Photovoltaic systems resource guide: Pretest

Question 1

PV power plants can be located closer to populated areas that can conventional power plants because they do not involve hazardous materials or cause air, water, or noise pollution.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Solar radiation includes only visible light.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A shunt-linear charge controller is a charge controller that limits charging current to a battery system by gradually increasing the resistance of a series element.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Cost and funding of PV systems are usually the customer’s primary concern.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

Diesel engines are well suited for constant loads, whereas gasoline engines can respond quickly to changing loads.

Answer 5

True

Question 6

A hybrid system is a PV system that can operate in either utility-interactive or stand-alone mode, and uses battery storage.

Answer 6

False

Question 7

A semiconductor is a materials that can exhibit properties of both an insulator and conductor.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

For most PV devices, a high operating temperature significantly increases voltage.

Answer 8

False

Question 9

Batteries are connected in series by connecting all of the positive terminals together and all of the negative terminals together.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

A secondary battery is a battery that can store and deliver electrical energy butcannot be recharged.

Answer 10

False

Question 11

charge controllers protect batteries from overdischarge.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

A reactive load is a load that keeps voltage and current waveforms in phase.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Pulse-width modulation (PWM) is a method of simulating waveforms by switching series devices ON and OFF at high frequency and for variable lengths of time.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

Low operating temperatures and high discharge rates increase battery capacity.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

Direct-coupled systems may be sized according to either the stand-alone methodology or the interactive methodology.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

A groudning conductor is a rod, plate, or structure that establishes a connection with the earth.

Answer 16

False

Question 17

A blocking diode is a diode used to pass current around, rather than through, a group of PV cells or modules.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

Article 60 of the NEC includes requirements for battery storage in PV systmes.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

A generator is a device that converts mechanical energy into electricity by means of electromagnetic induction.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

A permit agreement is a contract between a utility and a qualifying facility that establishes the terms and conditions for interconnection and the rates or tariffs that apply.

Answer 20

False

Question 21

At a minimum, a PV permit application should include a detailed three-line electrical diagram.

Answer 21

False

Question 22

By itself, the CE Mark indicates compliance to North American safety standards or installation codes.

Answer 22

False

Question 23

Significantly low specific gravity of individual battery cells indicates cell failure or shorts.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

A refractive index hydrometer is a bulb-type syringe with a float that experiences a buoyant force equivalent to the weight of the displaced electrolyte.

Answer 24

False

Question 25

The single present value factor is a multiplication factor for determining the present value of a recurring future cost for a given discount rate and period.

Answer 25

False

Question 26

_____ energy is expected to compose an increasingly larger portion of energy production.

Answer 26

Renewable

Question 27

A(n) ____ is a PV device consisting of a number of individual cells connected electrically, laminated, encapsulated, and packaged into a frame.

Answer 27

module

Question 28

____ is the point in the sky directly overhead a particular location.

Answer 28

Zenith

Question 29

A(n) ____ calculator is used to view the solar window for a particular location for assessing shading.

Answer 29

sun path

Question 30

____ is the angle between the direction a compass needle points (toward magnetic north) and true geographic north.

Answer 30

Magnetic declination

Question 31

_____ store energy in an electrical field developed by two oppositely charged parallel conductive plates separated by a dielectric (insulating) material.

Answer 31

Capacitors

Question 32

____ is the ratio of maximum power to the product of the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current.

Answer 32

Fill factor

Question 33

A ____ is a thin, flat disk or rectangle of base semiconductor material.

Answer 33

wafer

Question 34

A(n) ____ is a collection of cells that are contained in the same case and connected together electrically to produce a desired voltage.

Answer 34

battery

Question 35

____ is the condition of a battery state of charge declining to the point where it can no longer supply discharge current without damaging the battery.

Answer 35

overdischarge

Question 36

A ____ is a device that transfers energy from one circuit to another through magnetic coupling.

Answer 36

transformer

Question 37

Sizing PV systems for stand-alone operation involves ____ set(s) of calculations.

Answer 37

four

Question 38

____ is the percentage of time a load is operating.

Answer 38

Duty cycle

Question 39

A(n) _____ photovoltaic array is a fixed array that replaces conventional building materials with specially designed modules that also perform an architectural function.

Answer 39

building-integrated

Question 40

____ is the addition of lumber under a roof surface and between trusses or rafters as supplemental structural support.

Answer 40

Blocking

Question 41

Conductor resistance is determined by the ____.

Answer 41

conductor material, conductor size, and ambient temperature.

Question 42

A ____ is a protective enclosure used to terminate, combine, and connect various circuits or components together.

Answer 42

junction box

Question 43

____ systems can be employed to manage and optimize utility energy use by utility customers that are billed using time-of-use electric rates.

Answer 43

Bimodal

Question 44

A(n) ____ is a non-utility large-scale power producer that meets the technical and procedural requirements for interconnection to the utility system.

Answer 44

qualifying facility

Question 45

A(n) ____ is the organization, office, or individual designated by local government with legal powers to administer, interpret, and enforce building codes.

Answer 45

authority having jurisdiction

Question 46

____ space is the clear space reserved around electrical equipment for the existing equipment and potential future additions.

Answer 46

Dedicated

Question 47

The electrolyte in flooded, open-vent batteries must be maintained at proper levels by periodically adding ____.

Answer 47

water

Question 48

A ____ is an instrument used to measure the specific gravity of a liquid.

Answer 48

hydrometer

Question 49

The ____ period is the amount of time required for the avoided costs from an alternate energy source to match the cost of the chosen energy-production system.

Answer 49

payback

Question 50

A ____ is a tradable commodity that represents a certain amount of electricity generated from renewable resources.

Answer 50

renewable energy certificate