Why Your Solar Service Department Looks Unprofitable (And How to Fix It) If your service department looks like a money pit on paper, you might not have a service problem – you might have an accounting problem. In a recent HeatSpring PRO Circle discussion with Amanda Bybee, CEO of the Amicus O&M… Continue reading “Why Your Solar Service Department Looks Unprofitable (And How to Fix It)”
What is String Sizing in PV Solar Design? Sean White Explains String sizing is one of the most critical and foundational calculations in PV system design. At its core, string sizing is about understanding how solar modules behave under different temperature conditions and ensuring your system operates safely within the voltage… Continue reading “What is String Sizing in PV Solar Design? Sean White Explains”
Solar & Storage Conferences Happening in 2026 The 2026 conference circuit isn’t slowing down, despite the market and policy challenges facing the industry. These events remain one of the most direct ways to see new products, understand policy changes, and connect with the people driving the market… Continue reading “Solar & Storage Conferences Happening in 2026”
The State of Solar Jobs 2025 Where are solar jobs today? Which market segments are hiring? And what do the latest employment numbers tell us about where the industry is headed? We turned to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s (IREC) newest National Solar Jobs Census to… Continue reading “The State of Solar Jobs 2025”
Taking a Look at Ground-fault Path Scenarios: Positive Ground Fault on a Transformer-Based Inverter When it comes to solar PV systems, understanding ground fault scenarios is crucial for both safety and proper system operation. This video excerpt from our comprehensive “Solar PV Ground-fault Troubleshooting: Theory, Tools, and Field Application” course demonstrates why mastering the… Continue reading “Taking a Look at Ground-fault Path Scenarios: Positive Ground Fault on a Transformer-Based Inverter”
Diversify into Solar Service with HeatSpring’s Solar Service PRO Badge Millions of solar systems are already installed across the US. These systems will operate for 25+ years, and every single one will need maintenance, troubleshooting, and occasional repairs. Yet many solar companies have historically focused exclusively on new installations while… Continue reading “Diversify into Solar Service with HeatSpring’s Solar Service PRO Badge”
A Look at Two Types of Battery Installations: Front of the Meter and Behind the Meter Where you install a battery system – and which side of the electricity meter it sits on – fundamentally changes how it operates and who benefits from it. There are two primary configurations for battery installations: front of the meter… Continue reading “A Look at Two Types of Battery Installations: Front of the Meter and Behind the Meter”
Inverter Topologies and DC System Grounding When it comes to troubleshooting ground faults in solar systems, understanding inverter topologies is absolutely essential for both safety and efficiency. These fundamental topology differences don’t only affect how power flows through your system – they completely change how ground… Continue reading “Inverter Topologies and DC System Grounding”
New Free Course Announcement: Introduction to Software for Battery Systems While utility-scale solar and battery systems are transforming our energy infrastructure, finding comprehensive, accessible education on the software that powers these systems can be challenging. Most available training focuses on hardware components or high-level energy concepts, but there are limited… Continue reading “New Free Course Announcement: Introduction to Software for Battery Systems”
Solar Safety: Risks During Construction Versus Operations The transition from solar construction to operations brings fundamentally different safety challenges that you and your team need to understand. These two video clips from Andy Nyce’s “Introduction to Utility-Scale Solar Operations & Maintenance” course highlight that what keeps workers… Continue reading “Solar Safety: Risks During Construction Versus Operations”
What is Insulation Resistance Testing (IRT)? When it comes to solar PV system maintenance and troubleshooting, few skills are as critical as understanding insulation resistance testing. This fundamental diagnostic technique serves as both a preventive measure and a powerful troubleshooting tool, helping technicians identify potential issues… Continue reading “What is Insulation Resistance Testing (IRT)?”
What is a PV System DC Ground Fault? Understanding DC ground faults is crucial for anyone working with solar PV systems, whether you’re troubleshooting existing issues or trying to prevent them in the future. This video excerpt comes from Solar Tech Collective’s comprehensive course on “Solar PV Ground… Continue reading “What is a PV System DC Ground Fault?”
What is Grounding and Bonding? Grounding and bonding are fundamental safety concepts in solar PV installations that every installer, technician, and system owner should understand. Though these terms are frequently confused or used interchangeably, understanding their distinct roles is crucial for electrical safety. Grounding creates… Continue reading “What is Grounding and Bonding?”
New Course Announcement: Identifying Issues on PV Systems Using Thermal Imagery Solar systems of all scales have mushroomed in recent years. As any industry professional can tell you, this growth brings challenges. Chief among them is ensuring these systems operate safely while maintaining peak performance. Visual inspections only catch the most… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Identifying Issues on PV Systems Using Thermal Imagery”
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”
Understanding NFPA 70B Equipment Condition Categories: The Foundation of Effective Maintenance One of the most critical aspects of implementing NFPA 70B is properly assessing and categorizing your electrical equipment. The standard requires a comprehensive evaluation that examines multiple factors to determine maintenance frequency and protect both safety and system reliability. The… Continue reading “Understanding NFPA 70B Equipment Condition Categories: The Foundation of Effective Maintenance”
Unique Characteristics of Utility-Scale Solar Projects The utility-scale solar industry continues to demonstrate remarkable momentum, with 9 GWdc of new capacity installed in Q1 2025 alone. While this represents a 7% decline from the previous year, the sector remains a cornerstone of the U.S. clean energy… Continue reading “Unique Characteristics of Utility-Scale Solar Projects”
Get Telehandler Certified and Meet OSHA Requirements with HeatSpring If you work in construction or maintenance and operate telehandlers – the versatile telescopic forklifts also known as boom forks, rough terrain forklifts, or reach forklifts – training is required by law. Here’s everything you need to know about getting… Continue reading “Get Telehandler Certified and Meet OSHA Requirements with HeatSpring”
How Will ANSI/SEIA 301-2025 Standard Be Implemented and What’s the Best Case Scenario in 10 Years? The approval of ANSI/SEIA 301-2025, the Solar and Energy Storage Operations and Maintenance Technician Training American National Standard, marks a big moment for the solar and storage industry. This new standard establishes more than training guidelines – it creates the… Continue reading “How Will ANSI/SEIA 301-2025 Standard Be Implemented and What’s the Best Case Scenario in 10 Years?”
Inside Substation Transformers Electric power substations serve as the critical connection points that keep our entire power system functioning – linking generation to transmission, connecting different voltage levels from 69 kV all the way up to 765 kV, and providing power to major… Continue reading “Inside Substation Transformers”