Conductor material of solar cable
The EN60618 standard in Europe stipulates is that the conductor material of photovoltaic wires must be solar copper wire, while the UL standard in the United States allows the use of aluminum PV cable. Copper conductors have better conductivity and corrosion resistance, but they are more expensive. Especially in strong acidic and alkaline environments, aluminum PV wire is prone to corrosion, while copper solar wire is more suitable. The specifications of European solar cable models are expressed in mm2, generally ranging from 1.5mm ² to 630mm ². The commonly used specifications are 6mm solar cable and 4mm solar cable, solar cable 16mm ,solar cable 10mm2, The American standard specifications are marked with AWG, and the commonly used specifications are: 10 AWG PV cable, 12 AWG PV wire, 8 AWG PV wire
Voltage level of solar wire
The UL standard in the United States stipulates that the rated voltage level of PV wire is 600V, 1000V 2000V, for example: PV wire ,10 AWG 2000V, 1000V PV wire, while the EN50618 standard in Europe specifies 1kV. Therefore, solar panel cables in Europe are mostly used for large photovoltaic power plants, while photovoltaic lines in the United States are more suitable for small photovoltaic systems.
Temperature of solar PV cable
For solar panel wires with the same purpose, European standard solar power cables are usually more heat-resistant than American standard PV wires, and the best temperature can reach 125 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature of the American standard PV cable is 105 degrees Celsius. This is because the solar photovoltaic industry in Europe developed earlier and has higher requirements for the high temperature resistance of photovoltaic cables.
There are differences between American standard solar cables and European standard solar cables in terms of voltage level, temperature, conductor material, etc. Of course, in order for PV wire to enter the US photovoltaic market, it must obtain UL4703 certification; Solar cables must obtain TUV certification in order to enter various European markets.
