Comprehensive three-day program equips solar professionals for success in growing market

ARLINGTON, Wash.--OutBack Power Technologies, Inc., a designer and manufacturer of advanced power electronics for renewable energy, backup power and mobile applications, today announced the OutBack Power Certificate Training Program, a three-day class covering everything from solar photovoltaic (PV) system fundamentals to system specification and sizing, design, installation, testing and commissioning. Program participants will earn continuing education credits from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) toward that group's PV Installer Certification or Solar PV Recertification.

Following a sold-out OutBack Power Certificate Training Program session in mid-April, the company is now accepting registration for the next class, which will be held in Arlington, Wash. from May 20 to May 23, 2013. The following session at the Arlington facility is June 18-20, and sessions are planned in Phoenix starting in July.

The training is open to any solar PV installation, design or sales professional interested in expanding beyond grid-tied systems into battery backup technologies, as well as electrical contractors who want to add solar capabilities to their portfolios. Students will learn how to assess customer energy needs, wire and program systems, and understand and work with system components, including inverter/chargers, charge controllers, and networking and communication devices. The class will also cover battery and storage basics, as well as best installation and safety practices.

"Residential and commercial customers are tuned into the challenges facing grid-tied power, including the disruptions that stem from natural disasters and grid instability," said Mark Cerasuolo, senior marketing manager of OutBack Power. "This training program – approved by the most prominent professional certification group in the industry – gives installers and contractors the know-how to meet customer economic and security needs by designing new systems and upgrading existing ones with flexible battery backup capability and smarter system technology, to position them for a smart-grid future."

The OutBack Power Certificate Training Program is led by NABCEP certified Solar PV installers Carol Weis and Brad Burkhartzmeyer of Sun's Eye Solar Power, a solar energy and electrical contracting company. The roster of instructors includes Jason Lerner of Waldron Power and Light Company, who has been designing and installing off-grid solar electric systems since 1994 and is an instructor with Solar Energy International (SEI). The class includes 17 learning modules, five learning labs, two hands-on practice sessions focused on system sizing and field wiring, and a final project that ties all of the session concepts together. Successful graduates earn 18 contact hours toward the NABCEP PV Installer Certification or 12 hours toward the NABCEP Solar PV Recertification. The training registration fee is $399 per student. To register, contact training@outbackpower.com.

About OutBack Power Technologies

OutBack Power Technologies, a member of The Alpha Group, is the leading designer and manufacturer of advanced power electronics for renewable energy, backup power and mobile applications. With an emphasis on product performance, OutBack has established itself as the product of choice in harsh environmental conditions and applications where product reliability is paramount. Whether the application is village microgrids in Africa, rural electrification projects in Latin America, remote off-grid cabins in Alaska or suburban homes in Southern California, OutBack Power Technologies has set the bar for delivering advanced power conversion electronics. For more information, please visit www.outbackpower.com.