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First PV system installed yesterday - exposed cables on the roof is this alright?

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TomatoJam
TomatoJam Posts: 3 Newbie
First Post
in Green & ethical MoneySaving
Just looked out out onto our roof and can see black cable running from one panel to another across our old style cement roof tiles -  may 20 inches of it just on top of the tiles. Because of the shape of the roof the they had to split the panels. Is this alright or will the cable sheath be damaged by constant exposure to sunlight and weather. thank you

Comments

  • paul991
    paul991 Posts: 451 Forumite
    Third Anniversary 100 Posts
    the correct cables are designed for this and can take extremely high temperatures
  • TomatoJam
    TomatoJam Posts: 3 Newbie
    First Post
    Thank you Paul. Its not the temperature I'm worried about  - its the UV impact. Is this an issue?
     

  • tacpot12
    tacpot12 Posts: 9,261 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    TomatoJam said:
    Thank you Paul. Its not the temperature I'm worried about  - its the UV impact. Is this an issue?
     

    The correct cables are designed to resist UV. They might discolour slightly over the next 30-50 years, but they will remain electrically safe over a much longer period. 
    The comments I post are my personal opinion. While I try to check everything is correct before posting, I can and do make mistakes, so always try to check official information sources before relying on my posts.
  • Spies
    Spies Posts: 2,267 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    The cables that run back to my inverter are in some sort of corrugated ducting, i thought that would be more normal that just having loose cable? What about the friction of the tile against the cable over time? 
    4.29kWp Solar system, 45/55 South/West split in cloudy rainy Cumbria. 
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 18,313 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fourth Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Spies said:
    The cables that run back to my inverter are in some sort of corrugated ducting, i thought that would be more normal that just having loose cable? What about the friction of the tile against the cable over time? 
    I agree that it doesn't sound quite right, but in practice I suspect it will be fine.
    Flapping CT100 coax for TV and satellite seems to last quite well on roofs and it's a much less substantial construction than you get with PV1-F solarflex.
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Vodafone BB / iD mobile. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 34 MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • TomatoJam
    TomatoJam Posts: 3 Newbie
    First Post
    I've spoken to the installation company Solar House and they confrmed Tacpot12's opinion. Thanks for the replies everyone
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