Download PDF

Solar Energy** - Certificate (H80)

**This certificate is not currently offered.

This program prepares students to enter the work force as solar energy installers and technicians. They will have knowledge in electrical, electronics, and fluid power components and acquire troubleshooting skills on those components. Students completing  this program may pursue certification in their field.

Work and Employment

Students completing this program are prepared to work as field service technicians, installers, or manufacturing technicians. 

Special Considerations

Workers usually have the following skills and aptitudes; the ability to do precise and detailed work, use good eye-hand coordination, notice and compare differences in objects, have mathematical and mechanical aptitudes, are analytic, curious and creative. 

Follow this link for career information.

Program Contacts at Sauk Valley Community College

• Academic Advising, 815-835-6354
• Steven McPherson, Associate Professor of Electronics/Technology, 815-835-6347

Total Hours Required - 27 Hours

Major Field Requirements

• EET110 - Intro to Digital Control ( 4 Semester Hours)

  A basic course in digital logic and control. This course will introduce the student or experienced technician to digital logic control. Basic logic elements such as AND, OR, NAND, and NOR will be introduced and characterized. Combinational logic circuits will be designed and analyzed in the lab. 4 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec, 2 lab/week

• EET245 - Programmable Controllers ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course will cover both PLC programming and using the PLC as a troubleshooting device. Relay-type instructions, timer and counter operations, math and data compare instructions, sequencers, shift registers and program control instructions will be discussed. The course will also cover forcing commands. Programming will use Rockwell Studio 5000 and the primary PLCs used in this class will be the Allen Bradley ControlLogix series. Course content will be applicable to any PLC using the Ladder Diagram language. Prerequisite: EET 110 with a grade of ""C" or higher. 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lec, 2 lab/week

• ELT120 - Fund of Elec w/ Applied Math ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course provides basic electricity fundamentals, basic control strategies and electrical symbols. The class will provide the student with an understanding of basic electrical theory, schematic and wiring diagram symbols, motor theory, wiring and electrical troubleshooting. Conventional current will be used to define current flow. Applied mathematical concepts are incorporated into the course as required for successful understanding of objectives. 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lec, 2 lab/week

• ELT261 - National Electric Code ( 3 Semester Hours)

  A study of National Electric Code specifications with emphasis placed on proper installation of all circuits. Prerequisite: ELT 101 or ELT 120 OR EET 107 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

• ENE130 - Photovoltaics ( 3 Semester Hours)

  The course will cover the basic principles of photovoltaics and how to effectively incorporate PV systems into stand-alone or interconnected electrical systems. The course will cover site evaluations, operation, design and sizing, installation and advantages and disadvantages of different systems. Prerequisite: ELT 120 or EET 107 or consent of instructor. 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lec, 2 lab/week

• ENE135 - Renewable Energy ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course covers the different forms of renewable energy and how they are used. The class will cover the basics of solar energy, solar photovoltaics, bioenergy, hydroelectricity, tidal power, wind energy, wave energy, and geothermal processes. Prerequisite: EET 107 or ELT 120 or consent of instructor 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week NOTES: **THIS COURSE IS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERED.

• ENE140 - Solar Thermal Energy ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course will cover the basic theory of heat transfer and the principles of solar energy devices available and how they evolved. the course will touch upon residential, commercial and industrial applications. ELT 120 or concurrent enrollment in ELT 120 or consent of instructor. 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lec, 2 lab/week NOTES: **THIS COURSE IS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERED.

