Shadowing Practice: Comparing Low Voltage Vs. Medium Voltage Equipment on Solar Sites - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Let's work our way backwards from the interconnection point and compare some equipment.
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First off, we have our system disconnect, which is almost without exception required by utilities for any distributed generation project, with the possible exception of some small residential projects.
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For low voltage projects, we typically have a blade disconnect.
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For utility scale systems, especially overhead connected projects, we'll see what's called a GOAB or gang operated airbrake switch.
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Next up, we have fuses, which can be a really helpful item to have for blanket protection from the utility, which often has a high available fault current.
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For low voltage projects, we typically have a fuse disconnect.
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For utility scale systems, especially overhead connected projects, we might see a set of three fuse cutouts.
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The next protective device might be a main circuit breaker, which can provide a bit more sensitive protection features than a fuse
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and could also be connected to a shunt trip circuit to be opened by a remote input.
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For medium voltage systems, a recloser sort of takes the place of a main circuit breaker, but with a whole lot more bells and whistles.
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A pole-mounted recloser is separated into two sections, a switching unit at the top of the pole and a control relay, usually mounted at ground level.
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The relay senses what's happening in the switching unit
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and tells the switching unit to open or close according to the settings in the relay.
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Most low-voltage circuit breakers are not set up to trip on voltage or frequency, but this is a standard function of a recloser.
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In almost every PV system nowadays, you're going to have some kind of revenue metering.
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In the low-voltage world, this could be a CT cabinet like the one shown here.
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For overhead medium-voltage systems, you're likely to see a primary metering rack, though a good percentage of projects still meter each subarray at the low-voltage side,
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either in addition to or instead of at medium voltage.
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Transformers are not always used in commercial systems, but they're also not totally uncommon either,
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especially when you encounter a 208 volt service, but you want to use a 480 volt string inverters for rooftop stringing efficiencies.
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If they're used, they typically are dry type transformers, less than 300 kVA.
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One of the key differentiators of utility scale projects, in addition to being connected at medium voltage is that they use a step-up transformer,
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so you'll have one or more of these on every project. And lastly are inverters.
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While you might see a 120kW Ving inverter like this one here on a commercial project, utility-scale projects sometimes use single inverters that are 2MW or more
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and are often combined into skids of 4-6MW and paired with a transformer.
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Fortunately, however, solar modules are still solar modules.
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Kind of.
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Thank you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 28 sentences and 475 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:42. The speaker talks at a natural 176 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 71% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| voltage noun | /ˈvəʊltɪd͡ʒ/ | The difference in electrostatic potential between two points in space, especially between live and neutral conductors or the earth. |
| utility noun | /juːˈtɪlɪti/ | The state or condition of being useful; usefulness. |
| circuit noun | /ˈsɝ.kɪt/ | The act of moving or revolving around, or as in a circle or orbit; a revolution |
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
| fuse noun | /fjuːz/ | A wick or cord used to convey flame to gunpowder, a bomb, or similar explosive. |
| overhead noun | /ˈəʊvəˌhɛd/ | The expense of a business not directly assigned to goods or services provided. |
| relay noun | /ˌɹiˈleɪ/ | A new set of anything. |
| breaker noun | /ˈbɹeɪkɚ/ | Something that breaks (something else). |
| mount verb | /maʊnt/ | To get upon; to ascend; to climb. |
| string noun | /stɹɪŋ/ | A long, thin and flexible structure made from threads twisted together. |
| exception noun | /əkˈsɛpʃən/ | The act of excepting or excluding; exclusion; restriction by taking out something which would otherwise be included, as in a class, statement, rule. |
| pole noun | /pəʊl/ | Either of the two points on the earth's surface around which it rotates; also, similar points on any other rotating object. |
| meter noun | /ˈmitəɹ/ | A device that measures things. |
| module noun | /ˈmɑd͡ʒul/ | A self-contained component of a system, often interchangeable, which has a well-defined interface to the other components. |
| percentage noun | /pə(ɹ)ˈsɛntɪd͡ʒ/ | The amount, number or rate of something, regarded as part of a total of 100; a part of a whole. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| step up verb | To increase, augment, or advance, especially by one or more steps. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be connected · is separated · are not set |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | disconnect, which is · fuses, which can · breaker, which can |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 6 contractions and reduced forms, such as they're, you're, we'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: exception /əkˈsɛpʃən/, efficiency /ɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/, residential /ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl/, differentiator /dɪf.əˈɹɛn.ʃi.eɪ.tə/, interconnection /ˌɪn.tɚ.kəˈnɛk.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: utility /juːˈtɪlɪti/, efficiency /ɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/, residential /ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl/, fortunately /ˈfɔɹ.t͡ʃə.nɪt.li/, differentiator /dɪf.əˈɹɛn.ʃi.eɪ.tə/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like voltage, utility, circuit.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.