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WAGE PLACEMENT SCALE

Score %	Correct	Wage Range	Classification
Below 70%	0-34	NOT PASSING	Retest after 30-day training
70-79%	35-39	$16 - $22/hr	Entry Level Apprentice
80-84%	40-42	$23 - $30/hr	Apprentice Installer
85-89%	43-44	$31 - $38/hr	Journeyman Technician
90-94%	45-47	$39 - $45/hr	Senior Technician
95-100%	48-50	$46 - $50/hr	Lead/Master Technician

📋 TEST INSTRUCTIONS:

You may change your answers at any time before submitting
Correct answers are not shown until you submit the test
You must answer all 50 questions before the Submit button appears
Results will be automatically emailed to SunFusion upon submission
Passing score: 70% (35/50 correct)

1 What is the formula for calculating electrical power (watts)?

A) P = V × I B) P = V ÷ I C) P = I ÷ R D) P = V + I

Correct: A) P = V × I (Power = Voltage × Current). This is the fundamental power equation.

2 According to Ohm's Law, if voltage increases and resistance stays constant, current will:

A) Decrease proportionally B) Increase proportionally C) Remain unchanged D) Fluctuate randomly

Correct: B) Ohm's Law: I = V/R. If V increases and R is constant, current increases proportionally.

3 What is the total resistance of three 30-ohm resistors connected in parallel?

A) 90 ohms B) 30 ohms C) 10 ohms D) 15 ohms

Correct: C) Parallel resistance: 1/Rt = 1/30 + 1/30 + 1/30 = 3/30, so Rt = 10Ω

4 In a 120V/240V split-phase residential system, what is the voltage between the two hot conductors?

A) 120V B) 208V C) 240V D) 277V

Correct: C) Split-phase: 120V to neutral, 240V between hots (180° phase difference).

5 What is the amperage of a circuit with 2,400 watts at 240 volts?

A) 5 amps B) 10 amps C) 15 amps D) 20 amps

Correct: B) I = P/V = 2400W ÷ 240V = 10 amps

6 What color is the grounding conductor in standard US electrical wiring?

A) White B) Black C) Green or bare copper D) Red

Correct: C) Green or bare copper per NEC 250.119

7 What is the standard frequency of AC power in the United States?

A) 50 Hz B) 60 Hz C) 100 Hz D) 120 Hz

Correct: B) US standard is 60 Hz (Europe uses 50 Hz)

8 What is the minimum ampacity required for #10 AWG copper wire (THHN) in conduit?

A) 15 amps B) 20 amps C) 30 amps D) 40 amps

Correct: C) #10 THHN = 30A per NEC Table 310.16

9 In a three-phase wye configuration, the line-to-line voltage is approximately:

A) Equal to the phase voltage B) 1.414 times the phase voltage C) 1.732 times the phase voltage D) 2 times the phase voltage

Correct: C) Wye: VL-L = VL-N × √3 (1.732)

10 What does a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) primarily protect against?

A) Overcurrent conditions B) Short circuits C) Electric shock from ground faults D) Voltage surges

Correct: C) GFCI detects ground faults (current imbalance) and protects from electric shock.

11 What is the primary function of a solar inverter?

A) Store DC energy B) Convert DC to AC power C) Increase panel voltage D) Regulate battery charging

Correct: B) Inverter converts DC from panels to AC for home/grid use.

12 What does MPPT stand for in solar technology?

A) Maximum Power Point Tracking B) Multiple Panel Power Transfer C) Modular Photovoltaic Power Technology D) Managed Power Production Timing

Correct: A) Maximum Power Point Tracking - optimizes power harvest from panels.

13 What is the typical open-circuit voltage (Voc) of a standard 60-cell monocrystalline panel?

A) 12V B) 24V C) 37-40V D) 48V

Correct: C) 60-cell mono panels typically have 37-40V Voc.

14 Per NEC 690.12, what is the maximum time for rapid shutdown of PV conductors to reduce to 30V or less?

A) 10 seconds B) 30 seconds C) 60 seconds D) 5 minutes

Correct: B) NEC 690.12 requires <30V within 30 seconds.

15 What is the NEC requirement for PV system conductor ampacity calculation factor?

A) 100% of Isc B) 125% of Isc C) 156% of Isc (125% × 125%) D) 200% of Isc

Correct: C) NEC 690.8: 125% × 125% = 156.25% of Isc for conductor ampacity.

