JAJ Busbar Systems, South Africa, distributors for Siemens. Electrical power distribution system and heavy duty rackmount electricity conductor trunking. Busbar is a safe and a flexible power distribution system that is more beneficial than cable, and is a reliable transmission of power. A busbar is a broad aluminium or copper strip used in the distribution of electrical power, which conducts electricity inside a substation, distribution board, switchboard or other type of electrical supply apparatus. Busbars are utilised to carry extremely potent electrical currents, or to distribute electricity to various devices inside switching gear and other electrical equipment. The circuit board in a household, for example, will possess bus bars at the back, to distribute electrical current to numerous circuit breakers on branches. An aluminium smelter will have heavy duty bus bars to convey the many thousands of amperes of electricity to the electrochemical cells used to produce aluminium from the molten salts it is found in.

Busbar size is an important determination of the maximum current it can carry safely. They can be as small as 10mm2 in cross-sectional area, but electricity substations might use metallic tubes with a diameter of more than 50 mm.

Typically, bus bars are either hollow tubes or flat strips, which allow the efficient dissipation of heat due to their large cross-sectional area to surface area ratio. Flat or hollow shapes are more commonly used in applications that require high electrical current, because bus bars more than approximately 8 mm thick are less efficient. A solid bar is not as stiff as a hollow section of equivalent carrying capacity, allowing larger spaces between supports in switchyards outdoors.

Advantages of Busbar Reliable energy supply Safe transfer of high currents Low space requirements Low fire load (combustive energy) Drastic reduction of cabling Tap-off points near the loads Flexible for modification and expansion Connecting to building automation

Busbar vs. Cable