NABCEP test [RE-wrenches]

Darryl Thayer daryl_solar at yahoo.com
Sat Mar 22 15:33:44 PDT 2008 

Hi Matt 
I hope you are correct about the NABCEP Certificate of
Knowledge  test not being watered down.  I have 22
students that are eligible to sit for the exam, I hope
it is solid so I can evaluate my teaching ability.
Darryl 
--- Matt Lafferty <mlafferty at universalenergies.com>
wrote:

> 
> Hi All,
> 
> The tone of this thread is troubling indeed. 
> 
> I suspect that at least some of the cases referred
> to might be related to
> the NABCEP Entry Level Exam/Certificate, which many
> Wrenches might not know
> about.  Jeff's comment about "electricians sending
> their sons to community
> college" is a big clue, for instance. The Entry
> Level Certificate is
> intended for graduates of those courses.  The Entry
> Level is nowhere near a
> substitute for the PV Installer Certificate! Just
> the basics.... I can't
> speak for NABCEP, but as one of the folks on the
> Entry Level committee, I
> can assure you there is no intent or attempt to
> water it down.
> 
> In any case, I certainly hope the integrity of
> NABCEP certification hasn't
> slipped. Nobody wins when that happens. I will look
> forward to a response on
> this matter from NABCEP.
> 
> Peace, Palms & Sunshine to all!
> 
> Matt Lafferty
> mlafferty at universalenergies.com
> (415) 252-0343 Phone
> (415) 902-7507 Mobile
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Darryl Thayer
> Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 6:22 AM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: Re: NABCEP test [RE-wrenches]
> 
> 
> 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
> 
> 
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