[RE-wrenches] RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 4, Issue 53
josh at northwindre.com
josh at northwindre.com
Tue Feb 8 00:21:41 PST 2011
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on the Element Mobile Network.
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Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:56:49
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Subject: RE-wrenches Digest, Vol 4, Issue 53
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: NABCEP marketing (Dave Palumbo)
2. Re: NABCEP marketing (Nick Soleil)
3. Re: Problem with NABCEP ad (Andrew Truitt)
4. Re: NABCEP is Union Based? That's news to me! (Bill Loesch)
5. outback mate question (jay peltz)
6. Re: outback mate question (Maverick Brown [Maverick Solar])
7. Re: outback mate question (Kent Osterberg)
8. Re: NABCEP marketing (Warren Lauzon)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 14:10:21 -0500
From: "Dave Palumbo" <dave at independentpowerllc.com>
To: "'RE-wrenches'" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP marketing
Message-ID: <026d01cbc6fa$b15914c0$140b3e40$@com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Larry,
It's easy to become frustrated browsing, or studying, anyone's marketing
these days. It's OK to squeak once in a while on topics like this (in my
opinion). NABCEP has not been discussed too much lately and your comment
brought some good discussion to the group. Sounds like you are doing some
good things in your business. Many professionals have not passed the test on
the first take.
David Palumbo
Independent Power LLC
462 Solar Way Drive
Hyde Park, VT 05655
www.independentpowerllc.com
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
Vermont Solar Partner
23 Years Experience, (802) 888-7194
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of
wirewiz at gmail.com
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 11:54 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP is Union Based? That's news to me!
I spent about $1500 for prep course, hotel, etc to pass the entry level
exam, so I have that.
I spent about $2000 for prep, hotel, plane fare for the certification but I
failed the test. I am taking it again in March. I'm studying harder this
time.
I'm 62 and my memory is not what it used to be and was never good at taking
tests. When I design I have everything on my desk to refer to so I don't
have to rely on my memory. And I just love installing, I've been doing it on
boats for 30 years.
I'm sorry if you think I'm whining, maybe I'll just stop. I'm just a
competitive person and the ad ticked me off.
Larry Liesner
Wirewiz
Westport, CT
Phone: 203-644-2404
Fax: 203-557-0556
wirewiz at gmail.com
www.wire-wiz.com
On Feb 7, 2011, at 11:16 AM, Bill Hoffer wrote:
Larry
My PE is not required for the majority of work I do either, but I get a
considerable "edge" over my competition because I have invested the time
energy and went through the stress of taking the exam. It is the same way
with NABCEP, I have shown that I am willing to take the time, energy and
stress to get the qualification. I also appreciate the NABCEP taking the
time and effort to promote ME in their ads. After going through the time and
effort, it is good to get some tangible payback, and you want to take that
away from me, because you do not have the time to take the exam...give me a
break! You have the right to run your business and promote it as you see
fit and so do I! Does any qualification mean that you know everything, of
course not. If any one of us think that, then we should get out of the
business. Cause guess what, we are in a rapidly changing landscape where we
all are continually learning more and growing as an industry. Otherwise
there would not be much use in this blog at all. All an exam really means
is that you took the time, energy and stress to prepare for and take the
exam, which to me is a sign of professionalism. It is about time our
industry grows up! Is NABCEP perfect, of course not, but we all have the
opportunity to help to make this organization the best that it can be. I
applaud the pioneers who had the vision and that were willing to invest the
considerable amount of time, energy and stress to pull it off. If you can
do without it , more power to you, but don't whine to me about it being
unfair that we want to toot our horn about what we are trying to do for this
industry!
Bill
--
Bill Hoffer PE
NABCEP Certified Solar PV InstallerT
Sunergy Engineering Services PLLC
2504 Columbia Ave NW
East Wenatchee WA 98802-3941
SunEngSer at gmail.com (509)470-7762
Cell(509)679-6165
_______________________________________________
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Message: 2
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 13:16:59 -0800 (PST)
From: Nick Soleil <nicksoleilsolar at yahoo.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP marketing
Message-ID: <445695.4889.qm at web44906.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
To become NABCEP certified, you only need to have installed 2 PV systems. 1
of those systems can be at a training class, and the other can be on your
brothers house. All that NABCEP Certified means is that I studied a list of
questions, and then passed the test. It is good to know that a handrailing
should be 39"-45" tall, and not 36"-42." However, that should not come with any
title, like 'Certified PV Installer.'
The experience requirements should be more stringent. If it required some
real experience, it would mean something, but NABCEP wants as many participants
as possible, so anyone can sit for it.
