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CSLB C-46 Solar (Trade Exam) Exam Cheat Sheet (2026)
A free, printable CSLB C-46 Solar (Trade Exam) exam cheat sheet: the 47 highest-yield points to know, grouped into 6 sections that follow the exam's content areas, each section with its published weight.
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- 47 of the 47 points carry a citation to the rule they come from.
- The real CSLB C-46 Solar (Trade Exam) exam: 210 minutes.
- Prints from your browser (Ctrl-P, or Cmd-P on a Mac) — the navigation, buttons and links drop out of the printed copy.
- 100 free CSLB C-46 Solar (Trade Exam) practice questions on the same material, every one explained.
- Last updated: September 2026.
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Planning and Estimating
14% of the exam- Size from annual use
- Twelve months of kWh from the bills, adjusted for loads the customer plans to add.· DOE, Planning a Home Solar Electric System
- Best annual orientation
- True south, tilted at about the site's latitude; nearby southeast and southwest roofs can still work.· DOE, Solar Photovoltaic System Design Basics
- Solar Shade Control Act
- New trees or shrubs may not shade more than 10% of a collector between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. standard time.· Public Resources Code 25982
- HOA limits
- For PV, a restriction is unreasonable if it adds more than $1,000 or cuts efficiency more than 10%.· Civil Code 714
- Cold string voltage
- Module Voc × modules in series × a cold correction factor must stay under the equipment and system limits.· California Solar Permitting Guidebook
- PV current factors
- 1.25 for irradiance above test conditions, and 1.25 again for conductors — 1.56 combined.· Sandia, PV Power Systems and the NEC
- Expected losses
- PVWatts applies a default 14% total system loss.· NREL PVWatts Version 5 Manual
- Expedited permits
- Systems up to 10 kW AC on single or duplex family dwellings qualify for a streamlined process with one inspection.· Government Code 65850.5
- Disclosure document
- The CSLB solar disclosure document goes on the front page of the contract in boldface 16-point type.· Business and Professions Code 7169
- Down payment
- The lesser of $1,000 or 10% of the contract price.· Business and Professions Code 7159
Solar Panel and Collector Installation
17% of the exam- Fire classification
- Rooftop PV systems are listed to UL 2703 and match the roof assembly's required class.· 2022 CRC R902.4 (County of Lake excerpt); City of Poway list
- Pathways
- Two pathways at least 36 inches wide, eave to ridge, on separate roof planes; one on the street or driveway side.· 2022 CRC R324.6.1 (City of Berkeley checklist)
- Ridge setbacks
- 18 inches for arrays up to 33% of plan-view roof area; 36 inches above that (66% threshold with sprinklers).· 2022 CRC R324.6.2
- Tilted racks
- In Berkeley, panels 10 inches or more off the roof need an engineer's wind-uplift analysis.· City of Berkeley checklist
- Added load
- Attached arrays add under 3 psf; ballasted arrays 3 to 8 psf.· NREL O&M Best Practices
- Hardware
- Through-bolting is preferred to clamps; self-tapping screws tend to pull out.· NREL O&M Best Practices
- Ground-mount clearance
- A 10-foot brush-free area around the array perimeter.· 2022 CFC 1205.5.1
- Underground wiring
- Corrosion-resistant conduit for underground runs.· County of San Diego PDS 081S
- Penetrations
- Flashed and sealed to the approved plan; secure and weather-tight.· California Solar Permitting Guidebook; County of San Diego PDS 081S
PV System Installation and Commissioning
28% of the exam- Rapid shutdown
- 30 V within 30 seconds outside the array boundary; 80 V within 30 seconds inside it.· 2022 CEC 690.12 (City of Berkeley checklist)
- Busbar rule