16 A hybrid inverter differs from a standard grid-tie inverter because it:

A) Only works with string configurations B) Can manage battery storage and provide backup power C) Has higher efficiency ratings D) Is designed only for off-grid systems

Correct: B) Hybrid inverters integrate battery storage + backup capability.

17 What is the purpose of a rapid shutdown device on a solar array?

A) To increase panel efficiency B) To protect firefighters and first responders C) To prevent overvoltage damage D) To monitor system performance

Correct: B) Rapid shutdown protects firefighters working on the roof.

18 What is the main advantage of microinverters over string inverters?

A) Lower initial cost B) Panel-level MPPT and monitoring C) Higher voltage output D) Simpler installation

Correct: B) Microinverters provide panel-level optimization and monitoring.

19 What temperature coefficient value indicates better performance in hot climates?

A) -0.50%/°C B) -0.35%/°C C) -0.25%/°C D) All are equivalent

Correct: C) Lower (less negative) temp coefficient = less power loss in heat.

20 What is the minimum roof setback required for residential PV arrays per the 2020 NEC?

A) No setback required B) 12 inches from ridge C) 18 inches from ridge, 36 inches from edges D) 3 feet from all edges and ridge

Correct: D) NEC 690.12 & local fire codes typically require 3ft setbacks.

21 What causes potential induced degradation (PID) in solar panels?

A) Physical damage to cells B) High voltage difference between cells and frame C) Excessive heat exposure D) Poor electrical connections

Correct: B) PID is caused by high voltage differential between cells and grounded frame.

22 In a PV system, what is the function of a DC disconnect?

A) Convert DC to AC B) Isolate the array from the inverter for maintenance C) Regulate output voltage D) Provide surge protection

Correct: B) DC disconnect isolates array from inverter for safe service.

23 What is the typical efficiency range for modern monocrystalline solar panels?

A) 10-14% B) 15-17% C) 19-23% D) 25-30%

Correct: C) Modern mono panels typically achieve 19-23% efficiency.

24 What does STC (Standard Test Conditions) specify for irradiance?

A) 800 W/m² B) 1000 W/m² C) 1200 W/m² D) 1500 W/m²

Correct: B) STC: 1000 W/m², 25°C cell temp, AM 1.5 spectrum.

25 A Sol-Ark 15K inverter can handle a maximum PV input of approximately:

A) 10,000 watts B) 15,000 watts C) 20,000+ watts D) 8,000 watts

Correct: C) Sol-Ark 15K accepts 20,000+ watts PV input (oversizing allowed).

26 What does LiFePO4 stand for?

A) Lithium Iron Phosphate B) Lithium Ferrous Polymer C) Lithium Fluoride Phosphorus D) Lithium Film Photovoltaic

Correct: A) Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄)

27 What is the primary safety advantage of LiFePO4 over NMC batteries?

A) Higher energy density B) Lower thermal runaway risk C) Faster charging speeds D) Lighter weight

Correct: B) LiFePO4 has much lower thermal runaway risk than NMC.

28 What is the nominal voltage of a single LiFePO4 cell?

A) 3.2V B) 3.7V C) 4.2V D) 2.0V

Correct: A) LiFePO4 nominal = 3.2V per cell (vs 3.7V for NMC).

29 How many LiFePO4 cells in series are needed for a nominal 48V battery system?

A) 12 cells B) 14 cells C) 15 cells D) 16 cells

Correct: D) 16S × 3.2V = 51.2V nominal (referred to as 48V system).

30 What is the typical cycle life of a quality LiFePO4 battery at 80% DOD?

A) 500-1,000 cycles B) 1,000-2,000 cycles C) 3,000-6,000+ cycles D) 10,000+ cycles

Correct: C) Quality LiFePO4: 3,000-6,000+ cycles at 80% DOD.

31 What is the function of a Battery Management System (BMS)?

A) Convert DC to AC B) Monitor and protect individual cells from overcharge/discharge C) Increase battery capacity D) Cool the battery system

Correct: B) BMS monitors cells and protects from over/under voltage.

32 What is the recommended maximum charge voltage for a 16S LiFePO4 battery?

A) 48.0V B) 51.2V C) 57.6V (3.6V per cell) D) 64.0V

Correct: C) 16S × 3.6V max = 57.6V maximum charge voltage.

33 What is 'cell balancing' in a battery system?

A) Physically positioning cells for weight distribution B) Equalizing voltage across all cells in a pack C) Balancing charge and discharge rates D) Matching battery packs by age

Correct: B) Cell balancing equalizes voltage across all cells in series.

