Global Component
The shared NPPSC record for a product or item. It can include manufacturer details, model information, specifications, categories, relationships, and public community data.
Components and Real-World Knowledge
Components connect the products used in Projects to practical installation records, public usage data, and builder experience.
What Is a Component?
A Component is a product, assembly, material, tool, accessory, or other documented item used in a Project. Examples include a battery, inverter, water pump, roof fan, refrigerator, heater, or prebuilt water system.
NPPSC distinguishes between the shared Component record and a Project-specific Component record.
Project Component
The record showing how a specific builder used that Component in a specific Project, including quantity, Build Area, cost, installation location, and notes.
Add a Component to a Project
Open your Project, select Components, and add the Component used in that build. Connect it to the most relevant Build Area whenever possible.
Choose the Component
Select an existing Component from the NPPSC
Component Registry when available.
Set quantity and status
Record whether the Component is planned, purchased,
installed, or removed.
Connect the Build Area
Associate the Component with Electrical, Water,
Climate, Kitchen, Storage, or another relevant
Build Area.
Add practical documentation
Record installation location, purchase source,
costs, dates, and notes when useful.
Document Installation Experience
Installation notes are one of the most useful forms of Component documentation. They capture the details that do not appear in a product manual.
Useful installation note:
Mounted over the driver-side wheel well. Leave enough room to service the pump and access the drain connection for winterization.
Mounted over the driver-side wheel well. Leave enough room to service the pump and access the drain connection for winterization.
Where to add the note
Open the Project, select Components, then select Edit Component for the specific Project Component. Add the detail in the Notes field and save.
Helpful information to document
- Installation location
- Build Area or system connection
- Clearance, ventilation, or service-access requirements
- Mounting approach and supporting materials
- Wiring, plumbing, or related Component considerations
- Problems encountered and the solution used
- Advice for someone installing the same Component
Document Installation Photos
Photos provide visual context that text alone cannot capture. When possible, connect an installation photo directly to the applicable Project Component.
How to connect a photo to a Component
- Open your Project and select Gallery.
- Add a new photo or locate an existing Project photo.
- Use Manage Media when editing an existing photo.
- Associate the photo with the applicable Project Component.
- Use public Project and public photo visibility if you want the photo to contribute to public Component knowledge.
Example:
Project: Wheel-Well Fresh Water System
Component: Water Pump
Photo: Water pump installed over the driver-side wheel well
Project: Wheel-Well Fresh Water System
Component: Water Pump
Photo: Water pump installed over the driver-side wheel well
Where connected photos appear
A photo connected to a Component remains visible in the Project Gallery. If both the Project and the photo are public, it can also appear in the global Component page's Real-World Installation Photos section.
Photos linked only to a Build Area remain useful Project
documentation, but they do not appear as installation photos
on the global Component page unless they are also connected to
a specific Project Component.
Share Practical Component Tips
A Component Tip is short, practical advice based on your real-world use of a Component in a public NPPSC Project. Tips are intended to help another builder avoid common installation, clearance, service, wiring, plumbing, mounting, or operational problems.
Example Component Tip:
Title: Leave service clearance behind the pump
Tip: Leave enough room behind the pump to remove the strainer and reach the drain connection during winterization.
Title: Leave service clearance behind the pump
Tip: Leave enough room behind the pump to remove the strainer and reach the drain connection during winterization.
How to add a Component Tip
- Open your public Project.
- Select Components.
- Locate the applicable Project Component.
- Select + Add Component Tip.
- Add a short title and practical installation advice.
- Save the tip.
Manage your existing tips
Project owners can select Manage Tip or Manage Tips from the Project Components page to review tips connected to a specific Project Component.
- Edit a tip when the advice needs correction or clarification.
- Archive a tip to remove it from public Component pages.
- Restore an archived tip if it becomes useful again.
Component Tips are publicly displayed only when they are
connected to Components used in public Projects. Tips from
followers-only and private Projects do not appear on public
Component pages.
Explore the Global Component Registry
The Global Component Registry is where you can browse Component records and open their detail pages.
A global Component detail page may include:
- Manufacturer, model, part number, and specifications
- Categories, systems, Build Areas, and platforms
- Related Components
- Public Project usage count
- Builds using the Component
- Documented uses and public reviews, when available
- Real-world installation notes from public Projects
- Real-world installation photos from public Projects
- Practical tips from builders using the Component
Component Knowledge and Project Visibility
Public Component knowledge is created only from public Project records. This protects Project owners who choose followers-only or private visibility.
Public Project
Its Component usage, build listing, installation notes, installation photos, and practical tips may appear on the global Component detail page.
Followers or Private Project
Its Components remain connected to the Project, but they do not contribute to public Component usage counts, public build lists, installation notes, installation photos, or practical tips.
Before adding a detailed installation note, confirm that your
Project visibility reflects how widely you want that experience
shared.
Use Components to Build Better Records
Components are most valuable when they are connected to the actual build work. Use them together with other Project documentation.
Components + Costs
Record estimated or actual cost information so the Project budget reflects the real build.
Components + Journal
Add a Journal entry when a Component is installed, tested, replaced, or causes a design decision.
Components + Media
Add photos and videos of real-world installation work to preserve visual context for future builders.
Components + Build Areas
Associate Components with the correct Build Area so the build remains structured and easy to understand.