A solar technician is a person who handles the installation and repair of solar panels. Due to the emphasis on alternative energy, there has been an increase of workers in this field. In many cases, these individuals have an existing knowledge of carpentry or construction and complete specialized courses that focus on solar energy. A solar technician can perform jobs for both residences and businesses and has six main job duties. These include assessing the customer's needs, giving estimates, reading blueprints, gathering materials, installing solar panels and repairing solar panels.
Assessing the customer's needs is usually the first thing a solar technician will do for each job assignment. This often involves an initial consultation where the technician determines how many and what size solar panels are needed. He might also explain the various available options and their pricing. Since many people are unfamiliar with the specifics of solar photovoltaic systems, it's often necessary for a technician to explain the details.
After an assessment, a solar technician will provide a customer with a rough estimate for the job. An estimate will generally include both the cost of materials and labor. Before a job can begin, it's important for both a customer and solar technician to be in agreement on pricing.
Once both parties are on the same page, it's necessary for a solar technician to read the blueprints of the job and gather appropriate materials. For example, he will analyze the step-by-step plans of the blueprints and collect the necessary solar panels. In addition, he may need to gather extra equipment, such as hammers, screwdrivers, wiring and any other essentials. For smaller jobs like homes, this may be simple. On the other hand, larger jobs like business facilities often require significantly more preparation.
Installing solar panels is the next and most important part of each assignment. It's up to a solar technician to install all solar panels according to the blueprints. In most cases, they are installed on the roof of a home or building. Along with installing solar panels, the technician will need to connect wiring and test the system to make sure it works properly. Upon project completion, the solar technician should familiarize his customer with how to operate the system.
In addition, he will sometimes be required to repair existing solar panels. This often involves replacing old panels or fixing a wiring problem. Being effective at this means that a solar technician must be able to identify issues both large and small, and know how to correctly solve the problem.