What this cable is
Solar PV cable connects modules in a string and runs the string to the combiner box or inverter. It lives outdoors for the whole service of the plant: in sun, rain, heat and cold, often clipped under modules or laid in trays on a roof. The reference construction on this page is the H1Z2Z2-K 1x4 mm2 cable to EN 50618 and IEC 62930 from a partner plant catalogue: a tinned flexible copper conductor to IEC 60228 Class 5 with wires of 0.31 mm or less, 0.7 mm of halogen-free cross-linked insulation and 0.8 mm of halogen-free cross-linked sheath. The overall diameter is 5.7 +/- 0.2 mm, the conductor resistance limit is 5.09 ohm/km at 20 C, the rated voltage is DC 1.5 kV, and the sheath is red or black.
Across public datasheets, the 1x4 mm2 size sits at about 5.6-6.0 mm and 55-66 kg per kilometre, and 1x6 mm2 at about 6.1-6.5 mm and 75-86 kg per kilometre. Manufacturers typically quote a maximum conductor temperature of 120 C and a minimum bending radius of 5 times the outer diameter; both are datasheet values to check for the plant chosen.
Why it is not ordinary building wire
Three features separate PV cable from general wiring. The conductor is tinned, which helps resist corrosion at terminations exposed to moisture. Insulation and sheath are cross-linked and halogen-free, so they keep their properties at high temperature and give off no halogen acid gas when burned. And the materials are formulated and tested for UV, ozone and weather resistance per test report. A PVC building wire may look similar in the shop but is not tested for this duty and should not be used on DC strings.
Tender documents still sometimes ask for PV1-F. That older designation has been replaced by H1Z2Z2-K under EN 50618, so ask for the current type; see PV1-F vs H1Z2Z2-K.
Sizes and routes by market
| Type | Standard | Sizes | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| H1Z2Z2-K 1x2.5 / 1x4 mm2 | EN 50618, IEC 62930 | OD approx. 5.6-6.0 mm for 4 mm2 | Module strings on rooftops and farms |
| H1Z2Z2-K 1x6 mm2 | EN 50618, IEC 62930 | OD approx. 6.1-6.5 mm; max. 3.39 ohm/km | Longer strings, home runs to combiners |
| H1Z2Z2-K 1x10 mm2 | EN 50618, IEC 62930 | Per plant datasheet | Combiner to inverter, larger DC runs |
| PV Wire | UL 4703 | 600, 1000 or 2000 V types, AWG sizes | US projects, where a listing satisfies the AHJ |
US projects usually require UL (or other NRTL) listed products to satisfy the AHJ, so PV Wire is sourced only from plants that hold a UL listing for that construction, checked in the certifier's public database per order. String sizing, voltage drop and protection are set by your engineer under the applicable rules; we do not publish current ratings. The AC side of the plant usually uses LV XLPE or aluminium cable, and the collector network MV cable.
What you can change
- Sheath colour: red and black for polarity are standard; other colours on request with the same compound.
- Print: your brand, type, standard, size, voltage, year and metre marks, ink-jet printed on the sheath.
- Packing: 100 m coils in cartons for retail and installers, or 500 m wooden drums for farms; private label coil labels and cartons.
- Pre-made leads: cut lengths with connectors fitted are a separate product and need connector compatibility confirmed with your module and inverter supplier.
Conductor class, tinning and insulation and sheath thickness follow the standard and are not changed to save cost. If a quote looks low, check the conductor resistance and the wall thickness first; see tinned copper conductors.
Where the desk sources it, MOQ and lead time
Ningjin in Hebei was listed by the industry ministry in 2024 as a cluster for low and medium voltage and new energy cable; even so, the desk shortlists by the EN 50618, IEC 62930 or UL 4703 reports each plant holds for the exact construction, not by cluster alone. Before loading, it checks conductor resistance, outer diameter, sheath print and coil or drum length against the spec sheet; see testing and inspection. Plant listings show minimums from 100 m to 500-2,000 m depending on the plant, and one listing quotes stock samples ready 3-7 days after payment. Production lead time depends on copper booking, the slot and routine testing, and is confirmed in writing for each order. See MOQ and lead time, solar PV farm use, or send sizes and metres through the quote form.