| Title |
Faults analysis of cables and connectors of photovoltaic systems for electrical safety |
| Authors |
장주희(Ju-Hee Jang) ; 김종민(Chong-Min Kim) ; 조성구(Sung-Koo Cho) ; 오수정(Su-Jeong Oh) ; 강해권(Hae-Gweon Kang) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5370/KIEE.2026.75.10.2627 |
| Keywords |
PV system; fault diagnosis; cable installation method; allowable current; Tensile force |
| Abstract |
These days, the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems is rapidly increasing. Fault diagnosis of PV systems has been extensively studied to improve electrical safety. A PV system is largely divided into five main components: PV modules, cables, connectors, combiner boxes, and inverters. Among these, faults in PV connectors and cables can cause fire accidents. In this paper, a PV system where a fire accident occurred is analyzed. Furthermore, the causes of the failure are identified through experimental and theoretical analyses. First, power losses were evaluated based on the conductor type and cross-sectional area; aluminum cables exhibited 10.6% higher power losses than copper cables. Next, the allowable current of the cable was calculated, revealing that it could be exceeded depending on the cable installation methods and reduction factors. Lastly, the suitability of PV connector workmanship was evaluated against relevant standards, showing that 28.6% of the connectors were improper. Overall, to improve the safety of PV systems, conductor types, cable installation methods, and connector workmanship must be carefully considered during the design and construction phases. |