The selection of CCA busbar for photovoltaic applications depends on several factors, including cost, performance requirements, environmental conditions, and service life. Although CCA busbar is not as conductive as pure copper materials, it still offers some advantages in certain situations. Below are a few situations in which CCA busbar may be selected for PV systems:
- Cost-sensitive projects
Low-cost requirements: One of the main advantages of CCA busbar is its relatively low cost, especially when material prices are high, CCA busbar can provide a relatively cheap alternative. If a PV project has a limited budget and is not particularly demanding in terms of system efficiency, CCA busbar can be a good choice.
Ideal for cost-containment projects: In applications where the highest conductivity is not required, CCA busbar can fulfill some medium load or low power requirements by reducing costs. For example, CCA busbar can be used for the electrical connection part of the PV module in a small PV plant or home PV system.
- Medium load applications
Moderate load requirements: In some medium load PV systems, CCA busbar can provide sufficient electrical conductivity. Especially when the current in the system is not high and the system is not exposed to extreme temperatures or humidity for a long period of time, the conductivity and stability of the CCA busbar is sufficient to meet the requirements.
Suitable for small-scale PV systems: For small-scale PV systems or residential installations, CCA busbar can fulfill the performance requirements, especially when these systems do not need to withstand large loads or frequent high load operation.
- Short-term or temporary applications
Temporary or experimental projects: If the PV project is in an experimental phase or temporary project, with a tighter budget and lower requirements for long-term stability, the CCA busbar can be an economical alternative. In this case, the initial requirements can be met even if there is a slight decrease in conductivity during long-term operation.
Low-current, low-load environments: If the PV module operates with relatively low current and power, the performance of the CCA busbar can basically meet the demand and will not result in a significant loss of efficiency in the short term.
CCA busbar in photovoltaic
- Application under high temperature or humid environment
Preventing excessive heating or localized overloads: The design of copper-clad aluminum wires or CCA busbar reduces the burden of heating in high-temperature environments because copper conducts electricity better than aluminum and reduces the heat generated by the current passing through the aluminum core. This makes CCA busbar highly reliable in certain high-temperature or humid environments, although the long-term stability is slightly less than that of pure copper wire.
- Suitable for low to medium efficiency PV modules
For low-efficiency PV modules: If the PV module is of low efficiency and the overall load demand of the system is relatively small, the CCA busbar can meet the current transfer requirements of these modules without much loss of performance. In this case, the CCA busbar is able to provide adequate electrical performance without sacrificing cost.
- Scenarios where the environment is less likely to cause oxidation
Relatively mild environments: In some areas with mild climatic conditions and low humidity, the conductivity and stability of CCA busbar can maintain good performance for a longer period of time, and oxidization problems will have less impact. In these environments, CCA busbar can effectively reduce costs while minimizing resistance problems due to oxidation.
- Long equipment maintenance and replacement intervals
Lower Maintenance Requirements: If the PV system has a long equipment replacement cycle and the installation is not prone to frequent repairs and replacements, CCA busbar may be chosen to reduce the initial investment cost due to its relatively low cost and appropriate performance. In this case, the CCA busbar is capable of meeting the system’s needs over a longer period of time.
Things to keep in mind:
Despite the above advantages of CCA busbar, it is not the best choice in some scenarios that require high reliability and long-term stability, especially in:
High loads: In situations where high current is transmitted for a long period of time, the lack of conductivity of the CCA busbar may lead to heat generation and loss of efficiency.
Extreme temperature and humidity environments: In overly harsh environments, the performance of the CCA busbar may degrade, especially in high temperature, humidity or extreme cold conditions, which can easily lead to the formation of an aluminum oxide layer, affecting system stability.Long-term use requirements: For projects such as photovoltaic power plants that require long-term stability and higher current loads, it is recommended to choose pure copper wire or oxygen-free copper wire to ensure the long-term stability and reliability of the conductive properties.
Summarize:
CCA busbar is suitable for PV systems that need to balance cost and performance, especially for small, low load, cost-sensitive application scenarios.However, pure copper wire is still a better choice for systems requiring long-term stability and high loads, especially for large-scale applications such as PV power plants. The optimal performance and long-term stability of PV systems can be ensured by considering the project’s usage environment, load requirements, and budget, and making a reasonable choice of CCA busbar or other materials.