Busbar Sizing

The size of the bus bar for electrical panel is based on the rated current and short circuit current. The configuration , orientation,Clarence of bus bar , single or multi busbars and ambient temperature are other factors. The current carrying capacity of the bus bar will depend on heat dissipating capacity of the bus bar chamber and depends on horizontal or vertical orientation. The size of the bus bar are also decided by the skin effect and Proximity effect( when multi bus bars are used) of the conductor and the metal used (that is copper bus bar or the aluminium bus bar).The bus bar manufacturers normally provide the capacity rating for various standard sizes . It is for the designer to select the correct size and configuration.

The design of bus bar is highly technical job and needs through knowledge. Better consult a competent consultant as it is not the job of armature.

Thanx for your reply n suggestion i don't think so, any competent consultant was born with the knowledge of busbars . U can be more helpful if u could send me some technical documents about selection, clearance and losses estimation.

Regards.

Dear Guest,

No one is born with knowledge or expertise. The design of an electrical panel is really an experts job who understand the basic requirements and data. One has to get it out of real work experience and learning in the hard way.In my reply I have given the important basic points for consideration and how to calculate the size after collecting the data. The rest is calculation depends on the data as per the utility requirement and site conditions. Every panel is custom designed and needs individual design. Now a days most of the manufacturers take the help of CAD. As they go for standard designs for a specific rating of panel. They have ready made patterns and design. If one has to design an individual panel then the maximum current rating of the load and short circuit current have to be calculated and depending on other prevailing site conditions the de rating factor has to be considered to arrive at the maxim current rating. Depending up on the material of the bus bar the size of the bus bar can be decided. Normally all bus bar manufacturers provide their current rating so it is very easy to find out the correct size.

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