Subject: Solar Technician Training Workshop

From: "Solar Energy Industries Assoc." <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 3 May 1995 14:20:34 GMT

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