Aluminum Bus Bar Vs Copper

Get more information on copper bus bar vs aluminum including qualitative differences strength ampacity resistance cost etc and common misconceptions.

Aluminum bus bar vs copper.

Protect connections against corrosion. The majority of al to cu connections are made by applying silver or tin plating to the joint areas of either or both of the conductors. But performance cost is high in aluminium bus. Also aluminium has the less current carrying capacity as compared with copper.

Aluminium is more cheaper than copper and in case of bus bar there is no compulsion of space so we can also use more flatter or comparatively bigger bus bar rather than using a copper smaller and less flattered bus bar. Pure aluminum conductivity is approximately 65 0 of iacs international annealed copper standard. However these charts can only tell you so much. Aluminium busbar current carrying capacity 0 8 busbar width thickness in amps.

Aluminum bus bar conductivity is dependent on the alloy and temper. Al vs cu busbars. If you re not sure whether you need copper bus bar or aluminum bus bar just contact us online and we ll get in touch with you shortly to discuss your application requirements. Understanding bus bar ampacity charts.

Following years of copper being the material of choice for high power busbar trunking in the uk yet aluminium reigning supreme in the rest of the world schneider electric takes a look at the case for aluminium over copper busbar trunking at a time when cost of materials is having a significant impact on specification choices. Also known as bus bars they serve as connection points between wires with ring or spade terminals. This article presents a brief overview of ampacity charts for both copper and aluminum bus bar and shows how to interpret the data within. The aluminium bus bar is cheaper than copper busbar but the resistivity of the aluminium busbar is high as compared with copper busbar.

In fact when comparing the two materials aluminum bus bar is twice as conductive as copper. In general bolted connection of unplated aluminum to copper bus bars is discouraged. The underside is sealed so the bars can be safely mounted to conductive surfaces. There are a number of considerations that need to be recognized beyond the figures given in the chart.

These bars are tin plated copper and have stainless steel terminals. Covers protect the top of the bar and prevent accidental contact with live circuits.