Cable routing rooftop

After stringing all cables need to be defined that run from the polarities to the different devices. This process starts with the placement of your devices.

In the System config ribbon options can be found to place devices on the project.

All of these can be placed on the project manually by using the normal “Insert” options. When selected a popup window will open showing you the available devices for that category. You can then select which ones you would like to place or select all to place all devices.

This example is the insert window for transformers.

Select the transformer, press OK and select a point where to place it.

Afterwards you will also need to define the placement location between rooftop or ground and the height above that surface. The first step is to choose spacing between devices if you have selected multiple.

For inverters, string cabinets and cable combiners there is also an option to place them automatically. This function provides the option to place these devices along the polarities or along trays. For both of those the tray has to be drawn first.

Trays can be drawn in the “Cable&Civil” Ribbon. Select the cable you would like from the dropdown menu.

Then select tray path option and start drawing the path it should take.

Select the first point and add multiple to shape your tray along your project. Naturally this will follow all slopes of the roof.

Make sure to really pas all strings so they can locate the trench automatically. The example on the left will not work where the one on the right will.

After all devices have been placed and the trays have been drawn from modules to inverters (Input DC) and inverters to LV cabinet/transformer (Low Voltage AC). You can start using our cable routing tool.

Select the “Route cables” option which will open a new window

In this window you can automatically detect the tray for cables or manually select strings and assign them to a tray.

Automatic: Simply select the option and press calculate. If certain strings can’t find a tray it will be indicated with an error including the string name.
Manual: With the manual option you can press the allocate button to start selecting strings and then press enter to select the tray the cables should be routed to. Now press enter again to reopen the window and you will see the amount of allocated strings.

When pressing calculate the green bar will fill and a quick overview of the cables will be shown in the top part of the window. You can now press close as cable routing is complete.

Now there will be visible connections on the project, from strings to the inverters and from the inverters to the transformer. When viewed in a 3D perspective you will be able to see the cables really follow the rooftop and drop to ground level to reach our transformer. This way the cable distances are very accurate.

You can now also use “Count cables in tray/trench” to manually count the amount of cables in a certain part of the tray.

Select the option and place 2 points that intersect the trench and a number will be added that indicates the amount of plus and minus cables in this part of the trench.