USE-2 vs PV Cable

Courtesy of Kristech wire

• USAGE
  • PV wire is solely used for interconnecting PV modules, and was developed to be able to handle 90°C in wet conditions and 150°C in dry conditions.
  • USE-2 wire is usually used for connecting terminals of service equipment, and is mostly found underground, and is therefore only rated to handle 90°C in wet or dry conditions.
  • Both can be UL rated at 600V.  However, PV wire can also be rated 1000V or 2000V if needed.>
  • Both wires can be used in grounded PV arrays, but only PV wire can be used in ungrounded ones.

• CONSTRUCTION
  • PV wires have thicker insulation for added protection.
  • USE-2 is often used in places that don’t require a high level of movement out of the wire, and can therefore be made out of either stranded or solid conductors.
  • However, since PV wire is used only in solar panels, it needs to be flexible, so is only made from stranded wires.
  • The smallest size available for USE-2 wire is 14 AWG, however PV can get as small as 18 AWG.

• TESTING
  • PV wires must go through a flame test, USE-2 does not (since it isn’t usually installed in places where flames would be found). On the other hand, USE-2 must go through various abuse tests that PV wires aren’t subject to.
  • PV wire must go through more strict sunlight resistant tests.
  • Both of these tests are part of the UL 4703 specification requirements.