EN 50618:2014

Electric cables for photovoltaic systems

This European Standard applies to low smoke halogen-free, flexible, single-core power cables with cross-linked insulation and sheath. In particular for use at the direct current (d.c.) side of photovoltaic systems, with a nominal d.c. voltage of 1,5 kV between conductors and between conductor and earth. The cables are suitable to be used with Class II equipment. The cables are designed to operate at a normal maximum conductor temperature of 90 °C, but for a maximum of 20 000 hours a max. conductor temperature of 120 °C at a max. ambient temperature of 90 °C is permitted. NOTE The expected period of use under normal usage conditions as specified in this standard is at least 25 years.

Kabel und Leitungen - Leitungen für Photovoltaik Systeme

Câbles électriques pour systèmes photovoltaïques

Električni kabli za fotonapetostne sisteme

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 18-Dec-2014
• Withdrawal Date: 26-Oct-2017
• ICS: 29.060.20 - Cables
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 20 - Electric cables
• Drafting Committee: CLC/TC 20 - Electric cables
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Completion Date: 23-Dec-2020
• Directive: 2006/95/EC - Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (codified version)
• Directive: 2014/35/EU - Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
• Directive: 2014/53/EU - Directive 2014/53/EU of The European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC
• Mandate: M/490 - Standardisation mandate to the European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs) to support European Smart Grid deployment
• Ref Project: SIST EN 50618:2015 - Electric cables for photovoltaic systems

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2015
(OHNWULþQLNDEOL]DIRWRQDSHWRVWQHVLVWHPH
Electric cables for photovoltaic systems
Kabel und Leitungen - Leitungen für Photovoltaic Systeme
Câbles électriques pour systèmes photovoltaïques
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50618:2014
ICS:
27.160 6RQþQDHQHUJLMD Solar energy engineering
29.060.20 Kabli Cables
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 50618
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
December 2014
ICS 29.060.20
English Version
Electric cables for photovoltaic systems
(BT(DE/NOT)258)
Câbles électriques pour systèmes photovoltaïques Kabel und Leitungen - Leitungen für Photovoltaik Systeme
(BT(DE/NOT)258) (BT(DE/NOT)258)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2014-10-27. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2014 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 50618:2014 E
Contents Page
Foreword . 4
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Rated voltage . 8
5 Requirements for the construction of cables . 8
5.1 Conductors . 8
5.2 Insulation . 8
5.3 Sheath . 9
6 Marking . 10
6.1 General . 10
6.2 Indication of origin . 10
6.3 Code designation . 10
6.4 Nominal cross-sectional area of conductor . 10
6.5 Continuity of marking . 10
6.6 Use of the name CENELEC . 10
6.7 Additional requirements . 11
7 Requirements for completed cables . 11
7.1 General . 11
7.2 Electrical tests . 11
7.3 Non electrical tests . 12
Annex A (normative) Guide to use – Use of cables for PV systems . 20
Annex B (normative) Requirements for insulation and sheathing materials . 24
Annex C (normative) Cold impact test . 26
Annex D (normative) Dynamic penetration test. 27
Annex E (normative) Weathering/UV resistance test . 28
Bibliography . 29
Figures
Figure 1 – Example of the marking as used on the outer sheath of the cable . 10
Figure D.1 — Arrangement for dynamic penetration test . 27
Tables
Table 1 — Dimensional and insulation resistance values . 14
Table 2 — Tests for cables to EN 50618 . 15
Table A.1 — Intended use of cables for PV systems (environmental conditions) . 21
Table A.2 — Recommended use of cables for PV systems . 22
Table A.3 — Current carrying capacity of PV cables . 22

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Table A.4 — Current rating conversion factors for different ambient temperatures. 23
Table B.1 — Requirements for insulation and sheathing materials . 24
Table C.1 — Parameters for cold impact test . 26

Foreword
This document (EN 50618:2014) has been prepared by CLC/TC 20 “Electric cables”.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which this document has to be (dop) 2015-10-27
implemented at national level by publication of
an identical national standard or by
endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards (dow) 2017-10-27
conflicting with this document have to
be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This standard covers the Principle Elements of the Safety Objectives for Electrical Equipment Designed for
Use within Certain Voltage Limits (LVD - 2006/95/EC).

