1. Electricity Compare AC and DC electrical current and understand their important differences Explain the relationship between volts, amps, amp-hour, watts, watt-hours, and kilowatt-hours Learn about using electrical meters

2. Electricity Terminology Electricity = flowing electrons Differences in electrical potential creates electron flow Loads harness the kinetic energy of these flowing electrons to do work Water flow is a good analogy for electron flow Electricity = flowing electrons Differences in electrical potential creates electron flow Loads harness the kinetic energy of these flowing electrons to do work Water flow is a good analogy for electron flow

3. Electricity Terminology Resistance (  ) - The opposition of the material to the flow of an electrical current - Depends on material, cross sectional area, length, and temperature Resistance (  ) - The opposition of the material to the flow of an electrical current - Depends on material, cross sectional area, length, and temperature

4. Electricity Terminology Watt (W) is a measure of power - Unit rate of electrical energy (joules/sec) - 1 horsepower (hp) = 746 watts Volts × Amps = Watts 1000 watts = 1 kW

5. Electricity Terminology Watt-hour (Wh) is a measure of energy - Unit quantity of electrical energy - Watts × hours = Watt-hours 1kilowatt-hour (1 kWh) = 1000 Wh

6. Electricity Terminology Amp-hour (Ah) - Quantity of electron flow - Used for battery sizing - Amps × hours = Amp-hours - Amp-hours × Volts = Watt-hours A 200 Ah battery delivering 1 A will last ________ hours A 200 Ah battery delivering 10 A will last _________ hours 100 Ah battery × 12 V = __________ Wh

7. Electricity Terminology DC = direct current - PV panels produce DC - Batteries store DC AC = alternating current - Utility - Most consumer appliances uses AC

8. Meters and Testing Never test battery current using a multimeter! Clamp-on meterDigital multimeter (DMM)

9. System Types Understand the functions of PV components Identify different system types

10. Photovoltaic (PV) Terminology Cell < Module < Panel < Array Battery – stores DC energy Controller – senses battery voltage and regulates charging Inverter – converts direct current (DC) energy to alternating current (AC) energy Loads – anything that consumes energy

11. Grid-Tied System (without batteries) Complexity - Low: Easy to install (less components) Grid Interaction - Grid can supplement power - No power when grid goes down

12. Grid-Tied System (with batteries) Complexity - High: Due to addition of batteries Grid Interaction - Grid still supplements power - Batteries supply power to loads when the grid goes down