Polycab — Solar H1Z2Z2-K (BS EN 50618) 1.5 kV DC cable
A properly specified 1,500 V solar DC cable with a complete electrical table — and, unusually, enough data to do your own voltage-drop check.
Reviewed 6 October 2026
Polycab’s Solar H1Z2Z2-K is a single-core, flexible, tinned-copper photovoltaic DC cable with electron-beam cross-linked, halogen-free, flame-retardant (XLPO) insulation and sheath. It is rated 1,500 V DC between conductors and to earth (1,800 V maximum), for fixed use from −40 °C to a 120 °C conductor temperature, and is sold in sizes from 2.5 to 240 mm².
The datasheet names the standards it follows — EN 50618, IEC 62930, IEC 60228 (class 5 conductor), IEC 60332-1-2 and UL 4703 — and lists the individual tests behind the “halogen free, low smoke, UV and ozone resistant” claims (EN 50267-2-1 / IEC 60754-2 for halogens, IEC 61034 for smoke, EN 50396 for ozone, HD 605/A1 or DIN 53667 for weathering, IEC 60216 for life expectancy). An NABL accreditation mark appears on the sheet; that accredits a testing laboratory, not the cable itself.
What makes this sheet genuinely useful is the electrical table. For each size it gives overall diameter, weight, maximum DC resistance at 20 °C and three current ratings (free in air, on a surface, and two cables touching), plus derating factors for ambient temperatures above 60 °C. It is the document you need to size a cable — rather than guess.
For Installers & Engineers
Deeper technical detail beyond the homeowner-facing summary above.
Voltage-drop check from the sheet’s own numbers: 4 mm² has a maximum DC resistance of 5.09 Ω/km at 20 °C. A 40 m one-way run (80 m of conductor) at 13 A therefore drops at most about 5.3 V at 20 °C — roughly 0.9% of a 600 V string. Resistance rises with conductor temperature, so a hot roof run drops more; our cable-size calculator uses a higher operating-temperature resistivity for exactly that reason.
Current ratings are given at EN 50618 conditions: 120 °C maximum conductor temperature and 60 °C ambient. For 4 mm² that is 55 A free in air, 52 A on a surface and 44 A for two cables touching on a surface; 6 mm² gives 70, 67 and 57 A. At 70 °C, 80 °C and 90 °C ambient the sheet applies derating factors of 0.92, 0.84 and 0.75.
Outer diameters (4 mm²: 5.8 mm; 6 mm²: 6.4 mm) matter when pairing with connectors that accept a limited lead diameter — they sit inside the 5.4–7.6 mm window of the Stäubli MC4-Evo ready connector we reviewed.
Bending radius is stated as more than 6× the cable diameter for fixed installation and more than 8× for occasional movement. Tight bends at rooftop corners and combiner-box entries are a common shortcut worth checking.
The Scorecard
How we scoreStandards & Safety Compliance
Follows EN 50618 and IEC 62930 with each fire, smoke, halogen, ozone and UV test named. Held back only because no India-specific mark is shown and the sheet does not name the certifying body for the cable itself.
Build Quality & Durability
E-beam cross-linked halogen-free XLPO, tinned class 5 copper and a 120 °C conductor rating are the right construction for hot, UV-exposed Indian roofs.
Fit & Ease of Use
Flexible class 5 conductor and a wide size range; the stated bend-radius limits still apply in tight combiner-box entries.
Documentation, Warranty & Support
An unusually complete, dated electrical table makes sizing checkable. No warranty term is stated, and the table is more complete than the commercial terms.
Value for Money
Not assessed — we have not sourced a current India price per metre.
Strengths
- Rated 1,500 V DC with a conductor temperature up to 120 °C
- Tinned class 5 flexible copper, XLPO halogen-free insulation and sheath
- Lists the individual EN/IEC tests for fire, smoke, halogens, ozone, UV and life expectancy
- Full electrical table (resistance, diameter, weight, three current ratings and derating) for every size from 2.5 to 240 mm²
Watch-outs
- No warranty period or stated service life is on the datasheet beyond “life expectancy per IEC 60216” — ask for it in writing
- No Indian product standard or BIS mark is shown; the NABL mark accredits a lab, not the cable
- Genuine Polycab cable is printed with the brand on the sheath — confirm the printing and drum labels on delivery, and compare conductor size and weight against the table
- Current ratings assume 60 °C ambient; a hot, enclosed run needs the derating factors applied
Datasheet Specifications
| Construction | Single core · tinned copper, IEC 60228 class 5 · XLPO insulation and sheath |
|---|---|
| Voltage rating | 1,500 V DC nominal (1,800 V max) · test voltage 6.5 kV AC 50 Hz |
| Temperature | −40 °C to +120 °C (fixed) · max conductor 120 °C |
| Standards listed | EN 50618 · IEC 62930 · IEC 60228 · IEC 60332-1-2 · UL 4703 |
| 4 mm² key data | 5.8 mm diameter · 64 kg/km · 5.09 Ω/km (20 °C) · 55 / 52 / 44 A |
| 6 mm² key data | 6.4 mm diameter · 85 kg/km · 3.39 Ω/km (20 °C) · 70 / 67 / 57 A |
| Bending radius | > 6× diameter (fixed) · > 8× (occasionally moved) |
| Sizes offered | 2.5 to 240 mm² |
| Warranty / India standard mark | Not stated on the datasheet |
Specifications marked “datasheet-stated” are manufacturer figures we have not independently measured. Always confirm the exact model on its current datasheet before purchase.
Open the manufacturer’s datasheet for Polycab Solar H1Z2Z2-K (BS EN 50618) 1.5 kV DC cableWho It’s For
- Installers and EPCs sizing string and home-run DC cabling who want a table-driven, standards-referenced cable
- Homeowners checking a quotation: this is the kind of cable that should appear by name and size on a good bill of materials
- Anyone replacing undersized or unmarked DC cable
Our Verdict
A properly built and well-documented 1,500 V solar DC cable whose datasheet lets you verify size, voltage drop and derating yourself. Ask for it by name and conductor size on the quotation, check the sheath printing on delivery, and get the warranty in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size DC cable should I use for a home solar string?
It depends on current, run length and acceptable voltage drop (commonly about 2%). Use the Polycab table’s resistance and current ratings, or our cable-size calculator, to check. As a datasheet example, 4 mm² has a maximum resistance of 5.09 Ω/km at 20 °C.
Is Polycab H1Z2Z2-K suitable for 1,500 V systems?
Its rated voltage is 1,500 V DC between conductors and to earth, with a 1,800 V maximum permitted voltage, so it is specified for 1,500 V DC photovoltaic systems.
Why does the datasheet give three current ratings?
Because installation changes heat dissipation: a single cable free in air carries more than one clipped to a surface, and two touching cables carry less still. Pick the rating that matches how the cable is actually laid.
Data Provenance
- Verified on
- 6 October 2026
- ALMM status
- Unknown — verify directly
- Source datasheet
- View official manufacturer datasheet
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