EN 50618 Electrical Cables Test Standard for Photovoltaic Systems

This European Standard applies to low smoke halogen-free, flexible, single core power cables with cross-link insulation and sheath.

Especially for use on the direct current (dc) side of photovoltaic systems, between conductors and between conductor and earth at a nominal dc voltage of 1,5 kV, the cables are suitable for use with class II equipment.

The cables are designed to operate at a normal maximum conductor temperature of 90 °C but for a maximum of 20000 hours. Conductor temperature of 120 °C maximum ambient temperature of 90 °C is allowed.

The expected period of use under the conditions of normal use specified in this standard is at least 25 years.

Conductors shall be copper and conform to EN 60228. The wires of the conductors will be tin plated. The wires will be covered with a continuous layer of tin coating. There will be no visible gaps in the continuous layer when viewed with normal or corrected vision.

The insulation shall be extruded so that it fits tightly to the conductor, but it shall be possible to remove the insulation without damaging the insulation itself, the conductor or the tin coating. It is allowed to apply the insulation in a single layer or in several coherent layers. Where more than one layer is used, all tests should be performed on the entire insulation as if it were a single layer.

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