Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance lesson notes for SS1–SS3

What students learn

By the end of SS3, a student who has worked through these notes should be able to:

• Describe the main parts of a PV system, including solar panels, charge controllers, batteries and inverters
• Use basic electrical concepts, tools and instruments to connect, mount and wire solar panels with proper earthing and protection
• Calculate the size of solar panels, batteries, charge controllers and inverters for a given system
• Follow the steps of PV system installation, testing and commissioning
• Apply safety practice, Nigerian and international standards and electrical codes to PV work
• Carry out maintenance on an installed system and judge its performance through monitoring
• Compare solar water pumping, street lighting, home, grid tied and hybrid systems
• Prepare a costing and price for a solar system and explain the basics of customer service and project management

What each class covers

Every topic is a separate lesson note, listed here in teaching order. Open any topic, or the term, to read it.

SS1 Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance 23 notes

First Term 7 notes

• Basics of Solar Energy
• Solar Energy Terminologies
• Types of Solar Energy System
• 3 Types of Solar Panels (Components of PV System I)
• Charge Controller: Meaning, Types & Functions
• Types of Battery in Solar Setup: (Components of PV System III)
• Inverter: Meaning, Types & Ratings: (Components of PV System IV)

Second Term 8 notes

• Basic Electrical Concept
• Tools and Instruments in PV Installation
• Solar Panel Connection & its Types
• Solar Panel Connection II
• Solar Panel Mounting Structures
• Wiring and Cabling
• Earthing and Protection
• Practical (Small Solar Set-Up)

Third Term 8 notes

• PV System Design Principle
• Sizing Solar Panels: The Solar Balance Scale
• Sizing Batteries
• Sizing Charge Controllers and Inverters
• Practical PV System Designs
• PV System Installation Steps I
• PV System Installation Steps II
• System Testing and Commissioning

SS2 Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance 22 notes

First Term 7 notes

• Advanced PV System Design
• Solar Energy Storage Technologies
• Energy Efficiency in Solar System
• Safety in PV Installation
• Nigerian and International Standard
• Electrical Codes and Regulations
• Grid-Tied Solar Set-Up

Second Term 8 notes

• Solar Water Pumping System
• Solar Street Lightening System
• Solar Home System
• Advanced Wiring Techniques
• PV System Maintenance I
• PV System Maintenance II
• Monitoring and Performance Evaluation
• Practical: Maintenance of Installed System

Third Term 7 notes

• Introduction to Solar Entrepreneurship
• Business Skill in Solar Sector
• Costing and Pricing Solar System
• Customer Service and Support
• Project Management in Solar Installation
• Case Study of Nigerian Solar Projects
• Practical: Business Simulation

SS3 Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance 19 notes

First Term 7 notes

• Advanced PV Technologies
• Smart Solar System
• Hybrid Energy System
• Energy Policies in Nigeria
• Climate Change and Renewal Energy
• Environmental Impacts of PV Systems
• Smart Solar Monitoring System

Second Term 7 notes

• Preparation for SSCE
• SSCE Past Questions (Theory)
• SSCE Past Questions: Practical
• Mock Installation Project I
• Mock Installation Project II
• Mock Installation Project III
• Mock SSCE

Third Term 5 notes

• Comprehensive Revision I
• Comprehensive Revision II
• Final Project Presentation
• Mock Exam
• Final SSCE Presentation

How we prepare our lesson notes

Each note covers one topic for one class and one term, and the notes are arranged in teaching order. Every note has behavioural objectives, the lesson content in short sections, evaluation questions and an assignment. The questions and the assignment are drawn from the same note, so they test what was taught.

Before a note is published, it is edited for accuracy, plain language and the right level for the class. The aim is a note a teacher can pick up, adapt to the class and use with little extra preparation.

Every note is free to read online. A PDF or Word copy of one subject costs ₦1,000 for one term, or ₦2,000 for all three terms. If you find a mistake, tell us and we will correct it.

Recommended Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance textbooks

Books are grouped by class. The line under each title shows which list recommends it.

SS1 Solar Photovoltaic Installation & Maintenance textbooks 1 book

Name	Author	Publisher
Solar PV Installation and MaintenanceFG NERDC approved list, 2026 to 2028Edition: 2026	BMI	BMI

Based on the 2026/27 recommended lists. Editions change, so confirm the current edition with your school or bookseller.