Nick Soleil
Project Manager
Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC
PO Box 657
Petaluma, CA 94953
Cell: 707-321-2937
Office: 707-789-9537
Fax: 707-769-9037
________________________________
From: Dave Palumbo <dave at independentpowerllc.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Mon, February 7, 2011 11:10:21 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP marketing
Larry,
It?s easy to become frustrated browsing, or studying, anyone?s marketing these
days. It?s OK to squeak once in a while on topics like this (in my opinion).
NABCEP has not been discussed too much lately and your comment brought some good
discussion to the group. Sounds like you are doing some good things in your
business. Many professionals have not passed the test on the first take.
David Palumbo
Independent Power LLC
462 Solar Way Drive
Hyde Park, VT 05655
www.independentpowerllc.com
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
Vermont Solar Partner
23 Years Experience, (802) 888-7194
From:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of
wirewiz at gmail.com
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 11:54 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP is Union Based? That's news to me!
I spent about $1500 for prep course, hotel, etc to pass the entry level exam, so
I have that.
I spent about $2000 for prep, hotel, plane fare for the certification but I
failed the test. I am taking it again in March. I'm studying harder this time.
I'm 62 and my memory is not what it used to be and was never good at taking
tests. When I design I have everything on my desk to refer to so I don't have to
rely on my memory. And I just love installing, I've been doing it on boats for
30 years.
I'm sorry if you think I'm whining, maybe I'll just stop. I'm just a competitive
person and the ad ticked me off.
Larry Liesner
Wirewiz
Westport, CT
Phone: 203-644-2404
Fax: 203-557-0556
wirewiz at gmail.com
www.wire-wiz.com
On Feb 7, 2011, at 11:16 AM, Bill Hoffer wrote:
Larry
My PE is not required for the majority of work I do either, but I get a
considerable "edge" over my competition because I have invested the time energy
and went through the stress of taking the exam. It is the same way with NABCEP,
I have shown that I am willing to take the time, energy and stress to get the
qualification. I also appreciate the NABCEP taking the time and effort to
promote ME in their ads. After going through the time and effort, it is good to
get some tangible payback, and you want to take that away from me, because you
do not have the time to take the exam...give me a break! You have the right to
run your business and promote it as you see fit and so do I! Does any
qualification mean that you know everything, of course not. If any one of us
think that, then we should get out of the business. Cause guess what, we are in
a rapidly changing landscape where we all are continually learning more and
growing as an industry. Otherwise there would not be much use in this blog at
all. All an exam really means is that you took the time, energy and stress to
prepare for and take the exam, which to me is a sign of professionalism. It is
about time our industry grows up! Is NABCEP perfect, of course not, but we all
have the opportunity to help to make this organization the best that it can be.
I applaud the pioneers who had the vision and that were willing to invest the
considerable amount of time, energy and stress to pull it off. If you can do
without it , more power to you, but don't whine to me about it being unfair that
we want to toot our horn about what we are trying to do for this industry!
Bill
--
Bill Hoffer PE
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer?
Sunergy Engineering Services PLLC
2504 Columbia Ave NW
East Wenatchee WA 98802-3941
SunEngSer at gmail.com (509)470-7762
Cell(509)679-6165
_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Home Power magazine
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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 14:48:33 -0700
From: Andrew Truitt <atruitt at gmail.com>
To: Allan at positiveenergysolar.com, RE-wrenches
<re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Problem with NABCEP ad
Message-ID:
<AANLkTi=LhrVrJNJqw7jqbmC0ZS9NZR409ch5WXXrK4Mo at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
In 2008 NYSERDA did a study and found that PV systems installed by NABCEP
certified installers had fewer problems at inspection than those installed
by non-NABCEP installers. There is a lot of false advertising within our
society, and our industry is not exempt, but NABCEP marketing its
certificants as more likely to install high quality systems does NOT fit in
that category.
Soon we will be seeing more marketing from UL and probably others touting
the benefits of their certifications. I assure you that they will not be
bound by any moral obligation to "look out" for those in the industry that -
for whatever reason - do not acquire their certification, and I don't see
why we should expect any different from NABCEP.
For a brighter energy future,
Andrew Truitt
NABCEP Certified PV Installer? (ID# 032407-66)
Truitt Renewable Energy Consulting
(202) 486-7507
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-truitt/8/622/713
[image: 24 copy.jpg]
"Don't get me wrong: I love nuclear energy! It's just that I prefer fusion
to fission. And it just so happens that there's an enormous fusion reactor
safely banked a few million miles from us. It delivers more than we could
ever use in just about 8 minutes. And it's wireless!"
