Photovoltaic, or PV wire, is the wire designed for photovoltaic systems and solar panels. Its conductors can be made of copper or aluminum materials, and although photovoltaic wires have excellent electrical conductivity no matter which material is used, the different properties of copper and aluminum make them stronger or weaker in different situations.

Copper is generally a superior material to aluminum when it comes to cable conductors. It is more durable, has outstanding electric conductivity, and is not prone to expansion like aluminum. Because of this, it offers superior flexibility and resistance to heat. Of course, the quality of copper wire is very important. The copper PV wire UL 4703 produced by SUNKEAN is made of high-quality copper wire material, and the products are strictly tested before leaving the factory.

However, on the other hand, a principle goal of value engineering is to deliver long-term performance and reliability at the lowest cost practicable. One effective way to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) in large-scale or commercial and industrial (C&I) solar applications is to strategically substitute less-expensive aluminum conductors in place of more expensive copper conductors.

While not viable as a wholesale replacement for copper conductors, aluminum conductors are ideally suited for specific circuits in PV power plants. When specified and installed properly, aluminum conductors provide the same performance and reliability as copper.

As you may already know, aluminum weighs less than copper, which means it is easier to install it. In particular, it is about 70 percent lighter than its more expensive counterpart.What is more, the cost of aluminum per unit is significantly cheaper than copper. Volumetrically, of course, copper is the more efficient conductor. Per unit of volume, aluminum has 62% of the electrical conductivity as compared to copper. For a given ampacity, this means that an aluminum conductor will have to be larger than a copper conductor. So, on small projects, you may not experience the benefits of using aluminum conductors, but on larger projects you can save even more money. Of course, the choice of aluminum wire is also crucial, if you choose to opt for an aluminum solar cable, make sure that it is a top-quality product, such as this aluminum UL 4703 photovoltaic cable sold by SUNKEAN.

Both aluminum and copper PV cables are used in grounded and ungrounded photovoltaic power systems, particularly in their interconnection wiring. The cables are used both indoors and outdoors and are suitable for burial in special construction systems in agricultural sites. While both copper and aluminum cables are suited to these goals, the specifics of your project determine which material is best to use. If you are looking for high-quality photovoltaic cables for your project, please feel free to contact us, we will provide you with the most suitable cable connection solution according to the actual situation of the project.