NABCEP Photovoltaic Associate (PVA)
Examination QUESTION AND CORRECT
ANSWERS(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary function of a photovoltaic (PV) module?
A. Store electrical energy
B. Convert AC power to DC
C. Convert sunlight into electrical energy
D. Regulate system voltage
Correct because PV modules use the photovoltaic effect to convert solar
radiation directly into DC electricity.
2. Which type of current is produced by PV modules?
A. Alternating current (AC)
B. Direct current (DC)
C. Pulsed current
D. Induced current
PV cells inherently produce DC electricity due to electron flow in one
direction.
3. What component converts DC electricity from PV modules into AC
electricity?
A. Charge controller
B. Combiner box
C. Inverter
D. Disconnect switch
Inverters are designed to change DC power into usable AC power for loads
or the grid.
,4. What does STC stand for in PV system ratings?
A. Standard Temperature Calculation
B. Standard Test Conditions
C. Solar Thermal Coefficient
D. System Technical Code
STC defines laboratory conditions used to rate PV module performance.
5. Under STC, what is the reference cell temperature?
A. 15°C
B. 20°C
C. 25°C
D. 30°C
PV modules are rated at 25°C cell temperature under STC.
6. Which factor most directly affects PV module output?
A. Wind speed
B. Solar irradiance
C. Humidity
D. Ground resistance
Higher irradiance results in greater electron excitation and higher output.
7. What unit is used to measure solar irradiance?
A. Volts
B. Amps
C. Watts per square meter (W/m²)
D. Kilowatt-hours
Irradiance measures power of sunlight per unit area.
8. Which PV module type is made from a single crystal structure?
A. Thin-film
B. Polycrystalline
C. Monocrystalline
D. Amorphous
Monocrystalline modules are manufactured from single-crystal silicon.
9. Which PV module generally has the highest efficiency?
A. Thin-film
B. Polycrystalline
, C. Monocrystalline
D. Amorphous silicon
Monocrystalline modules typically achieve the highest efficiencies.
10.What happens to PV module voltage as temperature increases?
A. It increases
B. It decreases
C. It stays the same
D. It becomes unstable
Higher temperatures reduce voltage due to semiconductor behavior.
11.Which component protects batteries from overcharging?
A. Inverter
B. Charge controller
C. Disconnect
D. Combiner
Charge controllers regulate charging to prevent battery damage.
12.What is the main role of a combiner box?
A. Convert DC to AC
B. Store energy
C. Combine multiple PV strings into one output
D. Ground the system
Combiner boxes simplify wiring by merging string outputs.
13.What does MPPT stand for?
A. Maximum Power Protection Technology
B. Maximum Power Point Tracking
C. Modular Power Performance Tool
D. Multi-Phase Power Transfer
MPPT optimizes voltage/current to extract maximum power from PV
modules.
14.Which system is connected directly to the utility grid?
A. Stand-alone system
B. Grid-tied system
C. Hybrid off-grid system
Examination QUESTION AND CORRECT
ANSWERS(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary function of a photovoltaic (PV) module?
A. Store electrical energy
B. Convert AC power to DC
C. Convert sunlight into electrical energy
D. Regulate system voltage
Correct because PV modules use the photovoltaic effect to convert solar
radiation directly into DC electricity.
2. Which type of current is produced by PV modules?
A. Alternating current (AC)
B. Direct current (DC)
C. Pulsed current
D. Induced current
PV cells inherently produce DC electricity due to electron flow in one
direction.
3. What component converts DC electricity from PV modules into AC
electricity?
A. Charge controller
B. Combiner box
C. Inverter
D. Disconnect switch
Inverters are designed to change DC power into usable AC power for loads
or the grid.
,4. What does STC stand for in PV system ratings?
A. Standard Temperature Calculation
B. Standard Test Conditions
C. Solar Thermal Coefficient
D. System Technical Code
STC defines laboratory conditions used to rate PV module performance.
5. Under STC, what is the reference cell temperature?
A. 15°C
B. 20°C
C. 25°C
D. 30°C
PV modules are rated at 25°C cell temperature under STC.
6. Which factor most directly affects PV module output?
A. Wind speed
B. Solar irradiance
C. Humidity
D. Ground resistance
Higher irradiance results in greater electron excitation and higher output.
7. What unit is used to measure solar irradiance?
A. Volts
B. Amps
C. Watts per square meter (W/m²)
D. Kilowatt-hours
Irradiance measures power of sunlight per unit area.
8. Which PV module type is made from a single crystal structure?
A. Thin-film
B. Polycrystalline
C. Monocrystalline
D. Amorphous
Monocrystalline modules are manufactured from single-crystal silicon.
9. Which PV module generally has the highest efficiency?
A. Thin-film
B. Polycrystalline
, C. Monocrystalline
D. Amorphous silicon
Monocrystalline modules typically achieve the highest efficiencies.
10.What happens to PV module voltage as temperature increases?
A. It increases
B. It decreases
C. It stays the same
D. It becomes unstable
Higher temperatures reduce voltage due to semiconductor behavior.
11.Which component protects batteries from overcharging?
A. Inverter
B. Charge controller
C. Disconnect
D. Combiner
Charge controllers regulate charging to prevent battery damage.
12.What is the main role of a combiner box?
A. Convert DC to AC
B. Store energy
C. Combine multiple PV strings into one output
D. Ground the system
Combiner boxes simplify wiring by merging string outputs.
13.What does MPPT stand for?
A. Maximum Power Protection Technology
B. Maximum Power Point Tracking
C. Modular Power Performance Tool
D. Multi-Phase Power Transfer
MPPT optimizes voltage/current to extract maximum power from PV
modules.
14.Which system is connected directly to the utility grid?
A. Stand-alone system
B. Grid-tied system
C. Hybrid off-grid system
