NABCEP PV ASSOCIATE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS NEWEST RATED A+ 2025/2026 NEW!!
An off-grid installa on has a 1HP pump that is on 10% of the me and a 20W light that is on
100% of the me. What is the monthly energy use? - Ans 68KWh
1HP = 746W
746W * 0.1 * 24hours * 30days = 53712Wh
20W * 24hrs * 30days = 14400Wh
14400 + 53712 = 68112Wh
68kWh
What kind of ground faults do most inverters detect? - Ans DC
Inverters detect dc ground faults. AC ground faults are detected on the AC side of the inverter at
the distribu on paned (MSP, load center). Most inverters are not connected to high or medium
voltage. Medium voltage is thousands of volts, large u lity scale inverters are connected to
medium voltage via a transformer
Current carrying ability of a conductor (wire) is called - Ans Ampacity
According to ohms law and voltage drop, the rela onship between voltage drop and current is -
Ans Propor onal. Ohms law: V = I*R
More current makes more voltage drop. This is a reason why we need a larger wire with more
current, so the wire resistance is less with a larger wire and there will be less voltage drop.
An array in a hot and dry place is not producing as expected in summer me. Which of the
following is NOT a likely problem:
a) Decreased ac wire size and voltage loss
b) String size too short
,C) String size too long
D) Soiling - Ans C) String size too short. When it is hot, voltage can be low. Too long of a string
would be a problem when it is too cold not too hot.
When using a digital mul meter, what is the first thing you should do? - Ans Inspect the meter.
Always inspect first, look before you touch
is the worst design error?
A) BIPV on a commercial job
B) A fast-growing tree to the north of an array in Idaho
C) PV at 5-degree lt at 40 degrees la tude
D) Different lt angles in a PV source circuit - Ans D) Different lt or azimuth opera on within a
source circuit is bad. Series connec ons should not have different orienta ons
MPPT is for - Ans MPPT is maximum power point tracking and will op mize the energy
harnessed from PV. Some inverters have mul ple MPPTs. Charge controllers oBen, but don't
always, have MPPTs
Concentrated PV:
A) Only works with direct sunlight
B) Usually has a single axis tracker
C) Will get 30% power during cloudy condi ons
D) Is using heat to make electricity - Ans A) Only works in direct sunlight. usually works with 2-
axis trackers to always point at the sun and will not work at all in cloudy condi ons.
Concentrated PV =! Concentra ng Solar thermal
Fall protec on should be used at heights over - Ans 6 feet
, Parallel PV circuit connec ons increase - Ans Parallel increase current. Series increase voltage
Op mal lt for off-grid PV system in the winter - Ans La tude + 15 degrees is Op mal lt to
maximize winter produc on. The sun is lower in the winter, requiring a higher lt angle
What is the most acceptable ra ng of an enclosure for exposed circuit conductors mounted on
an outside wall? - Ans NEMA 3R
Bypass diodes are located in the
A) Combiner box
B) Inverter
C) Wiring harness
D) PV Module - Ans Bypass diodes are in PV module junc on box. Diverts current around a
group of cells if one is shaded. Usually 3 diodes/PV module
PV array at higher eleva on would tend to produce more - Ans Current. Higher eleva on, less
atmosphere, more irradiance, more current. High eleva on can also be cooler meaning more
voltage from cold temps.
How much 14% efficient PV fits on 25 Square Meters
A) 3000W
B) 4.5kW
C) 4000W
D) 3.5kW - Ans D) 3.5kW. 14% efficient = 0.14*1000W/M^2 = 140 W/m^2
140 * 25 = 3500W = 3.5kW
Which is the smallest conductor? - Ans 18 AWG
ANSWERS NEWEST RATED A+ 2025/2026 NEW!!
An off-grid installa on has a 1HP pump that is on 10% of the me and a 20W light that is on
100% of the me. What is the monthly energy use? - Ans 68KWh
1HP = 746W
746W * 0.1 * 24hours * 30days = 53712Wh
20W * 24hrs * 30days = 14400Wh
14400 + 53712 = 68112Wh
68kWh
What kind of ground faults do most inverters detect? - Ans DC
Inverters detect dc ground faults. AC ground faults are detected on the AC side of the inverter at
the distribu on paned (MSP, load center). Most inverters are not connected to high or medium
voltage. Medium voltage is thousands of volts, large u lity scale inverters are connected to
medium voltage via a transformer
Current carrying ability of a conductor (wire) is called - Ans Ampacity
According to ohms law and voltage drop, the rela onship between voltage drop and current is -
Ans Propor onal. Ohms law: V = I*R
More current makes more voltage drop. This is a reason why we need a larger wire with more
current, so the wire resistance is less with a larger wire and there will be less voltage drop.
An array in a hot and dry place is not producing as expected in summer me. Which of the
following is NOT a likely problem:
a) Decreased ac wire size and voltage loss
b) String size too short
,C) String size too long
D) Soiling - Ans C) String size too short. When it is hot, voltage can be low. Too long of a string
would be a problem when it is too cold not too hot.
When using a digital mul meter, what is the first thing you should do? - Ans Inspect the meter.
Always inspect first, look before you touch
is the worst design error?
A) BIPV on a commercial job
B) A fast-growing tree to the north of an array in Idaho
C) PV at 5-degree lt at 40 degrees la tude
D) Different lt angles in a PV source circuit - Ans D) Different lt or azimuth opera on within a
source circuit is bad. Series connec ons should not have different orienta ons
MPPT is for - Ans MPPT is maximum power point tracking and will op mize the energy
harnessed from PV. Some inverters have mul ple MPPTs. Charge controllers oBen, but don't
always, have MPPTs
Concentrated PV:
A) Only works with direct sunlight
B) Usually has a single axis tracker
C) Will get 30% power during cloudy condi ons
D) Is using heat to make electricity - Ans A) Only works in direct sunlight. usually works with 2-
axis trackers to always point at the sun and will not work at all in cloudy condi ons.
Concentrated PV =! Concentra ng Solar thermal
Fall protec on should be used at heights over - Ans 6 feet
, Parallel PV circuit connec ons increase - Ans Parallel increase current. Series increase voltage
Op mal lt for off-grid PV system in the winter - Ans La tude + 15 degrees is Op mal lt to
maximize winter produc on. The sun is lower in the winter, requiring a higher lt angle
What is the most acceptable ra ng of an enclosure for exposed circuit conductors mounted on
an outside wall? - Ans NEMA 3R
Bypass diodes are located in the
A) Combiner box
B) Inverter
C) Wiring harness
D) PV Module - Ans Bypass diodes are in PV module junc on box. Diverts current around a
group of cells if one is shaded. Usually 3 diodes/PV module
PV array at higher eleva on would tend to produce more - Ans Current. Higher eleva on, less
atmosphere, more irradiance, more current. High eleva on can also be cooler meaning more
voltage from cold temps.
How much 14% efficient PV fits on 25 Square Meters
A) 3000W
B) 4.5kW
C) 4000W
D) 3.5kW - Ans D) 3.5kW. 14% efficient = 0.14*1000W/M^2 = 140 W/m^2
140 * 25 = 3500W = 3.5kW
Which is the smallest conductor? - Ans 18 AWG
