NABCEP test [RE-wrenches]

[Darryl Thayer]

hello 
yes I am disappointed to here of the lowering of
standards.  
I have a friend who took in 03 and again this time, he
said, it was much lighter test, and the questions one
would only miss because of poorly worded questions.  I
have now spoken to 12 people directly, who took this
test and all felt the test was poorly worded, with
mistakes in the questions, and not at all technically
challenging, 

It is possible that the pressure to get more
installers has influenced the test committee to drop
the standards?  
Darryl

--- "Jeff Clearwater, Village Power Design"
<jeffc at villagepower.com> wrote:

> 
> Hi Folks,
> 
> I also took the first round in '03 and thought it
> was challenging.  I 
> mostly remember case systems - both ongrid and
> offgrid that really 
> tested  my ability to do V, I, and P calcs as well
> as size equipment, 
> know system design issues,  code issues, string
> sizing, temp calcs, 
> know battery charging  as well as a good amount on
> site surveys, 
> mechanical install, etc.
> 
> I'm a pretty smart guy, a math brain, physics major,
> scientist type, 
> solar training since '78,  been doing solar all my
> adult life and I 
> studied for two days before the test - confidently
> thought I might 
> ace it and got an 84% if memory serves me right - so
> I was a bit 
> humbled by the test.  I know a few veteran solar
> guys that didn't 
> pass the test.
> 
> I have heard it seems to have gotten a bit easier
> but not to the 
> extant of Kirpal's post.  Of course Kirpal is a
> really smart guy and 
> maybe underestimated his abilities and experience at
> EO.  But no 
> electrical calcs?  That doesn't sound right!
> 
> I'm strongly in favor of continuing to support
> NABCEP and keeping the 
> standard high.  I know a few local electricians that
> are sending 
> their son to a community college course and then
> planning to take the 
> test.  It worries me that a person studying for a
> few months can 
> pass a test that  should be entry into a bit steeper
> set of 
> experience.
> 
> Others thoughts?  Whose still on the Board that
> wants to chime in 
> here as to NABCEPS thinking on testing difficulty
> now as compared to 
> then?
> 
> Spring is coming, the season is upon us!
> 
> Jeff Clearwater
> Village Power Design
> 
> >This was my first go-round with the exam - I was
> expecting it to be more
> >difficult after all I had heard.  Then again all I
> had heard may have
> >motivated me to study more than I would have
> otherwise.  I would agree that
> >there weren't many in-depth electrical
> calculations.  There did seem to be a
> >lot of practical "physics" calculations regarding
> an installation (pull-out
> >strength, wind loading, roof load bearing,...).  I
> believe there were three
> >questions regarding appropriate point of connection
> and bus overloading.  I
> >thought some of the troubleshooting questions were
> pertinent, in asking
> >"what is the most important safety concern in this
> situation."  I am curious
> >as well to hear the reaction of others, especially
> Wrenchers who have
> >previously taken a NABCEP exam.
> >
> >cheers,
> >P.
> >
> >Phil Schneider, system engineer
> >Creative Energies
> >www.CreativeEnergies.biz
> >
> >
> >From: Kirpal Khalsa <solarworks at gmail.com>
> >Reply-To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> >Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:23:22 -0800
> >To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
> >Subject: NABCEP test [RE-wrenches]
> >
> >Greetings wrenches........any of you sit for the
> NABCEP test this go
> >around......it sure was interesting.....
> >no wire sizing calculations!?, no voltage drop
> calculations!?, no over
> >temp output calculations!?, no ampacity
> calculations!?
> >The test was not what i expected...
> .............any one else have any
> >take on the test?
> >
> >
> >--
> >Sunny Regards,
> >Kirpal Khalsa
> >
> >
> >--
> >[Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
> >
> >
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> 
> -- 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Jeff Clearwater
> Village Power Design
> Sustainable Energy & Water Solutions for Home &
> Village
> http://www.villagepower.com
> gosolar at villagepower.com
> NABCEP (tm) Certified Solar PV Installer
> 
> Voice: 413-259-3776
> Fax: 413-825-0703
> 65 Schoolhouse Rd
> Amherst, MA 01002
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