The photovoltaic wire is an electric wire created and designed specifically to be used as an electrical wire for direct current (DC) electricity in solar cell panels. With its ability to withstand various temperatures and other features that prove its high maintenance, such as weathering resistance, UV resistance, ozone resistance, water resistance, flame retardant, impact and crushing resistance, and acid and alkaline resistance, it is considered fit for use with outdoor solar cell panels.
The reason why the PV wire needs to be paired up with the solar cell system is that, first, it is specially designed for solar cell utilization with its copper core wire coated with tin to prevent oxide conductors that can hold well even at high temperatures compared to other types of wires. It is also a precaution to carefully select the type and size of wire to fit the purpose of usage for the best effectiveness. As compatible wire may cause a temperature rise, which leads to the fire of overheat accumulation, widely used wire sizes are 4 sq mm and 6 sq mm.
Now that we know what solar photovoltaic wire is and its features, let’s look at the law governing the production of this product, as it’s considered to be a controlled product that must be made up to standard and must obtain a certified industry standard label. The announcement of Ministry of Industry No. 4501 on BE 2556 has defined what is included in the certified industry standard label, the prevention and security measures of the products, the standard of production, and the standard of quality of the products.
Regarding solar photovoltaic wire and its specific purpose of usage for outdoor solar cell panel installation, building a solar cell panel is more than just installing it. The installer has legal requirements to meet, as follows: In terms of design, the installer must consider the structure of the building or house in which they want to install the panel and whether the structure of the building can hold the weight and its system or not. Whether the area is wide enough for the sunlight to reach the panel to generate power, including the future maintenance and security of the owner or the building and the mechanical team as well, the installer must obtain the following certificates:
- the IEC 61215 Book 1(1) of BE 2561, which is the governed standard qualification of solar panel design and its blueprint that specifically states certain specs for panel installation in long-term outdoor usage.
- The IEC210 is a standard that governs the qualification of solar panel design and its blueprint, especially for those with specific thin-layer cover film for outdoor usage.
- Code of Practice that states security measures, solutions, and tracking of environmental effects generated by the panel for the purpose of electric generation installation, where the installer must obtain a license to operate a business.
As the SPV wire is part of the instrument used in the installation of the panel, let’s take a look at other tools that are essential to installing the panel. First, and most importantly, the solar panel is subject to standard production by the International Electrotechnical Commission, or IEC standard, or in Thai, MorAorKor (มอก.). To select the suitable panel, we look at the size, weight, and compatibility of voltage and amp between the panel and the panel’s system. The type and size depend on our usage purpose; if the installation is permanent, then a bigger panel is recommended. However, if the panel is temporary and often swift from spot to spot, it is better to pick the smaller size that does not exceed 200 Watts mono or poly type and compare the price per Wp.
Regarding the equipment to install the panel, a few standards must be complied with. First, IEC 2580 Book 1 covers the basic requirements to install the panel for electrical and mechanical security throughout the utilization period. The IEC 2580 Book 2 of 2562 BE requires testing the electrical and mechanical security of the panel. Lastly, the installation of the panel requires a building structure assessment to detect any defects in the installation area to ensure security, such as the delicate area on the roof, the precaution of a high-velocity working area, and practice precautions and solutions to unpredictable weather.
Indeed, the first step before installation is to study the area to be able to plan the installation map, including its system, and then test out the result to see whether the installation is green or needs some brush-up. In detail, the installer must mount the base before installing the solar panel to ensure that the panel will be secured into place and not affect the installed area. Some extra layers from the installed area might be added, such as a metal shield or special tile paired with fixing tools like aluminum or hot dip galvanize, which are usually the option as they will not rust, are lightweight, and will not add more weight to the structure of the panel. The installer would also need to use the roof sealer or sealant to seal and increase the flexibility of the structure within the installation area. These seals have heat tolerance abilities and block leakage features, which are good for joining materials and surface crack prevention.
To install the solar cell panel, the installer must obtain a license to modify the building for the installation of a solar cell or an AOR 1 license from a government unit, according to Ministry Regulation No. 65-2558 BE. Installing solar cell panels on a roof size not exceeding 160 square meters and weight not exceeding 20 kilograms upon the certified result of the firm building structure from a civil engineer is not considered modification of the building and is not subjected to obtaining a license to modify the building. The installer also needs to inform or request permission from the energy business management committee about the installation, including filing with the metropolitan electricity authority or provincial electricity authority to convert the electricity to their electricity system. This permission to install solar cell panels took about 3 to 6 months to complete, and there were several papers to fill out and file.