Featured in Women at work – 08-2019

Avoid premature weathering of buried string cables

Faults in underground cabling due to moisture ingress and weathering have been identified as the culprit in many cases of underperforming solar plants, even when the materials used were specified as suitable for underground installation. The topic of cables struck a nerve during this year’s pv magazine Quality Roundtable at The smarter E Europe event, and the right way to lay buried string cables is still an open question.

By

Mirco Sieg

20 Aug 2019

Participants in the roundtable took the view that for buried string cables, installation in protective ducts is not preferable, as condensation can form inside the duct and lead to water accumulating at certain points in the system. | Image: Leoni

Christian Bieber of Solartechnik Bayern confirmed on the podium during the roundtable that he was aware of more than 20 solar plants suffering from underground cabling issues. During the discussion, three participants from the audience also came forward to report on problems with premature weathering of buried string cables in solar farms. String cables interconnect …

Subscribe to get access to this content

Purchase a digital or print subscription to read this article in full. Choose the best subscription for you.