What are the primary components of a photovoltaic (PV) system? Modules, inverters, and the substructure, to be precise. There are, however, a few more… Terminal boxes, plugs, fuses… as well as a slew of solar wires And it is these cables that we are discussing in our current blog post. All too often, system planners concentrate simply on the major components. These components must be of excellent quality and long-lasting. Solar cables that are defective, on the other hand, are frequently the cause of system failure.
Solar energy system owners, regardless of size, want to be able to reap the benefits of their investment and solar power generation for as long as feasible. Under some conditions, however, planning or installation errors, as well as low component quality, can significantly shorten the lifespan of PV installations.
Substandard cables or Solar Cable that are not suitable for the environment, for example, greatly increase the chance of system failure. If the wires are separated or coated with a low-quality substance, burying them can be difficult.
EN 50618 is a European standard.
Since October 27, 2015, the European standard EN 50618 has been in effect. The qualities, requirements, and application of cables for solar systems are governed by this standard. The goal is to establish a uniform quality standard for PV cables throughout Europe. Cables that satisfy the EN 50618 standard are suited for long-term use in outdoor sites in a variety of climates over many years. The embossed construction type abbreviation “H1Z2Z2-K” helps system operators identify cables that satisfy the new standard. The acronym “PV1-F” for construction type is about to expire.
High quality slows down the ageing process.
Throughout its life, a solar wire is exposed to a variety of ageing processes.
- “Photooxidative” ageing is one of these factors. Solar radiation causes the cable’s outer sheath to become brittle, fade, and lose its UV stability.
- Due to heat or cold, “thermo-oxidative” ageing alters the material properties of the cable. It becomes brittle as a result of this. Consider a chilly, bright winter day like the ones we’ve had several times this month. The temperature was much below zero. The wires were subjected to a lot of stress if the system generated a lot of energy.
- Chemical-oxidative” ageing manifests itself in the form of cable embrittlement. Chemical stress on the solar wire, such as minerals and salts in the soil or acid rain, can cause anything from cracks to material loss.
- Biological-oxidative” ageing causes microbial growth, such as fungus, on the cable’s outer coating.
Solar wires from Australian cable manufacturers: Buriable and long-lasting
For more than 10 years, the znergy cables’ solar cable has been a component of our product line. The most recent version of all-purpose solar cable complies with EN 50618. znergy solar cable is buriable, unlike many other solar cables. This eliminates the time-consuming process of installing ducts as cable protection, which is especially beneficial when constructing big ground-mounted PV installations. The confirmed resistance to water, ammonia, and abrasion ensures a long service life.
The cable is also a good choice for roof systems because of its high temperature resistance, which allows it to be installed in all climate zones and at temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius. A completely new variant with a tinned copper sheath is now available. This efficiently shields the cable against rodent chewing.
Instead of the usual polyolefins, znergy solar cable uses double-walled rubber insulation manufactured of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) (also TPE-O or thermoplastic elastomers). No other material has the same level of long-term durability. TPE-O, on the other hand, does not provide enough long-term water and heat resistance. As a result, vulnerabilities and, as a result, insulation flaws may develop over time.
Our solar cables come with a 10-year product warranty. Znergy cables is a certified standard solar cable and is tuv certified Australian cable. It has a 30-year life expectancy, making it one of the most durable goods on the market. This is supported by the practical experience of the past decade: in the 80,000 kilometres of solar cable sold to date, no failure owing to a material deficiency has been observed.
Aside from the quality of the integrated wires, proper installation is also critical.
Installation errors result in yield losses and costly repairs.
In 2015, the German TÜV Rheinland published a research on PV systems. According to this survey, about 30% of all solar energy systems in Germany were found to have major flaws. These kinds of flaws must be addressed right away. Not just because this could result in considerable yield losses, but also because in the case of roof systems, the house residents could be harmed by an electric shock or a fire. TÜV found that 55% of solar energy systems are built wrongly. Product faults were found in 9% of the solar modules tested.
Faults with connection and contact points, in addition to wrongly positioned roof hooks, are especially problematic when it comes to a faulty assembly.
Power lines must be connected without forming loops, else a cable fire may occur. As a result, it’s critical to set them out properly. We frequently encounter the following flaws:
- Cable bundles with a significant number of cables,
- cables that are entirely exposed to the elements and are laid haphazardly and transversely,
- cables that have been laid in the rain gutter,
- clamped points or cables that lead over sharp edges, ‘
- inappropriate bending radii, and
- cable tie attachment
PV cables connect solar modules and inverters to the grid feed-in point and conduct current. As a result, they guarantee the operation of full PV systems.
Even if the aforementioned flaws do not cause the system to collapse completely, cumulative conduction losses diminish solar power generation. Aside from yield losses, the repercussions include time-consuming and difficult repairs, as not every cable is straightforward to replace or access.
Findings
When it comes to modules and inverters, we propose that system operators and installers focus on more than just product quality. It’s also crucial to examine the solar cables. However, we are delighted to see that there has recently been a greater awareness of this issue, and we believe that system failures caused by faulty solar wires will soon be a thing of the past.
In the solar and energy storage system industries, Znergy Cables, Australian Cable Manufacturers is a prominent global provider of complete solar solutions.