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.

Issue 08-2019

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

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