CSLB C-46 Solar (Trade Exam) Practice Test
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| Administering body | Contractors State License Board (CSLB), California Department of Consumer Affairs — exam delivered by PSI Services LLC |
|---|---|
| Questions | Not published by CSLB What we read and found nothing in: CSLB — Step 7: Studying for the Examination |
| Time limit | 210 minutes |
| Passing score | Not published by CSLB What we read and found nothing in: CSLB — Step 7: Studying for the Examination |
| Fees |
Source: CSLB — List of All CSLB Fees |
| Languages offered | English |
Frequently asked questions
How many CSLB Trade — Solar (C-46) practice questions are here?+
A full bank of original CSLB Trade — Solar (C-46) practice questions across the official content areas, weighted like the real exam, with explanations. Free, no signup.
What is the CSLB Trade — Solar (C-46) exam like?+
A multiple-choice exam, 210 minutes. Practice by topic here, then take the full timed mock exam to gauge readiness.
Are these the real exam questions?+
No. Every question is 100% original, written from public primary sources with explanations. We never copy real exam questions or paid prep material.
Can I study in Chinese or Spanish?+
PrepPass practice is in English, 中文 and Español. The official exam is in English — switch the question language to English any time to rehearse the exact terminology you'll see on test day.
Is there a study guide for the CSLB Trade — Solar (C-46)?+
Yes. PrepPass sells CSLB C-46 Solar Trade Exam Study Guide (2026), a PDF + EPUB download, $24.99 one-time; the practice on this page stays free without it. See the study guide →
Sample practice questions
A few sample questions from this free bank, with full explanations. Use the practice tool above for the whole set.
- 1. Planning and Estimating
A homeowner's highest bill is in August, but the bills vary widely by month. What is the best starting figure for sizing a PV system?
- a.The average bill in dollars
- b.The kWh from the most recent bill
- c.The August kWh multiplied by twelve
- d.The total kWh over twelve months
Answer: d
Explanation: DOE advises reviewing electricity bills to find annual needs in kWh, checking every month because use changes through the year. Multiplying the peak month by twelve oversizes the system, and dollars do not measure energy.
Source: DOE, Planning a Home Solar Electric System
- 2. Solar Panel and Collector Installation
Which fastener does NREL describe as more likely to pull out of PV racking over time?
- a.Stainless steel bolts
- b.Listed lag screws into rafters
- c.Self-tapping screws
- d.Through-bolts with nuts
Answer: c
Explanation: NREL notes that self-tapping screws are more likely to pull out and weaken over time from corrosion, and that through-bolting is preferred to clamps in rack hardware.
Source: NREL Best Practices for O&M of PV and ESS
- 3. PV System Installation and Commissioning
What can a grid-forming inverter do that a conventional grid-following inverter cannot?
- a.Operate without any DC source
- b.Ignore the utility's interconnection rules
- c.Restart a grid that went down
- d.Raise module efficiency above 40 percent
Answer: c
Explanation: DOE explains that grid-forming inverters can start up a grid if it goes down, a process called black start, while grid-following inverters need a signal from the grid to match.
Source: DOE, Solar Integration: Inverters and Grid Services Basics
- 4. Service, Operation, and Maintenance
What does DOE recommend to remove sediment from a solar storage tank?
- a.Add more glycol to the tank
- b.Flush the tank periodically
- c.Raise the collector tilt
- d.Replace the tank every year
Answer: b
Explanation: DOE recommends flushing storage tanks periodically to remove sediment, and replacing the sacrificial anode in steel tanks at the supplier's recommended interval.
Source: DOE Energy Saver, Solar Water Heating System Maintenance and Repair
- 5. Planning and Estimating
Before choosing solar, what does DOE advise a homeowner to consider first?
- a.A larger inverter than the array needs
- b.Whether a neighbor has installed solar
- c.Low-cost efficiency measures
- d.Moving to a higher electric rate tier
Answer: c
Explanation: DOE advises knowing your usage and considering low-cost, easy-to-implement efficiency measures before choosing solar, since every kWh saved is one you need not generate. A neighbor's decision says nothing about the home's own load. An oversized inverter adds cost without lowering the load. A higher rate tier raises the bill and is not a planning step.
Source: DOE, Planning a Home Solar Electric System
- 6. Solar Panel and Collector Installation
On what area are the ridge setback coverage percentages calculated?
- a.The footprint of the racking rails
- b.The sloped surface area of the roof
- c.The plan-view roof area
- d.The area of the whole lot, sloped or not
Answer: c
Explanation: The percentage thresholds use the plan-view total roof area, the roof as seen from above. Sloped area is larger and gives a different percentage. The racking footprint is not the roof area. Lot area has no connection to roof coverage.
Source: 2022 CRC R324.6.2 (City of Berkeley checklist)
- 7. PV System Installation and Commissioning
Where must a PV system's disconnecting means be installed under Berkeley's checklist?
- a.At a readily accessible location
- b.Behind the modules in the array
- c.On the roof right next to the array
- d.Inside the attic near the hatch
Answer: a
Explanation: The PV system disconnecting means must be installed at a readily accessible location. An attic is not readily accessible. A roof location would put a responder on the array. Behind the modules is not accessible.
Source: City of Berkeley 2022-code checklist (CEC 690.13)
- 8. PV System Installation and Commissioning
What must an alternate power source placard be made of under San Diego County's checklist?
- a.Paper in a clear plastic sleeve, zip-tied on
- b.A handwritten tag on laminated weatherproof card
- c.A printed vinyl sticker with adhesive backing
- d.Engraved metal or plastic in a contrasting color
Answer: d
Explanation: The placard must be metal or plastic with engraved letters in a contrasting color. Paper in a sleeve fades and tears outdoors. A printed sticker is not engraved and is not durable enough. A handwritten tag is not permanent.
Source: County of San Diego PDS 081S (2025 codes)
- 9. Service, Operation, and Maintenance
According to NREL, what do cell-level hot spots generally do to module performance?
- a.They do not significantly affect it
- b.They always trip the ground-fault detector
- c.They raise the open-circuit voltage
- d.They cut the string's output in half
Answer: a
Explanation: NREL says cell-level hot spots generally will not significantly affect module performance, although a hot connection is a fire risk to correct. A single hot cell does not halve a string's output. A hot cell is not a ground fault. Heat lowers voltage rather than raising it.
Source: NREL Best Practices for O&M of PV and ESS
- 10. Safety
How far must an outdoor residential ESS on an exterior wall be from doors and windows directly entering the dwelling?
- a.Not less than 10 feet
- b.Not less than 3 feet
- c.Not less than 5 feet
- d.Not less than 1 foot
Answer: b
Explanation: The 2022 CRC allows outdoor and exterior-wall locations not less than 3 feet from doors and windows directly entering the dwelling. 1 foot is closer than allowed. 5 feet is farther than the minimum. 10 feet is farther than the minimum.
Source: 2022 CRC R328 (County of Lake excerpt)