What to look for in your above ground solar cabling solution

Common cable management pitfalls - and how to avoid them

The US solar sector is booming. Fuelled by growing interest in renewable energy and ambitious targets, there’s more demand for utility-scale installation than ever before.

However, as this market grows and matures common pitfalls are becoming more and more apparent, and one of the main issues facing EPC’s and solar contractors across the USA is cable management. So how can you make sure your solar cable management solutions are up to the job?

Your above ground cabling is only as strong as its weakest link

Because the quality of popular cable management products varies wildly, making the wrong choice could cost you time and money over the lifespan of a project.

To understand the potential impact, we need to first look at the scale of the challenge. So let’s check the numbers. 

According to HelioVolta, a staggering 80% of site inspections in the US and Puerto Rico uncover wire-related issues – with failing cable ties the most common culprit.

That’s no surprise. After all, traditional cable ties which have become the go-to solution for bundling and securing cables, simply weren’t designed with large-scale solar in mind. 

Extreme temperature fluctuations, UV exposure, water retention and chemical leeching can all severely degrade the product. Add these elements together and the average lifespan of your solutions can be anything between six months and seven years.

Even if your product of choice is at the upper end of that estimate, it can still incur significant costs over a project’s 40+ year lifespan. 

Think of it this way: The average 50mw site requires more than 172,000 cable ties which can take up to 170 days to install. If you have to do that several times over a project’s lifespan, your cheap cable management solutions can end up costing you in the long run as you’re forced to refit millions of ties at a significant cost in terms of time and money. 

And it’s not just failing products that you need to consider. Look beyond cable ties and choose the wrong solution and you can actually damage the cabling or exacerbate existing delays caused by a growing skills gap within the installation industry.

What to look for in your above ground cabling solution

When the long-term success (or failure) of your installation literally rests on your cable management, choosing the right solution is crucial.

That means you’re faced with the difficult task of finding the best possible solution for the job, while balancing growing demand to optimize costs and maximize profitability.

So how do you know if your cable management solutions are up to the job? Here are a few things you need to consider.

- Design
Not all cable management solutions are created equally. Many haven't even been designed with utility-scale solar in mind. So make sure you pick the right tool for the job.

- Quality
Quality matters. Especially if you don’t want to be faced with the possibility of repeatedly replacing your solutions over the lifetime of a project.

- Durability
For solar projects that are based on harsh outdoor environments, you need solutions that will stand the test of time and overcome anything the environment can throw at them.

- Manufacturing
You need products that you can trust, from manufacturers you can put your faith in. After all, it’s your reputation that’s on the line if your cable management solutions fail.

- Support
Every project is different. That means there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to cable management. Instead, you need projects with the backing of a technical support team that can help tailor a solution for your specific needs.

- Installation
Right now there’s simply not enough EPC capacity to meet demand. You can’t solve the sector’s skills gap on your own, but you can choose cable management solutions that can be mastered with minimal training.

It’s time to untangle your solar cable management

When it comes to solar, cutting corners or using cheaper lower quality products is simply not an option. Choose the wrong solution and you could be left counting the cost as you’re forced to regularly replace failed products or find skilled contractors capable of installing specialist solutions. 

That’s why it’s vital that you do your research. The time and effort you put into ensuring your above ground cabling solutions are fit for purpose now, will ultimately determine the success or failure of your project in the years to come. 

To help you find out if your products are fit for purpose, we’ve put together an invaluable guide on the questions you need to ask your cable management solutions supplier. Full of practical insight it arms you with everything you need to know to ensure your solutions set you up for success.

To find out more click here to download your free copy.