IN a bid to eradicate bad practice and create an incubator for the solar industry, Helukabel South Africa, suppliers of high specification TUV approved cable and cable accessories, have been invited to join the innovative ACES Academy, a formal gathering of prominent subject matter experts in the solar PV industry, committed to raising the technical standards in the hitherto unregulated solar industry.
Helukabel South Africa Cape Town branch manager Thomas Hall, an expert in the field of electric cabling, with over 10 years’ experience in the electrical contracting and solar industries, underwent a stringent vetting procedure before Helukabel was included on the Academy’s list of 17 ‘bricks’ or modules which make up the Solar PV Installer courses offered by the Academy.
“Our level of cabling expertise –– particularly for the solarPV industry, is vital to ensure that installers and for the protection of the public, is fully understood. This booming industry has attracted its fair share of Johnny come latelies who want to cash-in on an industry with low barriers to entry
“While solar PV cabling contributes 80% to a system’s reliability and longevity, it typically represents only 20% of the overall cost of the installation. Of particular concern is the proliferation of cheap imported cabling that in the most part is not fit for purpose and can be downright dangerous particularly in the residential market where many uninitiated homeowners accept the lowest quote for the job.
“We have obtained samples of sub-standard products readily available on the local market which from a profit perspective appeal to an ignorant installer. An influx of aluminium conductors has a price advantage over copper conductors but there is a great difference in the physical characteristics of aluminium versus copper for a given amperage capacity. A 6 mm aluminium cable is not the same as a 6 mm copper cable, and the size does not mean the material itself can withstand the same stresses or amperage. There are many different characteristics that need to be taken into consideration” stresses Hall
“Cheap insulation, cable connectors and terminations also proliferate. Cables that connect the solar panels to the inverter must be UV resistant as they are exposed to our intense climatic conditions. Many of the samples we have gathered are inferior in that regard and do not compete with the 25-year warrantee offered on our PV cable range.
Training incentives
“To provide an incentive for current and would be installers; those that are certified after completing our two day course under the ACES Academy umbellar, are offered attractive discounts on Helukabel cable and accessories, and that applies even more so for female installers who are encouraged to break into the lucrative solar PV market.
“Our next training course is scheduled for the 21 -22 September 2023 at Aces Academy, details can be sourced from Helukabel Cape Town directly.
Helukabel Group is a family owned business of 45 years standing, with multiple manufacturing facilities and having 61 sites across 39 countries, supplying high specification TUV approved cable and cable accessories to a wide spectrum of industries.
Its Cape Town branch is the latest addition to the Helukabel family complementing its South African head office in Johannesburg and a branch in Durban.
