PHOTON International The Photovoltaic Magazine

MIL-Kabel-Systems starts sales of solar cable

MIL-Kabel-Systems GmbH, based in Aalen, Germany, offers specialized cables for industrial and military applications. In October, the company also started sales of a special product, the MIL-Solarkabel-HV, for the installation of PV systems.

	© MIL-KABEL-SYSTEMS GmbH
Halogen-free: MIL-Kabel-Systems' new solar cable offers excellent quality at a competitive price.

The product promises to meet all the expectations customers have for a durable solar cable and is poised to compete with the current leading solar cable on the German market: Huber+Suhner's Radox solar cable.

Both companies' cables use an electron-beam connected insulating jacket and are therefore, in comparison with other common cables, especially resistant to mechanical stresses, influence of temperature, and inclement weather, as well as chemicals like oils. The cables are halogen-free and do not produce any poisonous gases in the event of a fire. The MIL solar cable, when installed in a fixed position, can be used in temperatures ranging between -40 and 120 °C. If the cable is installed so that it can move freely, the temperature range decreases to between -25 and 90 °C.

The electrical conductor in both cables is made of copper wire, and tinned according to VDE 0295 and IEC 60228 class 5 standards. Whereas MIL's solar cable is designed particularly for high voltage levels (2,500 V), the Radox solar cable is made for 1,000 V, a more common voltage level used with solar cables.

MIL claims the advantage of its cable over the Radox cable lies in the characteristics of the cable's second insulating layer, for example the external jacket, which consists of halogen-free polyamide with an especially glossy surface, allowing the cable to slip easily into channels and pipes, says the Aalen-based company.

One of the cable's more obvious differences is its small diameter. With a wire cross-section of 4 mm², the cable's external diameter is just 4.5 mm (the Radox has a 5.8 mm outer diameter). MIL claims this is advantageous, as customers can easily strip the cable with common tools. Furthermore, the product weighs just 51 kg per km, which is almost 20 percent lighter than that of the competition. At a price of around €775 ($898) per km before taxes, the MIL solar cable is about as expensive as the Huber+Suhner cable. But in addition to cable costs, MIL charges a fee for the spools, which are included in Huber+Suhner's price, as well as an extra charge in the event of an increase in the market price for copper.

To ensure an elevated level of UV protection, the cable only comes in black. The identification information is printed on the cable with »plus« and »minus« symbols. Upon customer request, the cable comes pre-equipped with the common connector products. MIL offers its solar cable worldwide.

MIL-Kabel-Systems GmbH
Am Nesselbach 23
73434 Aalen, Germany
phone +49/7361/94303-0, fax -2
info@mil-kabel-systems.com
www.mil-kabel-systems.com