STC, NOCT, and NMOT: Sean White Decodes Test Conditions Used on the PV Module Datasheet Every PV module datasheet lists numbers like open-circuit voltage (VOC), max power voltage (VMP), and short-circuit current (ISC), but a module rarely actually operates at any of them. Differences in temperature and sunlight cause voltage and current to skew one… Continue reading “STC, NOCT, and NMOT: Sean White Decodes Test Conditions Used on the PV Module Datasheet”
What’s ASCE 7? Sean White on Calculating Wind, Snow, and Structural Loads When it comes to snow loads, wind loads, and other structural forces on a building, the International Code Council (ICC) codes give you a general framework. To run the actual calculations, like sizing a beam for a specific roof slope,… Continue reading “What’s ASCE 7? Sean White on Calculating Wind, Snow, and Structural Loads”
Maximum Voltage vs. Peak Voltage: Sean White on Energy Storage System Wire Sizing When you’re sizing wire for an energy storage system, the number you need isn’t the highest voltage the system could ever produce. Instead, it’s a specific, defined value called maximum voltage. In the National Electrical Code Article 706.9, maximum voltage… Continue reading “Maximum Voltage vs. Peak Voltage: Sean White on Energy Storage System Wire Sizing”
HeatSpring is the Official PVA & OMAT Training Provider for the 2027 NABCEP Conference We just signed on to be the official PVA & OMAT training provider for the 2027 NABCEP Conference. Sean White is teaching the class. Learners spend three days together at the conference training with Sean. They also get access to… Continue reading “HeatSpring is the Official PVA & OMAT Training Provider for the 2027 NABCEP Conference”
Volts, Amps, Ohms, Watts: Sean White on Ohm’s Law and How to Measure Each One Ohm’s Law describes the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in an electrical circuit: voltage equals current multiplied by resistance (V = IR). Pair that with the power equation – power equals current multiplied by voltage (P = IV) –… Continue reading “Volts, Amps, Ohms, Watts: Sean White on Ohm’s Law and How to Measure Each One”
Your Guide to Renewing Your NABCEP Certification Recertification season has a way of sneaking up on you. One minute your NABCEP is brand new, the next you’re getting an email that your three years are almost up. The good news is that if you get ahead of… Continue reading “Your Guide to Renewing Your NABCEP Certification”
New Course: 15-Hour PV and the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) from Sean White & Bill Brooks If you’ve taken a Sean White course before, you already know the drill: dense technical material, delivered with plenty of humor so you actually remember it. Sean has built a following of repeat learners who come back every code cycle… Continue reading “New Course: 15-Hour PV and the 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) from Sean White & Bill Brooks”
New Course: Comprehensive 2026 NEC Requirements for Electrotech: PV, ESS, EVs, PCS, and More The team behind the new “Comprehensive 2026 NEC Requirements for Electrotech: PV, ESS, EVs, PCS, and More” course has spent years helping shape the National Electrical Code, not just applying it (although they do that plenty too). Solar Tech Collective’s… Continue reading “New Course: Comprehensive 2026 NEC Requirements for Electrotech: PV, ESS, EVs, PCS, and More”
What’s New with NABCEP Credentials in 2026? Sean White Breaks It Down NABCEP credentials have always been the benchmark for solar and storage professionals, but 2026 is shaping up to be an interesting year for their credential landscape. The PV Associate exam has gotten a Job Task Analysis (JTA) update, the newer… Continue reading “What’s New with NABCEP Credentials in 2026? Sean White Breaks It Down”
The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your NABCEP OMAT Credential The NABCEP Operations & Maintenance Associate Technician (OMAT) credential is the newest entry-level credential from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), and it officially launched on April 7, 2026. While the PV Associate has long served as… Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your NABCEP OMAT Credential”
The NABCEP ESIP Exam Is Now Available in Spanish NABCEP has announced that the Energy Storage Installation Professional (ESIP) exam is now available in Spanish. For professionals who prefer Spanish and want to demonstrate their expertise in battery storage systems, this is a big step forward. To take the… Continue reading “The NABCEP ESIP Exam Is Now Available in Spanish”
Who Does What: A Candidate’s Guide to NABCEP, Certemy, and Meazure Learning The NABCEP certification process involves more than one organization, and it’s not always clear who handles what. We sat down with NABCEP Certification Manager Luis Gallaga to break it down for us: If you’re working toward your NABCEP certification, this… Continue reading “Who Does What: A Candidate’s Guide to NABCEP, Certemy, and Meazure Learning”
What to Expect When You Get Your NABCEP Exam Results Sitting for a NABCEP exam is a big deal. You’ve put in the study hours, met the eligibility requirements, and made it all the way to test day. Once you get there, a natural next question is: now what? We… Continue reading “What to Expect When You Get Your NABCEP Exam Results”
New Free Course – Smart Investments: Certifications and Licenses That Pay Off Credentials cost time, money, and energy. Knowing which ones are actually worth it can make a real difference in your solar career. HeatSpring is excited to host a new free course from Solar for Women: Smart Investments: Certifications and Licenses… Continue reading “New Free Course – Smart Investments: Certifications and Licenses That Pay Off”
Don’t Have the Exact NABCEP Documentation Required? Here’s What to Do This can be a common challenge for utility-scale solar professionals pursuing NABCEP Board Certification. If you’re working toward your NABCEP PV Installation Professional (or most NABCEP Board Certifications), you’ll need to submit your decision-making role experience before you can sit… Continue reading “Don’t Have the Exact NABCEP Documentation Required? Here’s What to Do”
Is 2026 the Year You Get Your NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification? Ready to level up your solar career in 2026? There’s never been a better time to pursue your NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) Certification. If you don’t yet have all your required installation experience, NABCEP’s new Board Eligible Status program… Continue reading “Is 2026 the Year You Get Your NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification?”
Everything You Need to Know Before Taking Your NABCEP Exam Pre-exam jitters are real and completely normal, especially when you’re about to take a challenging certification exam you’ve spent months – or even years – preparing for. Being well-prepared means understanding exactly what to expect on testing day. In this… Continue reading “Everything You Need to Know Before Taking Your NABCEP Exam”
New Free Course Announcement: Understanding Concepts of Solar PV Power with Fundamental Calculations Preparing for a solar certification exam? Looking to strengthen your grasp of the fundamental calculations that underpin solar PV system design? We’re excited to announce our latest free course, Understanding Concepts of Solar PV Power with Fundamental Calculations, designed specifically… Continue reading “New Free Course Announcement: Understanding Concepts of Solar PV Power with Fundamental Calculations”
New Course Announcement: Solar PV Ground-Fault Troubleshooting: Theory, Tools, and Field Application Ground faults are one of the most challenging issues solar technicians face. They’re difficult to locate, potentially dangerous, and can bring PV systems to a grinding halt. Yet despite being one of the most common and costly issues in solar… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Solar PV Ground-Fault Troubleshooting: Theory, Tools, and Field Application”
Time to Renew Your NABCEP Certification? Here’s the Scoop Keeping your NABCEP certification current showcases your ongoing dedication to professional growth and mastery in the solar energy field. Plus, let’s be real – nobody wants to take that grueling certification exam again if their credentials expire! As your NABCEP… Continue reading “Time to Renew Your NABCEP Certification? Here’s the Scoop”