Choosing the right DC solar cable for your photovoltaic system installed at your home or office is highly essential both for performance and safety. Powerful solar cables are designed to transfer solar energy from one component of the system to the other in order to be converted into electric energy. Your everyday copper wires would do the job right and you will probably end up with a system failure.
So before you install your system and have it running, you need to be sure that the size of the solar cables installed is proportionate to the current and the voltage of the system. Here are a few characteristics that you should check before turning on the system;
- Make sure that the voltage rating of the cable is equal to or greater than the voltage rating of the system.
- Make sure that the current carrying capacity of the cable is equal to or greater than the current carrying capacity of the system.
- Make sure that the cable-wires are thick and protected enough to withstand the environmental conditions in your area.
- Check out the voltage drop as well to be on the safe side.
Let us break down each characteristic to make sure that you choose the right solar cables for your system. So here is how things work;
- Voltage
Whether you choose a thin or thick solar cable for your system depends on the voltage of the system. The higher the voltage of the system, the thinner the cable since the DC current will drop. Go for a large inverter to increase the system voltage.
- Current
Check for the current ratings of the solar wires & cables before making the purchase. Each manufacturer such as ZW has published tables stating the current ratings of the cable-wire they have manufactured based on their size and type. Make sure to get the right sized cables as undersized wires can overheat quickly and you will also experience a significant voltage drop that will result in power loss.
- Length
The length of the cable is also an important factor that you need to consider when choosing the right cable for your solar system. In most cases, the longer the wires the better transfer of current. But it is best to use a simple rule of thumb to calculate the length of the wire required based on the current capacity of the system.
Current / 3 = cable size in mm2
Using this formula, you can easily get the nearest accurate and best cable size for your system and avoid any mishaps or system failures.
Final Words
Finding the right solar cables for your system can be hard which is why it is always best to consult a professional in the matter if you are new to the whole solar energy idea. Plus, always make sure that you get your cables and wires from reputed manufacturers such as ZW. Click here to go URL to check out their collection.