~William McDonough
On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 9:09 AM, Allan Sindelar <
allan at positiveenergysolar.com> wrote:
> Larry,
> I was glad to read your post. It tells me that the effort to establish
> NABCEP is proving to be worthwhile.
>
> If NABCEP didn't matter, you wouldn't have written, as it wouldn't have
> affected you. You have been doing RE work (likely with great skill from the
> testimonials on your website) for 20 years, and with your own business for
> about seven. NABCEP has been offering certification for about that same
> length of time. Now that there is a critical mass of some 1,500 certified
> installers, and there has been plenty of time for installers to choose
> whether to attempt to become certified or not, it seems to me that it's
> perfectly appropriate for NABCEP to advertise to the public that there's a
> standard to use to compare installers. Like our president said when asked if
> he inhaled, "Of course. That's the point."
>
> Some longtime Wrenches have chosen not to become certified. That, too, is
> the point: it's optional. Yes, some jurisdictions have chosen to make it a
> requisite for rebate levels or participation in incentive programs - that's
> their right, but NABCEP can't control this beyond discouraging the practice.
> It's intended to be a voluntary certification, separate from licensure or
> any state requirements.
>
> In 2000 Trace (before it became Xanthra- er, Xantrex, and long before it
> became Schneider) offered the first "Certified Dealer" program in the
> industry. I became one back then because it was the only game in town. I saw
> the benefit, both to set our company apart with some good marketing
> differentiation, and to begin to add to the professionalism of the whole
> immature PV industry by supporting professional standards and
> certifications. In 2001, NABCEP was just coming into being as a concept, and
> I was asked by the organizers to present and support the idea of a national
> certification for installers to independent installers on this list, which I
> did. There were some really lively discussions in 2001 and 2002. I took the
> first exam for the same reasons as with Trace, along with one other - that
> it may not mean much now, but someday it will set us apart and people will
> have heard about it and will value it. That day came at different times in
> different states.
>
> In New Mexico, that day is just coming around. Suddenly, we too have plenty
> of new solar companies. Many claim to be the premier solar installer in the
> state, with years or decades of experience. Most will sell a system for less
> than we will - that's a common way for new companies to gain a track record.
> Anyone can claim anything in their marketing and on their website. What do
> we have to back up our own claims? Reputation. Referrals. Published
> testimonials. And more NABCEP certificants than anyone in our state. All of
> these carry weight and keep us busy.
>
> Larry, you are being too sensitive. You have been in business long enough
> to qualify. It's your own business, so you must have led all of your jobs.
> Weigh the pros and cons as they affect your business, and either get
> certified or don't, but don't criticize NABCEP for promoting its certified
> installers - that's its job.
>
> On the other hand, how can it be NABCEP's "job to unintentionally cause"
> anything? I think that's an oxymoron.
>
> *Allan** Sindelar*
> Allan at positiveenergysolar.com
> NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
> EE98J Journeyman Electrician
> *Positive Energy, Inc.*
> 3201 Calle Marie
> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
> *505 424-1112*
> www.positiveenergysolar.com
>
> On 2/6/2011 9:13 AM, wirewiz at gmail.com wrote:
>
> Hello Wrenches,
>
> NABCEP has a full page ad in Home Power magazine that tells potential PV buyers to "Insist on a NABCEP Certified Installer". That's a great ad if you are certified but not so good if you are not. I know many of you are but lots of us are not yet certified.
>
> NABCEP is doing a great job to ensure that PV is installed by qualified personal but is it their job to unintentionally cause non NABCEP certified installers who are otherwise very qualified to lose business. I don't think so.
>
> I contacted NABCEP about the consequences of this ad and actually asked them to stop running it or at least tone it down so it doesn't cause installers like to me to lose business. They disagreed with me.
>
> Am I being too sensitive here?
>
> Thank you.
>
> Larry Liesner
> Wirewiz
> Westport, CT
> Phone: 203-644-2404
> Fax: 203-557-0556wirewiz at gmail.comwww.wire-wiz.com
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
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>
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>
> Check out participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Home Power magazine
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
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>
>
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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 16:10:59 -0600
From: "Bill Loesch" <solar1online at charter.net>
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP is Union Based? That's news to me!
Message-ID: <049901cbc713$e686c890$6401a8c0 at solarf1dxi592n>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
Hi Larry,
Thanks for your hard dollar numbers (beyond the $400 fee, for one NABCEP test).
If you look back in the Wrench archives, the willingness of NABCEP to take their exam to the users was also discussed. I can remember one very specific example where the user was told the exam would be scheduled in their neighborhood and once the fee was paid, the user also had massive travel expenses.
Caveat Emptor.
Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar
PS You might take heart that there are some very, very knowledgeable, first class installers on this RE-wrenches List who have expressed their non interest in NABCEP for a variety of reasons.
----- Original Message -----
From: wirewiz at gmail.com
To: RE-wrenches
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 10:54 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP is Union Based? That's news to me!
I spent about $1500 for prep course, hotel, etc to pass the entry level exam, so I have that.
I spent about $2000 for prep, hotel, plane fare for the certification but I failed the test. I am taking it again in March. I'm studying harder this time.
I'm 62 and my memory is not what it used to be and was never good at taking tests. When I design I have everything on my desk to refer to so I don't have to rely on my memory. And I just love installing, I've been doing it on boats for 30 years.
I'm sorry if you think I'm whining, maybe I'll just stop. I'm just a competitive person and the ad ticked me off.
Larry Liesner
Wirewiz
Westport, CT
Phone: 203-644-2404
Fax: 203-557-0556
wirewiz at gmail.com
www.wire-wiz.com
On Feb 7, 2011, at 11:16 AM, Bill Hoffer wrote:
Larry
My PE is not required for the majority of work I do either, but I get a considerable "edge" over my competition because I have invested the time energy and went through the stress of taking the exam. It is the same way with NABCEP, I have shown that I am willing to take the time, energy and stress to get the qualification. I also appreciate the NABCEP taking the time and effort to promote ME in their ads. After going through the time and effort, it is good to get some tangible payback, and you want to take that away from me, because you do not have the time to take the exam...give me a break! You have the right to run your business and promote it as you see fit and so do I! Does any qualification mean that you know everything, of course not. If any one of us think that, then we should get out of the business. Cause guess what, we are in a rapidly changing landscape where we all are continually learning more and growing as an industry. Otherwise there would not be m
uch use in this blog at all. All an exam really means is that you took the time, energy and stress to prepare for and take the exam, which to me is a sign of professionalism. It is about time our industry grows up! Is NABCEP perfect, of course not, but we all have the opportunity to help to make this organization the best that it can be. I applaud the pioneers who had the vision and that were willing to invest the considerable amount of time, energy and stress to pull it off. If you can do without it , more power to you, but don't whine to me about it being unfair that we want to toot our horn about what we are trying to do for this industry!
Bill
--
Bill Hoffer PE
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer?
Sunergy Engineering Services PLLC
2504 Columbia Ave NW
East Wenatchee WA 98802-3941
SunEngSer at gmail.com (509)470-7762
Cell(509)679-6165
_______________________________________________
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Message: 5
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 18:33:05 -0700
From: jay peltz <jay at asis.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] outback mate question
Message-ID: <B37755DE-43C2-4AD6-A316-E708D3108FEB at asis.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
HI All,
I'm curious if anyone can shed light on this one.
I've got a customer whos telling me their mate changes from USE to drop on its own.
they say they set it on USE, come back and check it and its on Drop?
I"ve never seen this one.
any thoughts other than user error?
system is 6 years old, probably original mate, no AGS, sealed fx
thanks,
jay
peltz power
PS the site is a 8hr drive each way, not my install, just trying to help out.
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 20:42:20 -0600
From: "Maverick Brown [Maverick Solar]" <maverick at mavericksolar.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Cc: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] outback mate question
Message-ID: <F40F93FA-CCE2-47AC-9514-6075D72CE750 at mavericksolar.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Do they have a PC connected to the Mate?
Thank you,
Maverick
Maverick Brown
BSEET, NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer ?
President & CEO
Maverick Solar Enterprises, Inc.
Office: 512-919-4493
Cell: 512-460-9825
Sent from an iPhone.
On Feb 7, 2011, at 7:33 PM, jay peltz <jay at asis.com> wrote:
> HI All,
>
> I'm curious if anyone can shed light on this one.
>
> I've got a customer whos telling me their mate changes from USE to drop on its own.
> they say they set it on USE, come back and check it and its on Drop?
> I"ve never seen this one.
>
> any thoughts other than user error?
>
> system is 6 years old, probably original mate, no AGS, sealed fx
>
> thanks,
>
> jay
>
> peltz power
>
> PS the site is a 8hr drive each way, not my install, just trying to help out.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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Message: 7
Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:21:29 -0800
From: Kent Osterberg <kent at coveoregon.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] outback mate question
Message-ID: <4D50B6B9.6010008 at coveoregon.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Jay,
I've seen that happen. I concluded that it was associated with an AGS
fault status. I also reset the Mate to factory defaults and reprogrammed
all the AGS settings for the customer. No problem since then.
Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar, Inc.
jay peltz wrote:
> HI All,
>
> I'm curious if anyone can shed light on this one.