- 125% of inverter output current plus the main breaker may not exceed 120% of the busbar, with the PV breaker at the opposite end.· California Solar Permitting Guidebook
- Arc-fault protection
- Required for PV systems at 80 volts DC or more.· 2022 CEC 690.11 (City of Berkeley checklist)
- Raceway label
- "WARNING: PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SOURCE" — reflective, white capitals at least 3/8 inch on red, no more than 10 feet apart.· 2022 CEC 690.31 (City of Berkeley checklist)
- Service directory
- A plaque showing every power source disconnect, marked "CAUTION: MULTIPLE SOURCES OF POWER."· 2022 CEC 705.10
- ESS limits
- UL 9540 listed; 20 kWh per unit; 40 or 80 kWh by location; 3 feet between units (2022 CRC R328, now R330).· County of Lake excerpt; County of San Diego PDS 081S
- Backfeed
- No source may send power beyond the premises wiring without positive means to prevent it, unless the utility authorized it.· Cal/OSHA Title 8 section 2320.9
- Testing
- Open-circuit voltage, current and I-V curve tests find DC faults monitoring misses.· NREL O&M Best Practices
Solar Thermal Installation
7% of the exam- Freeze climates
- Indirect systems with non-toxic propylene glycol; ethylene glycol must not be used.· DOE Energy Saver pages (archived)
- Heat exchangers
- Double walls with drainage and leak detection when the fluid is toxic.· DOE Energy Saver pages (archived)
- Certification
- Solar water and pool heating equipment must be certified by an accredited listing agency.· Government Code 65850.5
- Collector area
- 50–100% of the pool's surface area; less with a pool cover.· DOE Energy Saver, Solar Swimming Pool Heaters (archived)
- Pool volume
- Cubic feet × about 7.48 gallons per cubic foot.· NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C
- Heat
- Btu = gallons × 8.35 × temperature rise.· DOE Energy Saver (archived)
Service, Operation, and Maintenance
15% of the exam- Normal degradation
- NREL's review found a median of 0.5% per year.· NREL, PV Degradation Rates
- Soiling
- Uneven soiling can cause hot spots; clean as the module maker recommends.· NREL O&M Best Practices
- Ground faults
- Often a wire rubbing a module frame.· NREL O&M Best Practices
- Pump runs at night
- Suspect a shorted collector sensor or open tank sensor.· DOE Energy Saver (archived)
- Glycol
- Test pH and freeze point; change every 3–5 years.· DOE Energy Saver (archived)
- ESS replacement
- A replaced ESS is a new installation under the fire code.· 2022 CFC 1207.3.8
- Qualified persons
- Only qualified persons maintain, remove or reinstall PV and storage.· County of San Diego PDS 081S
Safety
19% of the exam- General trigger
- Fall protection above 7 1/2 feet or on roofs steeper than 7:12.· Cal/OSHA Title 8 section 1670
- Fall arrest
- 6-foot maximum free fall; 1,800-pound maximum arresting force; 5,000-pound anchorage per worker.· Cal/OSHA Title 8 section 1670
- Ladders
- Rails 36 inches above the landing; base at one-quarter of the working length.· Cal/OSHA Title 8 section 3276
- Lockout
- Notify, lock open, tag, and dissipate stored energy before de-energized work.· Cal/OSHA Title 8 section 2320.4
- Heat
- Shade above 80 °F; high-heat procedures at 95 °F; one quart of water per worker per hour.· Cal/OSHA Title 8 section 3395
- Safety data sheets
- Accessible to employees during every shift.· Cal/OSHA Title 8 section 5194
- Batteries
- Lead-acid batteries can release hydrogen and carry corrosive electrolyte; provide eyewash where needed.· Sandia NEC guide; Cal/OSHA Title 8 section 1512
Now prove you know them
Reading an outline is not the same as recalling it under exam pressure. Drill the free CSLB C-46 Solar (Trade Exam) questions to find the areas you keep missing, then sit a full timed mock.
Study aid, not a substitute for the official material — always confirm the current rule with CSLB — C-46 study guide (13E-46).