A busbar (or bus bar) is an electricity element that makes complex power distributions simpler, more affordable and flexible. Busbar is a metallic strip or bar, typically housed inside switchgear, panel boards, and busway enclosures for local high current power distribution. The bus bar system consists with an isolator and the circuit breaker. Busbars allow new circuits to branch off anywhere along the route of the busway rather than branching the main supply at one location.
What is the Purpose of a Busbar?
A busbar is an electrical junction used for collecting electric power from the incoming feeders and distributes them to the outgoing feeders. The main purpose of a busbar is to carry electricity and distribute it. Busbars are used to make the systems more efficient. They can be an excellent solution for complicated electrical systems.
Busbar systems has been using almost for a 100 years, but, modern systems require a more efficient way to distribute energy made busbars more important. Busbars allow to improve efficiency in a variety of electrical systems and they come in different shapes and materials. There are copper and aluminum busbars, also they can be insulated or uninsulated according to system’s requirements.
Where are Busbars Used?
Busbars have a variety of usage areas. They are often preferred in places where flexible power distribution is essential. A busbar is used to connect high voltage equipment at electrical switchyards, and low voltage equipment in battery banks but also prominent in the automotive and defense sectors. Busbars are commonly used in factories, data centers, retail facilities, laboratories, technology settings.
There are different usage areas according the type of busbar. Laminated busbars are widely used in cellular communication systems, telephone exchange systems, power and hybrid traction, base stations, power switch systems, large network equipment, military equipment systems, power generation systems, power conversion modules of electric equipment etc. Flexible busbars are usually used in electric, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, electrical connections in switching cabinets, power link for generators and transformers and charging stations.
Cables vs. Busbars
A busbar is basically carries the electricity between units, just like cables. But busbars are designed to make the electrical connection, easier, less expansive and safer. With their better resistant and better heat absorption features, busbars can be used for complicated electrical systems that carry high voltage energy. They allow to reduce energy lost, with that, and being have less cost in installation, busbar systems are good for money saving. Also a busbar has a flexible construction that makes them easier to modify compared to cables. What make busbars safer than cables is that they are fitted with a steel casing and cannot be damaged by rodents. Busbars doesn’t take a lot of space compared to voltage they carry. In buildings they can be applied without making holes on the walls, that way it saves time and money compared to complicated cable installation process. Busbar systems are used in high-tech products and their usage areas increase by the day, with that, busbar systems hold the future of electrical systems future.