>
> I've got a customer whos telling me their mate changes from USE to drop on its own.
> they say they set it on USE, come back and check it and its on Drop?
> I"ve never seen this one.
>
> any thoughts other than user error?
>
> system is 6 years old, probably original mate, no AGS, sealed fx
>
> thanks,
>
> jay
>
> peltz power
>
> PS the site is a 8hr drive each way, not my install, just trying to help out.
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 20:45:53 -0700
From: "Warren Lauzon" <warren at wind-sun.com>
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP marketing
Message-ID: <431F0491EFDD423CB0AD464D5C386AFF at Warren2PC>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>From what I see, NABCEP is heavily hardware oriented, with only a smidgen of actual problem solving and/or theory. It totally falls apart with battery based systems, generally way undersizing them.
The actual electrical knowledge required is minimal except for code and wiring/hardware issues. Being certified will not make you capable of much ? if any ? real troubleshooting.
From: Nick Soleil
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 2:16 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP marketing
To become NABCEP certified, you only need to have installed 2 PV systems. 1 of those systems can be at a training class, and the other can be on your brothers house. All that NABCEP Certified means is that I studied a list of questions, and then passed the test. It is good to know that a handrailing should be 39"-45" tall, and not 36"-42." However, that should not come with any title, like 'Certified PV Installer.'
The experience requirements should be more stringent. If it required some real experience, it would mean something, but NABCEP wants as many participants as possible, so anyone can sit for it.
Nick Soleil
Project Manager
Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC
PO Box 657
Petaluma, CA 94953
Cell: 707-321-2937
Office: 707-789-9537
Fax: 707-769-9037
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Dave Palumbo <dave at independentpowerllc.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Mon, February 7, 2011 11:10:21 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP marketing
Larry,
It?s easy to become frustrated browsing, or studying, anyone?s marketing these days. It?s OK to squeak once in a while on topics like this (in my opinion). NABCEP has not been discussed too much lately and your comment brought some good discussion to the group. Sounds like you are doing some good things in your business. Many professionals have not passed the test on the first take.
David Palumbo
Independent Power LLC
462 Solar Way Drive
Hyde Park, VT 05655
www.independentpowerllc.com
NABCEP Certified PV Installer
Vermont Solar Partner
23 Years Experience, (802) 888-7194
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of wirewiz at gmail.com
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 11:54 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] NABCEP is Union Based? That's news to me!
I spent about $1500 for prep course, hotel, etc to pass the entry level exam, so I have that.
I spent about $2000 for prep, hotel, plane fare for the certification but I failed the test. I am taking it again in March. I'm studying harder this time.
I'm 62 and my memory is not what it used to be and was never good at taking tests. When I design I have everything on my desk to refer to so I don't have to rely on my memory. And I just love installing, I've been doing it on boats for 30 years.
I'm sorry if you think I'm whining, maybe I'll just stop. I'm just a competitive person and the ad ticked me off.
Larry Liesner
Wirewiz
Westport, CT
Phone: 203-644-2404
Fax: 203-557-0556
wirewiz at gmail.com
www.wire-wiz.com
On Feb 7, 2011, at 11:16 AM, Bill Hoffer wrote:
Larry
My PE is not required for the majority of work I do either, but I get a considerable "edge" over my competition because I have invested the time energy and went through the stress of taking the exam. It is the same way with NABCEP, I have shown that I am willing to take the time, energy and stress to get the qualification. I also appreciate the NABCEP taking the time and effort to promote ME in their ads. After going through the time and effort, it is good to get some tangible payback, and you want to take that away from me, because you do not have the time to take the exam...give me a break! You have the right to run your business and promote it as you see fit and so do I! Does any qualification mean that you know everything, of course not. If any one of us think that, then we should get out of the business. Cause guess what, we are in a rapidly changing landscape where we all are continually learning more and growing as an industry. Otherwise there would not be much
use in this blog at all. All an exam really means is that you took the time, energy and stress to prepare for and take the exam, which to me is a sign of professionalism. It is about time our industry grows up! Is NABCEP perfect, of course not, but we all have the opportunity to help to make this organization the best that it can be. I applaud the pioneers who had the vision and that were willing to invest the considerable amount of time, energy and stress to pull it off. If you can do without it , more power to you, but don't whine to me about it being unfair that we want to toot our horn about what we are trying to do for this industry!
Bill
--
Bill Hoffer PE
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer?
Sunergy Engineering Services PLLC
2504 Columbia Ave NW
East Wenatchee WA 98802-3941
SunEngSer at gmail.com (509)470-7762
Cell(509)679-6165
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