JCMA Establishes New Standard for PV Cables within F2009

Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers’ Association (JCMA) is preparing for establishment of a new standard for photovoltaic (PV) cables. JCMA aims to standardize all PV cables, which is used to connect PV panels and related equipment under Japanese Cable Makers’ Association Standard (JCS) within fiscal 2009 ending in March 2010. JCMA has eyes to bringing this JCS into an international standard for PV cables in several years. Standardization gives warranty of safety and helps spread of PV cables in the market.

PV cables connect PV panels, inverters, power conditioners or junction boxes on direct current. Outdoor weatherability is required for PV cables against ultraviolet, heat and water. PV cables are usually used at 1,000-1,500V, higher than 600V of indoor power cables. Meanwhile, electric contractors wish easy-to-use and reasonable PV cables.

JCMA launched a working group for PV cable standardization, currently joined by JCMA’s 23 Japanese electric cable makers. The project manager is Mr. Jun Ishida, a managing director of Onamba. The working group is preparing for JCS drafts for halogen-free PV cables and other sheathing material PV cables.

PV cable standardization is also discussed in Europe in accordance with European Norm (EN), a unified standard in European Union. The JCS for PV cables is based on an EN draft while JCMA aims to review and revise some terms of EN for bringing the JCS into an international standard in future. Revising points are, for instance, to require higher resistance to ultraviolet or to remove some terms requiring low-necessary specifications of EN.