Cables for PV-systems: Overview of check routine
according to EN 50618:2014
Table 2
No. 1 Electrical tests
No. Kind of test Test conditions
1.1 Conductor Resistance Measuring of conductor resistance acc. to EN 50395
1.2 High voltage test at Dielectric test in water at complete cable with 6,5 kV AC or 15 kV DC
complete cable
1.3 Absence of faults Dielectric test at complete cable with 10 kV AC (100% during
production)
1.4 Measurement of insulation resistance
1.4.1 Insulation resistance According to EN 50395, Minimum insulation resistance listed in Table
at 20°C 1 of EN 50618
1.4.2 Insulation resistance According to EN 50395 Minimum insulation resistance listed in Table
at 90°C 1 of EN 50618
1.5 Long term resistance Long term test (240h) sccording to EN 50395 with d.c. voltage 1,8kV
of insulation to d.c.
1.6 Surface resistance of According to EN 50395, Minimum resistance : 109 Ω
sheath
No. 2 Constructional and dimensional test
No. Kind of test Test conditions
2.1 Conductor Max. diameter of wire in conductor according to 6.1 of EN 60228:2005
Continuity of tin shall be ensured
2.2 Thickness of Wall thickness of insulation not less than stated in 5.2.3 of this
insulation standard
2.3.1 Thickness of sheath Wall thickness of sheath not less than stated in 5.2.3 of this standard
2.4 Ovality value Ovality maximal 15%
2.5.1 Sheath colour Colour shall be black unless otherwise agreed. Colour shall be
throughout the whole of sheath
2.6.1 Sheath marking Visual examination of minimum markings and measurement of
distance
No. 3, 4, 5, and 8 Requirements for Insulation and sheathing material
Table B.1
No. Kind of test Test conditions
1 Mechanical characteristics
1.1.1 Tensile test before Minimum tensile strength for insulation and sheath:8,0 N/mm²
ageing according to Minimum elongation at break for insulation and sheath: 125%
EN 60811-501
1.2 Tensile test after Measuring of tensile strength at insulation and sheath (variation max.
ageing in oven at -30%) and elongation at break (variation max.-30%).
150°C according to
60811-401
1.3 Hot set test at 250°C elongation under load, max. 100%
according to EN permanent elongation after cooling, max. 25%
60811-507
1.4 Thermal endurance Complete cable, tests acc. to EN 60216-2 for thermal index
properties for 20.000h 120(20.000h) 4 test sequences (last sequence min. 5000h).
according to EN
60216-1 + 60216-2
1.5 Cold elongation test. Tensile test at low temperature (only for cables with diameters >
12,5mm), elongation at break min. 30%
1.6 Sheath resistance Tensile and elongation test after storing in N-Oxal-acid and N-sodium
against acid and hydroxide solution. Variation of tensile strength max. ± 30%,
alkaline solution elongation at break min. 100%.
According to EN
60811-404
1.7 Compatibility test Tensile and elongation test after storing in a heating cabinet
according to EN (135°C – 7days)
60811-401 Variation of tensile strength and elongation at break: max. ± 30% for
insulation, max. -30% for sheath
No. 6 Cold impact test
No. Kind of test Test conditions
6 Cold impact test No cracks
according to EN
60811-506
No. 7 Cold bending test
No. Kind of test Test conditions
7 Cold bending test Cable diameter ≤ 12,5 mm No cracks
according to EN
60811-504
No. 9 Ozone resistance test
No. Kind of test Test conditions
9 Ozone resistance test Method A according to EN 60811-403 or Method B according to EN
on complete cable 50396
No cracks
No. 10 Weathering/UV resistance test on sheath
No. Kind of test Test conditions
10.1 Weathering test Test acc. to method A of ISO 4892-2: 500 h at 60W/m², 300-400nm,
according to EN 65°C, 50%RH,
50289-4-17 (method cycles: 18 min spraying, 102min drying with Xenon-lamp
A)
10.2 Result to be obtain Variation of tensile strength and elongation at break: max. -30%
No. 11 Dynamic penetration test
No. Kind of test Test conditions
11.1 Dynamic penetration
No penetration before minimum value according to following formula
test acc. to Annex D
is reached:
F = 150 ⋅ √Dn
No. 12 Damp heat test
No. Kind of test Test conditions
12 Damp heat test Tensile test after storing for 1000h at 90°C and 85%rH
according to EN max. variation of tensile strength and elongation at break :
60068-2-78 Tensile max. -30%.
test after ageing
climatic chamber
No. 13 Shrinkage test at complete cable
No. Kind of test Test conditions
13 Shrinkage test Maximum shrinkage is 2 % after storing for 1h at 120°C
according to EN
60811-503
No. 14 Test of vertical flame propagation
No. Kind of test Test conditions
14.1 Test for vertical flame Distance between lowest end of upper fixation and starting point of
propagation at charring shall be minimum 50mm. Additionally the spread of charring
complete cable below lowest end of upper fixation shall be less than 540mm
according to EN
60332-1-2
No. 15 Smoke emission
No. Kind of test Test conditions
15 Smoke emission of Result to be obtained : light ransmittance, min. 60%
complete cable
according to EN
61034-2
No. 16 Assessment of halogens
No. Kind of test Test conditions
16 Absence of halogen min. pH-value: 4,3
according to EN max. conductivity: 10µS/mm
50525-1 Chlorine and Bromine content, expressed in HC: max. 0,5%
Flouride content: max. 0,1%
