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SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC QUALIFICATION
EXAM LATEST 2026 VERSION WITH 100
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
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- Which type of current is produced directly by a PV module? A. AC B. DC C. Polyphase D. Pulsed PV modules generate direct current (DC) electricity.
- The primary semiconductor material used in most PV cells is: A. Copper B. Silicon C. Gallium D. Tungsten Silicon is the most common semiconductor used in PV technologies.
- The term “irradiance” refers to: A. The lifespan of a PV module B. Solar power per unit area C. The angle of the roof
D. The wind loading on panels Irradiance is solar power density hitting the surface (W/m²).
- The function of an inverter in a PV system is to: A. Store solar energy B. Convert DC to AC C. Shade the array D. Increase module temperature Inverters convert DC output to usable AC power.
- A “string” of PV modules is: A. Modules wired in parallel only B. Modules wired in series C. Single module installation D. Battery-only circuit Series wiring increases system voltage and defines the string.
- A combiner box is used to: A. House the inverter B. Combine multiple strings into one output C. Measure sunlight D. Support the modules Combiner boxes merge DC strings before entering the inverter.
- Open-circuit voltage (Voc) is measured when: A. The inverter is fully loaded B. The circuit is disconnected from load C. The battery is charging D. The array is shaded Voc is measured with no load connected.
- Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) helps by: A. Preventing shading B. Optimizing voltage/current for max output C. Securing wiring
D. Watt Resistance is measured in ohms. 14.Which conductor is used for equipment grounding? A. Red B. Blue C. Green or bare D. Yellow Ground wires are typically green/bare per standards. 15.The primary purpose of fuses in PV systems is to: A. Increase voltage B. Protect against overcurrent C. Provide shading D. Improve aesthetics Overcurrent protection prevents fire hazards. 16.The term STC refers to: A. Solar Test Cycle B. System Tracking Capacity C. Standard Test Conditions D. Static Thermal Coefficient STC defines module rating reference conditions. 17.In a battery-based PV system, the device controlling charge is: A. Disconnect B. Charge controller C. Tracker D. Combiner Charge controllers regulate battery charging. 18.Batteries store energy as: A. AC B. DC C. Thermal
D. RF
Chemically stored energy is returned as DC. 19.A typical PV module contains cells wired mostly in: A. Parallel B. Series C. Mixed hydrogen D. Open Cells are series-wired to build voltage. 20.What does “kWh” measure? A. Current B. Voltage C. Energy D. Resistance kWh is a measure of electrical energy over time. 21.The efficiency of PV cells decreases when: A. Temperature drops B. Temperature rises C. Voltage increases D. Array faces south High heat lowers cell efficiency. 22.The “azimuth” of an array refers to its: A. Pitch B. Direction facing C. Color D. Thickness Azimuth is orientation relative to true north/south. 23.Microinverters are installed: A. Indoors only B. On each module C. At the combiner box
D. 50 years Most PV manufacturers guarantee performance ~25 years. 29.NEC requirements for PV systems are mainly found in: A. Article 100 B. Article 200 C. Article 690 D. Article 310 NEC 690 covers PV installations. 30.Rapid shutdown requirements apply to: A. Battery circuits only B. PV arrays on buildings C. Underground wiring D. Off-grid systems only Safety rule for rooftop fire response. 31.The best direction for PV in the northern hemisphere is: A. North B. South C. East D. West South exposure maximizes sunlight. 32.Anti-islanding protection prevents: A. Overheating batteries B. Backfeeding the grid during outage C. Overcharging modules D. Inverter corrosion Stops power feeding into disabled grid for safety. 33.A disconnect switch should be: A. Hidden B. Clearly labeled and accessible C. Installed without grounding
D. Inside inverter only Safety devices must be visible and reachable. 34.The fill factor of a solar cell indicates: A. Weight of the module B. Temperature coefficient C. Quality of power output (IV curve shape) D. The azimuth range Higher fill factor means better efficiency. 35.The unit “Watt” represents: A. Voltage B. Power C. Resistance D. Energy Power is measured in watts. 36.A bypass diode helps by: A. Increasing irradiance B. Protecting cells from shaded hot spots C. Cooling modules D. Increasing resistance Bypass diodes route current around shaded cells. 37.What typically increases array voltage? A. Parallel wiring B. Series wiring C. Shorter strings D. Smaller inverters Series connections add voltages. 38.A DC arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protects against: A. Thunderstorms B. Dangerous arcing in DC circuits C. Snow load
D. Rainfall only Maps display regional irradiance. 44.The main cause of module degradation over time is: A. Frozen conductors B. UV and environmental exposure C. Roof paint color D. Inverter tilt Environmental stress gradually reduces output. 45.A typical efficiency of commercial crystalline modules is around: A. 5% B. 15–22% C. 35–60% D. 80–90% Most commercially sold panels fall within this range. 46.What happens to Voc in cold weather? A. Decreases B. Increases C. Stays the same D. Stops entirely Colder temperatures raise module voltage. 47.Conductors exposed to sunlight must be: A. Purple B. Rated for UV exposure C. Buried only D. Inside batteries Outdoor wiring must be UV-resistant. 48.What is the primary risk of reverse polarity wiring? A. Better performance B. Equipment damage and hazards C. Lower shading
