fill out the
enclosed registration form, and mail it along with a check for $50.00
($40.00 for NM SEIA Chapter members) made payable to "Renewable Energy
Training Institute" to:
RETI, 122 C St. NW, 4th floor
Washington, DC 20001
attn: Jeff Ross or Jeff Keas
After registering, you will receive additional information about the
workshop, including transportation and recommended hotel accommodations.
For More Information
Jeff Ross or Jeff Keas, Renewable Energy Training Institute
ph: 202-383-2559 (2614), fax: 202-383-2670 (2555)
Chuck Marken, AAA Solar Service & Supply, Inc.
ph: 800-245-0311, fax: 505-243-088
WORKSHOP AGENDA
The workshop is composed of four sessions, one each morning and one each
afternoon. Each session is divided into a classroom component and a
corresponding hands-on component, with approximately 50% of the time
devoted to each component. Day One will concentrate on plumbing and
mechanical aspects and Day Two will address electrical controls and
troubleshooting.
FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 7AM TO 5PM
7:00 - 9:30 CLASSROOM
Introduction
Recent history of solar industry (last 15 years)
Solar water heating theory - how and why it works
Solar collectors - types and applications
Collector orientation, tilt and mounting
BREAK
Passive batch water heaters
Thermosyphon systems
Direct pump and recirculation systems
Glycol/oil systems
Draindown and drainback systems and why they are not
used
Swimming pool systems, both indoor and outdoor
Space heating systems
10:00 - 11:30 HANDS-ON (Workshop participants will be
divided into 4 groups and rotate between the following stations)
1. Simulated rooftoop - mounting orientation and safety
2. Soldering and brazing
3. Collector construction and repair
4. Piping a thermosyphon system
5. Piping a glycol system
6. Piping a swimming pool system
11:30 - 12:30 LUNCH (provided by Sandia)
12:30 - 2:30 CLASSROOM
What to look for in large commercial/industrial systems
(John Anderson, SNL)
Pumps - types and uses
Head and flow considerations and pump
replacement/substitution
Heat exchangers, liquid to liquid and air to liquid
BREAK
Storage tanks, construction and application
Piping and material compatibility, insulation types
Fluids, fluid compatibility and expansion tanks
Flushing and filing glycol systems, getting the air out
Hard water considerations and remedies
3:00 - 5:00 HANDS-ON (4 groups to 5 stations)
1. Tour of industrial solar thermal equipment at Sandia
2. Pump troubleshooting
3. Pump changeouts and substitutions
4. Glycol drain, purge and fill
5. Unplugging a heat exchanger
SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 7AM TO 5PM
7:00 - 9:00 CLASSROOM
Measuring BTU output and understanding test data
AC and DC electricity - load voltage and control
voltage
Basic switching devices and how they work
Set point control, thermostats and aquastats
Differential controls and thermistors
BREAK
Multiple differentials and multiple outputs
Domestic hot water controls
Control strategies for space heat
Pool/spa controllers
9:30 - 11:00 HANDS-ON (4 groups to 4 stations)
1. Glycol system controls install station
2. Bulk storage commercial controls install station
3. Pool systems install station
4. Space heating controls install station
11:00 - 12:00 LUNCH (provided by Sandia)
12:00 - 2:00 CLASSROOM
Troubleshooting logic trees
Standard test equipment and how to use it
Component substitutions - recognizing what's there
2:00 - 4:00 HANDS-ON
This session involves all participants at a troubleshooting
station. Trainers will disable a hot water systems and
each group of participants will have 5-10 minutes to
diagnose and recommend repairs to the faulty system.
The remainder of the class will be given an opportunity
to agree or recommend other solutions. Simulated
repair situations will include such problems as stuck
sensors, bad relays, open wiring, and bad capacitors.
4:00 - 5:00 QUESTION & ANSWER, QUIZ, EVALUATIONS
Solar Technician Training Workshop