Using SWA for DC side of Solar PV Installation

[duncanfc1980]

Hi All,

I've surveyed a site for a solar PV install which is 170m from the consumer unit so will require underground cables from the field to the house (approx 140m buried). Is there such a thing as DC-rated SWA cable? I'm worried about induction occurring between the conductors and the armour on standard SWA, has anyone experienced this?

Many thanks

Duncan

 

[Worcester]

SWA DC cable does exist.

However, why not put the inverter next to the panels? Most are rated for outdoor use.

 

[Markc]

Second that. Inverter close to the panels and AC swa back to the house.

 

[duncanfc1980]

Thanks for the replies. The customer rents the property so they're extremely keen on having a monitoring system like the Sunny Webbox which only has a range of 100m. I guess we could run a data cable that distance as a next option.

The cable costs would be cheaper using 2-c 10mm2 SWA cable to the house (DC) as opposed to 3-c 16mm2 cable for AC so i thought i'd look at the option of running that distance with DC but can't find too much info on using SWA cable to do this...

 

[yellowvanman]

Why can't you use the 2c for the ac? SWA is OK for earth!

 

[sparky1505]

what size system is to be installed? as it is a 1% volt drop on the ac circuit for my last job a 4kw system ground mount at 100m from the mains in the house, i have used 35mm 2 core swa