Training Center

Our 5-Day Entry Level Thermal Installation and Design Course  incorporates Instructor-led lectures, presentations and hands-on labs, including the use of site-assessment tools in the design of solar thermal systems. 

*Approved for 40-hours of NABCEP Continuing Education Credits*

Topics covered:
- Collector Orientation, Design & Function
- Solar Thermal Applications (pool, space & water heating)
- Open & Closed Loop Systems
- Service & Troubleshooting
- Hands-On Installation Labs (flush mount & rail mount)
- Pump & Tank Selection & Configuration
- Residential & Commercial Attachments

Day 1
• Solar Insolation
• Collector Orientation
• Solar Pathfinder description & operation
• Lab - use of Solar Pathfinder
• Solmetric SunEye description & operation
• Lab - use of SunEye
• Heat flow properties
• Flat plate collector design
• Low. Medium, and high temperature collectors
• Single and dual tank systems
• Types and comparison of solar water heating systems i.e. active systems, passive systems, open loop direct, closed loop indirect, PV controlled systems, Glycol closed loop, Steamback systems, Drainback systems
• System components
• Introduction to solar thermal application (water heating, pool heating, space heating)

Day 2
• Collector Mounting – lag mount, spanner mount, j-bolt mount
• Lab - flush mounting collector
• Lab - rail mounting collector
• Open loop components
• Closed loop glycol and Steamback components
• Closed loop Drainback components
• Differential control & sensors
• Lab - wire and program differential control

Day 3
• Sealing pipe penetrations
• Flush mount install on asphalt shingle roof
• Rail mount install on asphalt shingle roof
• Setting mounts on a tile roof
• Solar heated swimming pool equipment & system layout
• Lab - install Open loop system
• Charging Closed Loop systems
• Lab - install Closed loop system

Day 4
• Lab - install Drainback system
• Lab - install solar pool heating system
• Service of open loop, closed loop glycol & Drainback systems
• Sales & Marketing of Solar Thermal systems
• Customer scenarios; working with equipment distributors

Day 5
• BTU
• Solar Rating and Certification Corporation SRCC
• Using SRCC reports as a design tool
• Collector Efficiency curve
• Using efficiency curve as a design tool
• Determine gallon capacity using BTU formula
• Balancing multiple tank installation
• Balancing single bank collector array
• Balancing multiple bank array
• Pump selection, sizing, and configuring
• Determining system fluid capacity
• Attaching collectors to commercial buildings
• Solar space heating sizing & design (forced air, radiant floor, ground water source heat pumps)
• Solar Pool heating – sizing and design
• Solar system flow rates vs. pool filtration