Although solar cables do not account for a large part of the system cost, they are the "blood vessels" connecting the entire photovoltaic system. Once improperly installed or maintained, it will affect the power generation efficiency at best, and cause safety hazards at worst. For suppliers, in addition to providing high-quality cables themselves, it is also necessary to popularize correct installation and daily maintenance knowledge to customers to ensure the long-term stable operation of the project from the source.
Reasonable wiring and careful laying
Before installing the cable, the routing path should be reasonably planned according to the actual line length and equipment layout. It is recommended to choose straight-line laying or along the direction of the bracket, and try to avoid irregular operations such as "knotting", "entanglement" and "hanging". If the cable needs to pass through metal corners or walls, a protective sleeve or soft protective coil should be installed to prevent external forces from cutting the insulation layer.
In ground photovoltaic power stations, cables are mostly buried underground. It should be noted that the burial depth should not be too shallow, and anti-pressure protection tubes or sand should be used for landfill to avoid long-term pressure or rain soaking. For roof projects, avoid pressing the cables on the seams of the roof panels or on the trampling paths, and give priority to using cable troughs or cable clamps to keep them tidy.
Preventing bending, stretching and wear is the key
Solar cables have a certain degree of flexibility, but it does not mean that they can be bent at will. It is recommended that the bending radius during installation should not be less than 4 to 6 times the cable diameter. Excessive bending can easily cause conductor breakage or insulation cracking.
At the same time, avoid pulling the cable hard during the laying process, especially pulling the cable before the connector is installed, which may cause the inner core to loosen and poor contact. For parts that are easy to contact with the bracket or edge, it is recommended to use anti-wear rubber pads or threading protection to avoid repeated wear in the wind and sun.
Regular inspection: Prevention is more important than repair
Once a photovoltaic system is put into operation, the cable is often "ignored", but in fact, it should be fully inspected at least 1 to 2 times a year. Focus on whether the outer sheath of the cable is cracked, aged, discolored or hardened, and whether the connector terminals are loose, water-infiltrated or oxidized.
For the cable interfaces in the wiring terminals and junction boxes, special attention should be paid to the tightening of the screws and the integrity of the insulation. If the cable clamp is found to be detached, the cable is exposed or the sheath is damaged, it should be handled immediately to prevent short circuit or leakage in the later stage.
Tips to extend the service life
In addition to correct installation and regular maintenance, some "small actions" can also significantly extend the life of solar cables:
Preferentially use original matching connectors and cables to reduce the risk of poor contact;
In high temperature areas, avoid direct exposure of cables to metal surfaces, and install sunshade devices when necessary;
Minimize the number of joints to improve the reliability of the overall system;
It is recommended to conduct a thermal imaging inspection after the initial installation to check for potential heating hazards.
In short, the service life of solar cables depends not only on product quality, but also on scientific installation and meticulous post-maintenance. If suppliers can provide customers with these practical suggestions, it will not only reduce after-sales problems, but also enhance customers' recognition and trust in the brand.