34 What is the typical recommended storage SOC for long-term LiFePO4 storage?

A) 100% B) 50-60% C) 20-30% D) 0% (fully discharged)

Correct: B) 50-60% SOC is optimal for long-term LiFePO4 storage.

35 What is the minimum low-voltage cutoff for a 48V LiFePO4 battery to prevent damage?

A) 48.0V B) 44.0V (2.75V per cell) C) 40.0V (2.5V per cell) D) 36.0V

Correct: C) Minimum LVC: 2.5V/cell × 16 = 40V to prevent damage.

36 How do you calculate total kWh capacity when paralleling batteries?

A) Divide the individual capacity by number of batteries B) Multiply individual capacity by number of batteries C) Add the voltages together D) Capacity remains unchanged

Correct: B) Parallel: Total kWh = individual kWh × number of batteries.

37 What communication protocol do many modern battery systems use with inverters?

A) USB B) CAN bus C) Bluetooth only D) Ethernet only

Correct: B) CAN bus is standard for battery-inverter communication.

38 What is 'C-rate' in battery terminology?

A) The cost rate per kWh B) The charge/discharge rate relative to capacity C) The cell count rate D) The cooling rate

Correct: B) C-rate = charge/discharge rate relative to capacity (1C = full in 1hr).

39 What is the energy content of a 48V, 200Ah battery system?

A) 4.8 kWh B) 9.6 kWh C) 14.4 kWh D) 24 kWh

Correct: B) kWh = V × Ah ÷ 1000 = 48 × 200 ÷ 1000 = 9.6 kWh.

40 What happens if you connect batteries with significantly different SOC in parallel?

A) Nothing, they automatically balance B) High current flow between batteries, potential damage C) Improved system efficiency D) Increased total voltage

Correct: B) Different SOC causes high current equalization - potential damage.

41 What is the maximum voltage for a PV system on a residential dwelling per NEC 690.7?

A) 300V DC B) 480V DC C) 600V DC D) 1000V DC

Correct: C) Residential PV max 600V DC per NEC 690.7.

42 Before working on a solar array, the FIRST safety step should be:

A) Put on safety glasses B) Cover the panels with opaque material C) Open the DC disconnect and verify zero voltage D) Turn off the inverter only

Correct: C) First: isolate power by opening DC disconnect and verifying 0V.

43 What is the NEC requirement for equipment grounding conductor sizing for a 30A PV circuit?

A) #14 AWG minimum B) #12 AWG minimum C) #10 AWG minimum D) #8 AWG minimum

Correct: D) #8 AWG minimum EGC for PV circuits per AHJ requirements and best practices for solar installations.

44 Energy storage systems (ESS) are covered under which NEC article?

A) Article 480 B) Article 690 C) Article 706 D) Article 710

Correct: C) NEC Article 706 covers Energy Storage Systems.

45 What PPE is required when working with battery systems above 50V?

A) Safety glasses only B) Insulated gloves and safety glasses C) Insulated gloves, safety glasses, and arc-rated clothing D) No special PPE required

Correct: C) Full PPE required: insulated gloves, safety glasses, arc-rated clothing.

46 What is the minimum working clearance in front of electrical equipment rated 0-150V per NEC 110.26?

A) 2 feet B) 3 feet C) 4 feet D) 5 feet

Correct: B) NEC 110.26: 3 feet minimum for 0-150V equipment.

47 What labeling is required at the main service disconnect for a grid-tied PV system?

A) Inverter model number B) Warning label indicating presence of additional power source C) Installer's license number D) No labeling required

Correct: B) Warning label required for additional power source per NEC 705.10.

48 When installing conduit for PV circuits, what is the maximum fill percentage for 3+ conductors?

A) 31% B) 40% C) 53% D) 60%

Correct: B) NEC Chapter 9 Table 1: 40% fill for 3+ conductors.

49 What is the proper torque specification procedure for electrical connections?

A) Tighten until snug B) Use manufacturer's specified torque with calibrated torque wrench C) Quarter turn past finger tight D) Match existing connections

Correct: B) Use manufacturer's torque specs with calibrated torque wrench.

50 What is the primary purpose of arc-fault protection in PV systems per NEC 690.11?

A) Prevent equipment damage B) Reduce fire risk from DC arc faults C) Improve system efficiency D) Protect against lightning

Correct: B) Arc-fault protection reduces fire risk from DC arcs.

SOLAR & BATTERY SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT

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CANDIDATE INFORMATION

WAGE PLACEMENT SCALE