• IND108 - Introduction to CAD ( 2 Semester Hours)

  An introduction to engineering design and graphics using the latest version of AutoCAD. Basic AutoCAD commands will be introduced and emphasized throughout this course. Development of technical drawing skills including: design problems, sketching, dimensioning, tolerancing, orthographic projection, sectional views, and other viewing conventions. The course will proceed from the basics of design and sketching to applications used in preparing detail and assembly drawings. 2 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 1 lec/2 lab

• IND118 - Mechanical Systems ( 3 Semester Hours)

  The course will contain all information needed for a maintenance technician to successfully perform at a high level in their job. The course material will cover mechanical systems focusing on analysis of mechanical components, their relationships to each other, and failure prediction. General rigging will also be covered. Prerequisite: EET 107 (may be taken concurrently) or ELT 120 (may be taken concurrently). 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lec, 2 lab/week

Suggested Program

First Semester - 13 Hours

• EET110 - Intro to Digital Control ( 4 Semester Hours)

  A basic course in digital logic and control. This course will introduce the student or experienced technician to digital logic control. Basic logic elements such as AND, OR, NAND, and NOR will be introduced and characterized. Combinational logic circuits will be designed and analyzed in the lab. 4 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec, 2 lab/week

• ELT120 - Fund of Elec w/ Applied Math ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course provides basic electricity fundamentals, basic control strategies and electrical symbols. The class will provide the student with an understanding of basic electrical theory, schematic and wiring diagram symbols, motor theory, wiring and electrical troubleshooting. Conventional current will be used to define current flow. Applied mathematical concepts are incorporated into the course as required for successful understanding of objectives. 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lec, 2 lab/week

• ENE135 - Renewable Energy ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course covers the different forms of renewable energy and how they are used. The class will cover the basics of solar energy, solar photovoltaics, bioenergy, hydroelectricity, tidal power, wind energy, wave energy, and geothermal processes. Prerequisite: EET 107 or ELT 120 or consent of instructor 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week NOTES: **THIS COURSE IS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERED.

• IND118 - Mechanical Systems ( 3 Semester Hours)

  The course will contain all information needed for a maintenance technician to successfully perform at a high level in their job. The course material will cover mechanical systems focusing on analysis of mechanical components, their relationships to each other, and failure prediction. General rigging will also be covered. Prerequisite: EET 107 (may be taken concurrently) or ELT 120 (may be taken concurrently). 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lec, 2 lab/week

Second Semester - 14 Hours

• EET245 - Programmable Controllers ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course will cover both PLC programming and using the PLC as a troubleshooting device. Relay-type instructions, timer and counter operations, math and data compare instructions, sequencers, shift registers and program control instructions will be discussed. The course will also cover forcing commands. Programming will use Rockwell Studio 5000 and the primary PLCs used in this class will be the Allen Bradley ControlLogix series. Course content will be applicable to any PLC using the Ladder Diagram language. Prerequisite: EET 110 with a grade of ""C" or higher. 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lec, 2 lab/week

• ELT261 - National Electric Code ( 3 Semester Hours)

  A study of National Electric Code specifications with emphasis placed on proper installation of all circuits. Prerequisite: ELT 101 or ELT 120 OR EET 107 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 3 lec/week

• ENE130 - Photovoltaics ( 3 Semester Hours)

  The course will cover the basic principles of photovoltaics and how to effectively incorporate PV systems into stand-alone or interconnected electrical systems. The course will cover site evaluations, operation, design and sizing, installation and advantages and disadvantages of different systems. Prerequisite: ELT 120 or EET 107 or consent of instructor. 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lec, 2 lab/week

• ENE140 - Solar Thermal Energy ( 3 Semester Hours)

  This course will cover the basic theory of heat transfer and the principles of solar energy devices available and how they evolved. the course will touch upon residential, commercial and industrial applications. ELT 120 or concurrent enrollment in ELT 120 or consent of instructor. 3 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 2 lec, 2 lab/week NOTES: **THIS COURSE IS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERED.

• IND108 - Introduction to CAD ( 2 Semester Hours)

  An introduction to engineering design and graphics using the latest version of AutoCAD. Basic AutoCAD commands will be introduced and emphasized throughout this course. Development of technical drawing skills including: design problems, sketching, dimensioning, tolerancing, orthographic projection, sectional views, and other viewing conventions. The course will proceed from the basics of design and sketching to applications used in preparing detail and assembly drawings. 2 Semester hour(s) Lecture/Lab Hours: 1 lec/2 lab