DC cable

[Julian_S]

Good afternoon all.

I need to purchase some of that high voltage proper DC solar cable for my DIY installation. Regarding the regs, can I use just black wire or do I need to buy some red wire for the +ve side of the circuit? I looked under a professional installation at a local public school a few days ago, it was on a slate roof but low down and all I could see was a dreadful bird's nest of wires running all over the show - not one attempt to cable tie or neated it all up! Also, as these wires will be running inside an agricultural building I was wanting to put them in plastic conduit for rodent and mechanical protection - do the regs allow?

Many thanks.

 

[Murdoch]

In an agricultural building the regs probably say that additional protection is a must!

 

[Julian_S]

In an agricultural building the regs probably say that additional protection is a must!

Indeed. All my AC stuff is in galv trunking and conduit. I only ever use singles, metal clad fitting etc. I think I probably worded the question badly, so I'll try again. Is there any reg. preventing me from doing this? (visible for inspection etc) Going by the bird's nest soup arrangement I spotted on a ''professional'' installation the other day I'm a bit more relaxed about what constitutes acceptable.

 

[Murdoch]

Well, do you consider plastic trunking tough enough?

 

[Julian_S]

Well, do you consider plastic trunking tough enough?

Rodents won't chew plastic trunking, or flex conduit. They will chew exposed wire potentially. Do you have an answer to my straightforward question regarding the regs or are you just here to play ping pong?

 

[steptoe]

Rodents won't chew plastic trunking, or flex conduit.

Really,?
You must have very well trained rats/mice/squirrels/rodents

 

[Fleeting]

I'm no expert on PV but a glance through Section 712 suggests conduit can be employed. Being agricultural you need to look at Section 705 in particular Regulation 705.522.16 where it mentions external influences, see Appendix 5. You must also consider fauna, see AL2 in Appendix 5 and how it is controlled if present.

 

[Murdoch]

Rodents won't chew plastic trunking, or flex conduit. They will chew exposed wire potentially. Do you have an answer to my straightforward question regarding the regs or are you just here to play ping pong?

this forum isn’t to spoon feed people.

what does your copy of the regs say?

 

[Julian_S]

this forum isn’t to spoon feed people.

what does your copy of the regs say?

Do me a favour, stay the ****-off away from my posts. TIA

 

[Julian_S]

I'm no expert on PV but a glance through Section 712 suggests conduit can be employed. Being agricultural you need to look at Section 705 in particular Regulation 705.522.16 where it mentions external influences, see Appendix 5. You must also consider fauna, see AL2 in Appendix 5 and how it is controlled if present.

Thanks, I'm going to use plastic conduit. The supply to the CU will be SWA so that's that issue taken care of. All will be free from mechanical damage risk, my main concern is rodents chewing as I've had that before in another barn where the ''electrician'' had just nailed twin and earth around the place, sparking at night where the nibbled charred insulator was bridging the earth to live when it was damp. I've had rodents having a go at the wiring under the cars bonnets too, the stupid insulation that Audi use which I think is supposed to be ''green'' is attractive to the buggers.

 

[Murdoch]

Do me a favour, stay the ****-off away from my posts. TIA

How to win friends and influence people - NOT

 

[binky]

DC cable tends to black and black, a bit like model T Ford's .

There's no colour coding required, but I like to use brown for the +ve.

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Rodents won't chew plastic trunking, or flex conduit. They will chew exposed wire potentially. Do you have an answer to my straightforward question regarding the regs or are you just here to play ping pong?

Factually incorrect statement.

 

[Doc Hudson]

Do me a favour, stay the ****-off away from my posts. TIA

I would just point out that a key feature of a good forum is that it is open for debate and input from anyone who is a member of that forum. And they should be able to contribute without making or receiving abusive or rude posts. If you prefer to only have a limited number of selected other members that you personally approve of, contributing to any posts that you make, then you may be best seeking another forum. I cannot see any reason to warrant the tone of your above posts. Just as you are entitled to ask questions, others are also entitled to ask questions to assist them in understanding the best level of response to give. Please try to be more respectful to others. Especially as by a general rule of thumb, most members who are still here many years since joining have probably proved themselves to be a generally good contributor to numerous posts on various topics. thank you

Doc H.