Plastic Cable Tie

This is the tie with which the panel cables are fastened to the mounting structure, so that they do not hang loose. It seems an insignificant detail, but a cable left to swing rubs against the edges of the sheet metal or of the profiles with every gust of wind. Over time, the insulation wears out, and where the insulation gives way serious electrical faults appear.

The tie is 200 mm long and 4,6 mm wide, and several ties can be chained together when the cable bundle is thicker than one alone can encompass. On the roof only ties intended for outdoor use, UV stabilised, are used; ordinary ones of unstabilised polyamide become brittle after a few seasons of exposure and give way. During installation the cables are fixed at regular intervals on the rail or on the structure, fastening directly on the roof covering is avoided, and the cable loops are kept out of the areas where water pools. The tie is tightened firmly, but without crushing the conductor insulation.

Reference in the K2 catalogue: Solar Cable Manager, article code 2002870, dimensions 200 x 4,6 mm (L x w), intended for outdoor installation, with the possibility of chaining for larger bundle sections. Use: fixing and organising the direct current cables of the photovoltaic system on the mounting structure, to eliminate mechanical wear through rubbing and the consequent risk of insulation fault, electric arc in direct current and fire.

Who it suits

Necessary in any roof photovoltaic installation, regardless of size, as part of the management of the wiring permanently exposed to sun, rain and wind.

Terms explained

• Direct current (DC): The current produced by the panels, before the inverter; with it the electric arc does not go out on its own, so the cables must be protected.
• UV stabilised: Plastic material treated so that it does not degrade and does not become brittle because of the sun's rays.
• Insulation: The layer of plastic material that covers the conducting wire and separates it from the rest of the installation.

Technical specifications

Recommended applications

• Fixing and organising the DC cables on the rails of the mounting system
• Preventing insulation wear through rubbing in the wind
• Wiring management under the modules and at the microinverters
• Roof photovoltaic installations, permanently exposed outdoors

Technical details

Series-level specifications — valid for the product family

Plastic tie for fixing and organising the direct current cables of the photovoltaic system on the mounting structure. In the K2 catalogue, the corresponding product is Solar Cable Manager, article code 2002870, with dimensions of 200 x 4,6 mm (length x width), intended for outdoor installation and provided with the possibility of chaining, that is several ties can be joined together in order to encompass thicker cable bundles.

The role of this element is frequently underestimated, but it is critical for the durability of the installation. Solar cables left to hang loose rub against the edges of the sheet metal or of the profiles with every gust of wind; over time, the insulation wears out, insulation faults appear, along with electric arc in direct current and fire risk. Fixing the cables at regular intervals on the rail or on the structure eliminates this mechanical wear.

For roof installation only ties intended for outdoor use, with UV stabilisation, are used - ordinary ties of unstabilised polyamide become brittle after a few seasons of exposure and give way. It is recommended to avoid fixing the cables directly on the roof covering, to keep the cable loops out of the pooling areas and to tighten the tie without crushing the conductor insulation.