Course Overview
The Solar Training course at Highbury College is a five-day, industry-aligned boot-camp that equips electricians, roofers and aspiring PV professionals with the skills to design, install, test and commission photovoltaic (PV) systems for residential and light-commercial sites. Mapped to NABCEP PV Associate learning objectives and local SANS/IEC standards, the programme blends classroom theory, hands-on array builds and live commissioning drills on our rooftop training lab. Graduates exit ready to sit the NABCEP PV Associate exam, pull permits and connect grid-tied or off-grid systems up to 15 kW.
What you’ll learn
- PV market drivers, incentives and the SA grid-code / NRS-097 interconnection rules
- Solar resource assessment, shading analysis and string-layout software
- Module types, cell tech, power-temperature coefficients and mechanical loading
- Inverter topology: string, power-optimiser, micro-inverter and hybrid battery units
- DC & AC conductor sizing, voltage-drop, fault-current and protection-device selection
- Earthing, surge suppression and lightning protection for rooftop and ground-mount arrays
- Safe mounting on tile, IBR and flat concrete roofs – rail, ballast and penetrating systems
- Battery integration: LiFePO₄ sizing, BMS wiring and off-grid load-shifting controls
- Live testing: Voc, Isc, insulation resistance, earthing continuity and RCD trip-time
- Commissioning pack: as-built diagrams, O&M manual, hand-over and NERSA registration forms
- Practical assessment: build, energise and fault-find a 3 kW hybrid system in under 4 h