- 5 - EN 50618:2014
Introduction
This standard specifies cables for use in Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, in particular for installation at the Direct
Current (d.c.) side. These cables are suitable for permanent outdoor use for many years under variable
demanding climate conditions. Relatively stringent requirements are set for these products in line with the
expected harsh usage conditions.
During the writing of this standard the joint work of TC 64 (Electrical installations and protection against
electric shock) and TC 82 (Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems) on the design and installation of PV systems
has been taken into account.
1 Scope
This European Standard applies to low smoke halogen-free, flexible, single-core power cables with cross-
linked insulation and sheath. In particular for use at the direct current (d.c.) side of photovoltaic systems, with
a nominal d.c. voltage of 1,5 kV between conductors and between conductor and earth.
The cables are suitable to be used with Class II equipment.
The cables are designed to operate at a normal maximum conductor temperature of 90 °C, but for a maximum
of 20 000 hours a max. conductor temperature of 120 °C at a max. ambient temperature of 90 °C is permitted.
NOTE The expected period of use under normal usage conditions as specified in this standard is at least 25 years.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 50289-4-17, Communication cables – Specifications for test methods – Part 4-17: Test methods for UV
resistance evaluation of the sheath of electrical and optical fibre cable
EN 50395:2005, Electrical test methods for low voltage energy cables
EN 50396:2005, Non electrical test methods for low voltage energy cables
EN 50525-1:2011, Electric cables – Low voltage energy cables of rated voltages up to and including
450/750 V (U /U) – Part 1: General requirements
EN 50565-1:2014, Electric cables – Guide to use for cables with a rated voltage not exceeding
450/750 V (U /U) – Part 1: General guidance
EN 60068-2-78, Environmental testing – Part 2-78: Tests – Test Cab: Damp heat, steady state (IEC 60068-2-
78)
EN 60216-1, Electrical insulating materials – Thermal endurance properties – Part 1: Ageing procedures and
evaluation of test results (IEC 60216-1)
EN 60216-2, Electrical insulating materials – Thermal endurance properties – Part 2: Determination of thermal
endurance properties of electrical insulating materials – Choice of test criteria (IEC 60216-2)
EN 60228:2005, Conductors of insulated cables (IEC 60228:2004)
EN 60332-1-2:2004, Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions – Part 1-2: Test for vertical
flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable – Procedure for 1 kW pre-mixed flame (IEC 60332-1-
2:2004)
EN 60811-401, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 401:
Miscellaneous tests – Thermal ageing methods – Ageing in an air oven (IEC 60811-401)
EN 60811-403, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 403:
Miscellaneous tests – Ozone resistance test on cross-linked compounds (IEC 60811-403)
EN 60811-404, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 404:
Miscellaneous tests – Mineral oil immersion tests for sheaths (IEC 60811-404)

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EN 60811-501, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 501:
Mechanical tests – Tests for determining the mechanical properties of insulating and sheathing compounds
(IEC 60811-501)
EN 60811-503, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 503:
Mechanical tests - Shrinkage test for sheaths (IEC 60811-503)
EN 60811-504, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 504:
Mechanical tests - Bending tests at low temperature for insulation and sheaths (IEC 60811-504)
EN 60811-505, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 505:
Mechanical tests - Elongation at low temperature for insulations and sheaths (IEC 60811-505)
EN 60811-506, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 506:
Mechanical tests - Impact test at low temperature for insulations and sheaths (IEC 60811-506)
EN 60811-507, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 507:
Mechanical tests - Hot set test for cross-linked materials (IEC 60811-507)
EN 61034-1, Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions – Part 1: Test
apparatus (IEC 61034-1)
EN 61034-2, Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions – Part 2: Test
procedure and requirements (IEC 61034-2)
EN 62230:2007, Electric cables – Spark-test method (IEC 62230:2006)
HD 60364-5-52:2011, Low-voltage electrical installations – Part 5-52: Selection and erection of electrical
equipment – Wiring systems
HD 60364-7-712, Electrical installations of buildings – Part 7-712: Requirements for special installations or
locations – Solar photovoltaic (PV) power supply systems (IEC 60364-
...