D. Higher efficiency Reverse polarity can destroy electronics. 49.Battery electrolyte in flooded lead-acid types is: A. Pure water only B. Sulfuric acid solution C. Motor oil D. Liquid nitrogen FLA batteries use sulfuric acid as the electrolyte. 50.Which blockage has the biggest impact on output? A. Partial diffuse light B. Hard shading on one cell C. Higher ambient air D. Red wire touching green wire Shading a portion of a cell can drastically drop power. 51.The primary purpose of a PV mounting system is to: A. Generate electricity B. Secure modules and optimize tilt/orientation C. Store energy D. Convert DC to AC Mounting systems hold panels safely and ensure proper sun exposure. 52.Roof penetration for PV mounts should include: A. Only screws B. Flashing and sealants C. Glue only D. Exposed bolts Proper flashing prevents leaks and structural damage. 53.The main function of a solar tracker is to: A. Store energy
B. Roof pitch C. Local dust and debris accumulation D. Battery type Efficiency is reduced when modules are dirty. 59.Which inverter type allows each panel to operate independently? A. String inverter B. Microinverter C. Central inverter D. Hybrid inverter Microinverters optimize each panel individually. 60.Shading on one module in a string can: A. Increase string voltage B. Reduce total string current C. Cool adjacent modules D. Improve inverter efficiency Series wiring means shaded modules reduce current for the whole string. 61.PV module degradation is typically around: A. 0.01% per year B. 0.5–1% per year C. 5% per year D. 10% per year Modules gradually lose efficiency over decades. 62.Which type of PV cell is most efficient commercially? A. Amorphous B. Polycrystalline C. Monocrystalline D. Cadmium telluride Monocrystalline cells have higher efficiency due to purity. 63.PV modules are rated at STC to standardize: A. Roof mounting
B. Battery size C. Output under uniform conditions D. Inverter brand STC allows comparison across manufacturers. 64.The main hazard of batteries is: A. Noise B. Color C. Electrical shock and chemical exposure D. Weight Batteries carry voltage and contain corrosive electrolytes. 65.The term “fill factor” is: A. Battery capacity B. Wire gauge C. Maximum power divided by Voc × Isc D. Panel tilt angle It measures the quality of the PV cell’s IV curve. 66.Which device prevents backfeeding to the grid? A. Ground rod B. Combiner box C. Anti-islanding inverter D. Tracker Anti-islanding stops feeding electricity into a downed grid. 67.Hot spots in PV modules occur when: A. Modules are cleaned B. Inverter is oversized C. Cells are shaded or damaged D. Batteries overcharge Shaded cells can overheat in series configurations. 68.PV system performance ratio (PR) is: A. Voltage divided by current
B. Ballasted or tilted racks C. Only adhesive D. Underground rails Ballast systems avoid roof penetration and optimize tilt. 74.In off-grid PV systems, the main purpose of batteries is: A. Reduce module voltage B. Increase shading C. Store energy for use when sunlight is unavailable D. Feed the grid Batteries provide energy during non-generation periods. 75.A PV module’s short-circuit current (Isc) is: A. Maximum current under load B. Current when terminals are shorted C. Current at maximum power D. Nominal battery current Isc is the highest current the module can deliver with zero load. 76.Which factor does NOT affect PV output? A. Shading B. Orientation C. Temperature D. Roof color Roof color generally does not impact electrical output. 77.PV modules connected in series: A. Increase current B. Increase voltage C. Decrease both voltage and current D. Are unsafe only Series connections add voltage across modules. 78.PV modules connected in parallel: A. Increase voltage
B. Increase current C. Decrease output D. Reduce inverter efficiency Parallel wiring boosts available current. 79.Ground-fault protection is important because: A. It improves voltage B. Prevents fire and electrical hazards C. Boosts inverter efficiency D. Enhances module lifespan Ground faults can be dangerous; protection mitigates risks. 80.PV system energy production is often measured in: A. Volts B. Amperes C. kWh D. Ohms Energy output is quantified in kilowatt-hours. 81.Typical inverter efficiency is around: A. 50% B. 65% C. 95% D. 100% Modern inverters convert DC to AC with high efficiency. 82.Which is true about monocrystalline modules? A. Lower efficiency than polycrystalline B. Higher efficiency due to pure silicon C. Only used in thin-film D. Cheaper than amorphous Pure silicon allows better electron flow. 83.The main purpose of an array combiner is: A. Charge batteries
B. Maintenance and airflow C. Lightning D. Weight only Airflow and access for service are critical. 89.The typical lifespan of a PV inverter is: A. 5–7 years B. 10–15 years C. 25 years D. 40 years Inverters usually need replacement before modules. 90.Which factor most reduces PV module performance? A. Roof angle B. Wire color C. Shading D. Module thickness Shading blocks sunlight and significantly reduces output. 91.Maximum system voltage is limited by: A. Roof pitch B. NEC and module ratings C. Inverter brand D. Color of wires Regulations and equipment ratings ensure safety. 92.AC modules have: A. No inverter B. Microinverter built-in C. Batteries internal D. Only DC output AC modules integrate microinverters on each panel. 93.PV system monitoring is used to: A. Increase module weight
B. Reduce wiring C. Track performance and detect issues D. Store excess energy Monitoring ensures optimal operation. 94.The effect of snow on PV modules is: A. Increases efficiency B. Reduces irradiance and output C. Improves inverter efficiency D. Enhances voltage only Snow cover blocks sunlight and reduces energy production. 95.PV module degradation warranties usually guarantee: A. 50% output at 10 years B. 80–90% output at 25 years C. 100% output at 50 years D. 60% output at 5 years Manufacturers guarantee gradual decline within expected limits. 96.The main risk with improper PV grounding is: A. Reduced voltage B. Electrical shock and fire C. Increased power D. Faster charging Improper grounding can be dangerous in fault conditions. 97.Which factor is most critical when sizing conductors? A. Roof color B. Module type C. Current and voltage ratings D. Module weight Proper sizing ensures safe current-carrying capacity. 98.PV system labeling is required to: A. Increase efficiency
