A Quick Guide into the World of Electrical Bus Bars
Let's address the obvious question: what is an electrical bus bar? An electrical bus bar is a solid bar or metallic strip that collects electric power or current from incoming terminals of a power system for distribution to the various outgoing terminals. It is an essential component of the electrical power distribution system or electrical grounding, acting as a junction that collects all the incoming and outgoing current at a single location. Bus bars technology makes the complex power distribution system flexible, easy, and less expensive.
Exploring Electrical Bus Bars
Although electrical bus bars are available in various shapes, rectangular bus bars are the most popular. You can find them inside panel boards, busway enclosures, or switchgear. Electrical bus bars also help connect high-voltage equipment.
Electrical bus bars or strips consist of conductive materials like copper or aluminum in solid or hollow tubes. Copper strips are ideal when high magnitude current flows through conductors.
Professionals use copper due to its high conductivity, better security, and resilience to high temperatures. It also has a longer lifespan and high recovery value. However, aluminum's resistance to corrosion and low cost makes it the preferred choice.
The electrical bus bar system has an isolator and a circuit breaker. When a fault occurs, the circuit breaker trips, disconnecting the faulty bus bar section from the circuit. Bus bars are available in various shapes and sizes, determining their ampacity (the maximum electric current a conductor carries before weakening or deteriorating).
Why use a bus bar?
An electrical bus bar is used in an electrical distribution system to properly connect multiple wires and avoid damage to the wire insulation.
Electric bus bar system types
The most commonly used bus bar sizes include 160 mm2, 200 mm2, 300 mm2, 480 mm2, 640 mm2, 1000 mm2. Power systems use different bus bar arrangements, depending on low installation cost, ease of installation and maintenance, the scope of extension with an increase in load, flexibility, reliability, and that maintenance should not affect the continuity of the power distribution process.
The types of electrical bus bar arrangements are:
Single bus bar arrangement
Single bus bar arrangement with bus sectionalized
Main and transfer bus arrangement
Double bus double breaker arrangement
Sectionalized double bus bar arrangement
Ring main arrangement
One and a half breaker arrangement
Mesh arrangement
Electrical bus bar applications
Where are electrical bus bars used? Their applications include:
Electric system connection (universities, housing, buildings, retail facilities, hospitals, laboratories, data centers, factories, and power stations)
Hybrid and electric vehicles
Motor drive
Aerospace power distribution
Electric equipment power conversion module
Motor armature bus bar
Computer power distribution
Power and hybrid traction
Power generation systems
Generators and reactors
Advantages of using electrical bus bars
Robust, compact, and more durable than a wiring harness
Efficient power distribution that reduces the energy consumption
Use of excellent power conductors like copper
Easy customization for various purposes
Proves cost-effective in the long run
Offers flexibility for renewable energy integration
Easily withstand harsh external weather conditions
Versatile systems
Environmentally-friendly
Faster installation
Contact an electrical contractor for more information about the electrical bus bar system.
A.B.T. Electric is a licensed residential and commercial electrical contractor in Anthem, Az. We are committed to continuing expertise, safety, and customer satisfaction. Call (623) 521-3939 today!