The National RV Training Academy (NRVTA) doubled the number of courses designed to train students on solar system installation and maintenance.
“This program is really beginning to pick up lots of steam,” said Todd Henson, the NRVTA lead instructor teaching the solar classes. “Without units being plugged into a power source, RVers are rather limited to what they can do and where they can stay. That’s why there is such a big push to adopt alternative power sources.”
NRVTA’s solar course teaches people how lithium batteries work to store and deliver energy through an inverter, how to set up solar panels and how to match an RVer’s needs to the right solar system.
Technicians learn to conduct an energy audit to determine how much power the RV requires during the day and night, then select the correct equipment to deliver the power.
For example, some RVers require power to operate CPAP machines at night or to simply charge electronics, while others need to operate two or three air conditioners off battery power, Henson said.
“Many people are under the impression that solar systems are too expensive to install on RVs. It is a myth,” he said. “Depending upon their specific needs, an RV solar system can be installed for less than $10,000. That is a great price for the flexibility solar power offers RVers.”
Some people taking NRVTA’s solar class do so to save money by installing systems on their own rigs. Most students, however, see tremendous opportunity to make a living by completing solar installs for customers, Henson said.
Each student participates in two hands-on solar installs during a one-week class. The course offers 11 hours of teacher-led lectures to discuss procedures and theory of generating solar power, plus 24 hours of hands-on labs.
Students completing the class must pass a test that evaluates book knowledge and hands-on skills to attain a certificate of completion. Two classes are scheduled every seven weeks.
For more information, visit www.nrvta.com.
