Cables
Photovoltaic wire (PV Wire) or USE-2 Wire which is more suitable for solar panels Jan 20,2022

USE-2 wires have long been used as interconnect wires for solar modules, while PV wires were first mentioned in the 2008 edition of the National Electrical Code. Both single-conductor USE-2 type cables and photovoltaic (PV) wires can be used in exposed outdoor installations.


American Standard UL Approved Solar Cable UL PV


The main difference between PV wire and USE-2 wire

Uses: USE-2 wires marked as underground household wires can usually be used as connectors for power supply equipment, but only in humid or monotonous environments with a maximum temperature of 90°C; the rated temperature of PV wires is 90°C and up to 150°C, are specially designed for connecting solar modules. The rated voltage part, USE-2 is 600V, and the PV wire can be 600V, 1000V or 2000V. According to the National Electrical Code, USE-2 wires can only be used in grounded solar radio and television arrays, while PV wires can be used in ungrounded and grounded solar photovoltaic arrays.


Construction: USE-2 wires are generally protected from physical damage through mechanical maintenance, while PV wires have thicker insulation or jackets for rated maintenance. USE-2 wire is typically used where high levels of movement are not required and can be solid or stranded conductors with copper, copper clad aluminum or aluminum conductors. The PV line is used for solar panels and needs to be flexible, so only stranded copper conductors can be used. The minimum conductor standard for USE-2 wire is 14AWG, but PV wire can be as small as 18AWG.


In terms of test requirements: USE-2 wires are generally installed underground or in a similar environment, so there is no need to have a combustion level; but PV wires are installed in an exposed environment, so they need to pass the combustion test. However, overload tests and mechanical damage tests such as crush resistance, and impact tests are only applicable to USE-2 wires. As for the anti-sunshine and low-temperature flexibility tests, USE-2 wires only need to be processed in a 300-hour weather resistance test chamber and a low temperature chamber of minus 25 degrees Celsius; while PV wires need to undergo 720 hours of resistance to meet stricter specifications. Climate test chamber and low temperature chamber of minus 40 degrees Celsius.


On the whole, the anti-sunshine and low temperature flexibility of PV wire is better than USE-2 wire, and it has thicker insulation or sheath and flame resistance; in addition, it can be used in ungrounded solar photovoltaic arrays and transformers without transformers. Therefore, it will become the main interconnection wire of solar modules.


SUNKEAN provides UL 4703 PV wire certified by UL. Our UL cable products have the following advantages:

(1)E-beam cross-linked compounds;

(2)High resistance against UV ozone and hydrolysis;

(3)High temperature resistance, materials will not melt or flow;

(4)Flexibility under cold conditions;

(5)Long useable life expected usable life over 25 years(90℃) ;

(6)Application to all common connectors.


China pv cable manufacturers


If you need, please contact us, thank you! Email : wendy@ske-tech.com



click here to leave a message

Send A Message
If you are interested in our products and want to know more details,please leave a message here,we will reply you as soon as we can.

Home

products

about

Contact