EMS carries many different raw materials to ensure quick turn around on your projects. Examples of the sizes of raw aluminum stock are shown in the following table:
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Aluminum Bars
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| Thickness |
Range of Widths |
| 1/8" |
3/4 to 2" |
| 3/16" |
3/4 to 3" |
| 1/4" |
3/4 to 12" |
| 5/16" |
3/4 to 12" |
| 3/8" |
3/4 to 3" |
| 3/8" |
1/2 to 6" |
| 1/2" |
1/2 to 6" |
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Definition of "Bus Bar"
A bus bar (occasionally pronounced “buzz bar”) refers in electrical power distribution to thick strips of Copper or other material that conduct electricity around a switchboard, distribution board or other electrical apparatus’.
The size of the bus bar determines the maximum amount of current that can be safely carried. Small distribution boards or consumer units may have bus bars which have a cross sectional area of as little as 10 mm2 but large electrical substations may use metal tubes of 50 mm or more in diameter as bus bars.
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Bus bars are typically either flat strips or hollow tubes as these shapes allow heat to dissipate more efficiently due to their high surface area to cross-sectional area ratio. Additionally, the skin effect makes AC bus bars more than about 8 mm (1/3 in) thick inefficient.
Bus bars may be used to carry phase (line, hot, live) voltage in which case they must be suitably insulated. Such insulation may either completely surround the bus bar, or alternatively the bus bar
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itself may be uninsulated but physically mounted using an insulating material to keep it electrically
separate from its support. In the latter case the bus bar is protected from accidental contact either by being surrounded in a sheet metal enclosure or by being placed out of normal reach. Neutral bus bars are also insulated. Earth bus bars are typically bolted directly onto any metal chassis of their enclosure.
“Bus bar systems” refers to conductors that take the form of a bar or bars of copper conductor. The bars may be exposed or enclosed. The system may have one or more joints to assure proper length and configuration and one or more take-off points connected to end-use equipment.
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Other Bus Bar Links
Aluminum Bus Bar Chart
Copper Bus Bar Quick Selector
Copper Bus Bar General Information
Copper Bus Bar Ampacity Chart
Copper Bus Bar DC Ampacity
Copper Bus Bar Horizontal Properties
Copper Bus Bar Vertical Properties
Copper Emissivity Chart
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