Solar cable management systems manufacturer Affordable Wire Management (AWM) alluded to new hardware offerings in a recent Q&A with Solar Builder, the PHOTON Kit and the HELIOS Beam Rod, both of which are now available. Let’s take a look.
AWM’s PHOTON Kit uses winch technology to streamline construction during messenger cable install. Traditionally, above-ground cable management systems (CMS) have required the installation and tensioning of thousands of feet of messenger cable one pile at a time. This is a lengthy process that requires regular references to temperature-dependent sag charts.
AWM’s guidance for the assisted tensioning method eliminates these headaches for utility-scale solar installers. Utilizing a calibrated scale and winch, the PHOTON Kit allows for precise, end-to-end tensioning of the messenger cable based on temperature-agnostic guidelines. AWM says this approach diminishes the potential for cable snap or human error.
“Our PHOTON Kit has been proven to reduce project install times, often improving installation rates by 2.5 times or more,” says Scott Rand, co-founder and CEO of AWM.
Pictured above is the PHOTON Kit being installed at the Escalante Solar project in New Mexico. David McElroy, Electrical Operations Manager at Gridworks, says “Construction crews were able to tighten 1000-1500 feet of cable in mere minutes and the 200+ MW project was completed in just a few months. That is record time, thanks to AWM’s innovations.”
AWM’s HELIOS Beam Rod is compatible with multiple pile types and can be attached directly to standard piles using a simple screw. The HELIOS Beam Rod improves upon AWM’s earlier hex rod offering. It can also be adapted to attach to cylindrical piles using a U-bolt system. HELIOS is available in various lengths, and is able to accommodate angled runs, which helps on uneven terrain.
“Manufactured through an extrusion process, our HELIOS Beam Rod is stronger, more scalable, and more corrosion-resistant than its predecessors, making it robust enough to handle even the most challenging conditions,” remarked Rand.
Like AWM’s other products, the HELIOS Beam Rod and all sub-components are manufactured in the U.S.
— Solar Builder magazine
[source: https://solarbuildermag.com/news/awm-debuts-new-cable-tensioning-winch-and-improved-hex-rod/]
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