A busbar efficiently carries high voltage power for an electronic system without extended space requirements. Busbars are flat strips or hollow tubes, usually made of copper or aluminum.

Busbars are extensively useful for the manufacturing of power distribution equipment, circuit boards, generators, elevators, ships, switchgears, voltage controls and telecommunication equipment.

Some important parameters you must consider before you select a busbar are:

1. Amount of power passing through the system
2. Surface area to cross-sectional area ratio to facilitate heat dissipation
3. The qualities of various type of busbars available
4. The shape, size, weight and quantity of the busbars
5. Operating conditions: indoor or outdoor

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy busbars from reliable busbar manufacturers

Once you understand your requirements, you can go to a specific manufacturer to buy busbars.

I recommend: EMS Industrial and Service, a well-known copper and aluminum busbar manufacturer, also offers high precision busbar fabrication services. Partech Corporation, a reputable manufacturer with fine blanking and stamping facilities, can provide various electronic components with fine finish. Hussey Copper, another reputable cooper alloys manufacturer, can provide a copper busbar in various dimensions with various ampere capacities. ERICO International offers cooper busbars and connectors in different shapes and finishing.

Buy a busbar from a reputable busbar distributor or retailer

You can compare busbars prices and features at the websites of the reputable companies involved in busbar distribution.

I recommend: Steven Engineering, a reputable electronic components distributor, offers busing systems from various leading brands, such as AMP, Honeywell Sensing & Control, Micro Switch, Modicon, Omron, Phoenix Contact, Schneider Electric, Square D and Tyco Electronics. Cambridge-Lee Industries is a reputable metal distributor that also offers aluminum busbars.

Buy customized busbars from custom manufacturer

If standard busbars available in the market do not meet your requirements, then you can approach custom busbar suppliers who can design and manufacture busbars specific to your needs.

I recommend: Atlee of Delaware, a reputable manufacturer of power distribution busing, also offers custom busbar insulator coatings and lamination. Watteredge, a global manufacturer of electronics and custom-engineered products, offers customized copper busbar and busbar connector. Rogers, another reputable global components manufacturer, offers custom designed busbars for telecommunication racks and cabinets. Cleveland Steel Specialty, a leading metal fabricator, can produce custom steel busbars with fine finishing.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For extra-high voltage applications, use busbar connection fittings to avoid RFI (radio-frequency interference) and electrical power loss.
• •  Busbar calculations is a complicated task, therefore, consult an expert for the busbar calculation of your busbar system.
• •  Check busbar rating for conductivity at variable temperatures from your busbar supplier.
• •  Use standard accessories such as fusible switches and circuit breakers for your busbar system.