Protecting Solar Cables from Marten Bites — Here's How
Martens are an underestimated threat to photovoltaic systems. These nocturnal animals effortlessly climb onto roofs and bite into solar cables there — with costly consequences. Short circuits, yield losses, and in the worst case, fire hazards are the result. For solar technicians and installation companies, this means complaints, rework, and dissatisfied customers.
Why Martens Attack Solar Cables
Martens are territorial animals. Under PV modules, they find warm, sheltered spots that they use as a refuge. In doing so, they bite into anything in their way — especially exposed cables. The soft insulation of conventional solar cables offers little resistance to sharp marten teeth.
Typical Damage from Marten Bites on PV Systems
- Damaged cable insulation — moisture penetrates, corrosion occurs
- Short circuits — reduced yield or total failure of individual strings
- Fire hazard — due to arc formation on damaged DC lines
- High repair costs — scaffolding, troubleshooting, and cable replacement
The Solution: Protected Cable Routing Through the Roof
The most effective protection is not to lay solar cables freely on the roof in the first place. With a roof penetration made of TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane), you route the PV cables directly through the roof tile into the protected roof space. This way, martens have no access to the sensitive lines.
NEXCAPE roof penetrations are manufactured with 3D printing in Germany and consist of highly flexible TPU. The material is UV-resistant, weather-resistant, and resilient against mechanical stress — including marten bites. Due to its flexible structure, the penetration adapts to various tile profiles.
Tool-Free Installation Saves Time
A decisive advantage of NEXCAPE roof penetrations: installation is completely tool-free. No drilling is required, and the MC4 connectors do not need to be disconnected. The cables are simply threaded through the penetration and the tile is inserted. This saves valuable time on the construction site — especially for larger projects.
Variants for Every Need
NEXCAPE offers penetrations for 2, 4 or 6 PV strings, each with or without an additional opening for an earthing cable (PE). The available lengths of 105 mm, 125 mm, and 150 mm cover common tile formats.
B2B Conditions for Installation Companies
For solar technicians and PV companies, attractive volume discounts apply for orders of 20 pieces or more. This significantly reduces material costs per project.
Find the right roof penetration now and permanently protect solar cables from marten bites: View PV Roof Penetrations
