News | Identimark

Cable Management for Solar Farms: From Site Problem to Proven Solution

Written by Identimark | 06/03/2025

How We Engineered the ECLIPZ Cable Hanger:                  From Site Problem to Proven Solution

Most cable management on utility-scale solar farms starts with cable ties. It works - until it doesn't.

Three years ago, an EPC partner approached us during the Stubbo Solar Farm project with a straightforward problem: cable ties were slowing their teams down, creating inconsistent results across rows, and risking insulation damage when overtightened.

They needed a faster, safer method of securing string cables to Nextracker torque tubes, and nothing on the market solved it properly.

That conversation started an 18-month R&D process that became the ECLIPZ Cable Harness Hanger.

 

The brief: speed, safety, and zero tools

The challenge wasn't just designing a hanger that held cables. It was designing one that worked the way installation teams actually work; at pace, at scale, often with one hand free.

The brief from our EPC partner was clear.

The solution needed to attach directly to the panel bracket connecting panels to the torque tube, hold up to 20 string cables securely, install without tools, and protect cable insulation over a 30-year asset life.

 

Five iterations, one construction manager

Over 18 months we developed and tested more than five design variations in partnership with the EPC team. Every version shared the same attachment point, the panel bracket, but each explored a different approach to fixing method, cable insertion technique, and securing mechanism.

A turning point came when the project's construction manager joined the development process.

His on-site perspective reframed how we thought about the design. Installation doesn't happen in a lab. It happens on scaffolding, in wind, with gloves on. That input led us to prioritise a spring-loaded locking mechanism that could be operated single-handed — which became one of the defining features of ECLIPZ.

 

Engineered for the real environment

The final design reflects every iteration of field testing and feedback.

Material: 316 marine-grade stainless steel wire — chosen for corrosion resistance across coastal, high-UV, and chemical-exposure environments. No mixed metals, no plastics, no compromise on a 30-year asset.

Profile: A rounded, multi-contact shape that distributes cable load evenly. This isn't cosmetic — it directly reduces the point-loading that causes insulation abrasion over decades. That profile was validated through FEM/FEA stress mapping by an independent engineer using Ansys.

Mechanism: Tool-free, spring-loaded clip that allows cables to be inserted and secured by hand in seconds. This supports both mechanical pre-installation during tracker assembly and later electrical cable routing — whichever fits the site's sequencing.

 

Compatibility: Originally engineered for Nextracker torque tube and panel bracket geometry. Now independently verified and field-proven on ATI/Array Technologies tracker systems as well.

 

Independent testing. Not just claims

ECLIPZ is the only cable hanger in its class backed by a full suite of independent engineering verification, including FEM/FEA structural simulation, CFD airflow modelling, lifetime deformation analysis, and stress and load distribution modelling. All completed in Ansys by a qualified independent engineer.

This testing confirms that the hanger does not affect OEM torque settings, friction, or tracker rotation - a critical concern for any component attached to moving infrastructure. It also validates mechanical stability under cable loads, thermal cycling, wind loads, and environmental stressors across a 30-year design life.

Engineering certificates, FEM/FEA outputs, CFD reports, material certifications, and technical drawings are all available on request; pre-tender, pre-construction, or post-installation.

 

Proven at scale: Culcairn Solar Farm

The real validation came at Culcairn Solar Farm, one of Australia's largest solar projects, developed by Neoen with Bouygues as EPC. The project required over 840,000 cable hangers.

The original installation estimate for the first batch of 82,000 units was three to four weeks of labour.

The actual result: four days.

That's an 80% reduction in installation time - repeated across the full project scope, saving an estimated 20–30 weeks of labour overall.

Beyond the hangers, Identimark also engineered custom galvanised motor bridges for the project to route string cables safely over Nextracker torque tube motors without interfering with system movement.

Read the full project story: Culcairn Solar Farm Case Study

Projects deployed

ECLIPZ Cable Hangers have been installed across multiple utility-scale solar projects including:

  • Culcairn Solar Farm
  • Mokoan Solar Farm
  • Stubbo Solar Farm

Performance verified at industrial scale, not just in pilot arrays.

 

What comes next

No single product stays static across an evolving industry.

We continue to refine the ECLIPZ range based on EPC feedback, new tracker systems, and changing site conditions. Current development includes variants tailored for different racking geometries, material optimisations for extreme environmental conditions, and project-specific packing and labelling to reduce site handling time.

If you're specifying cable management for an upcoming solar project, we can provide technical drawings, test reports, and product selection support matched to your tracker system and layout.

Explore the full ECLIPZ range: Cable Harness Hanger Product Page

 

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