BackHomeAlloysArchitecturalBarCu-NiSheet/PlateStripTape/Fin
FabricationGasketsRodCu SurChgNatGas SurchgDiesel SurchgSales Terms

Quick Bus Bar Size Selector

Bus Bar Dimensions (in inches) **

Required Ampacity, *

Amp   (Range)

30 C Rise

50 C Rise

65 C Rise

100        (100-149)

1/16 x 1/2

1/16 x 3/4

 

1/16 x 1/2

 

150        (150-199)

1/16 x 1

1/8 x 1/2

3/16 x 1/2

1/16 x 3/4

1/16 x 1/2

200        (200-249)

1/8 x 3/4

1/4 x 1/2

1/8 x 1/2

1/16 x 3/4

1/8 x 1/2

250        (250-299)

1/16 x 1-1/2

1/8 x 1

3/16 x 3/4

1/16 x 1

1/8 x 3/4

3/16 x 1/2

1/16 x 1

 

300        (300-349)

1/16 x 2

3/16 x 1

1/4 x 3/4

1/4 x 1/2

1/8 x 3/4

3/16 x 1/2

350        (350-399)

1/8 x 1-1/2

 

1/16 x 1-1/2

1/8 x 1

3/16 x 1

1/4 x 1

 

400      (400-449)

1/4 x 1

3/8 x 3/4

 

1/4 x 3/4

1/16 x 1-1/2

1/8 x 1

3/16 x 3/4

450        (450-499)

1/8 x 2

3/16 x 1-1/2

 

1/16 x 2

3/16 x 1

1/4 x 3/4

500        (500-599)

1/4 x 1-1/2

3/8 x 1

 

1/8 x 1-1/2

1/4 x 1

3/8 x 3/4

1/16 x 2

1/8 x 1-1/2

3/16 x 1

600        (600-699)

1/8 x 2-1/2

3/16 x 2

 

1/8 x 2

3/16 x 1-1/2

3/8 x 1

1/4 x 1

3/8 x 3/4

700        (700-799)

1/8 x 3

3/16 x 2-1/2

1/4 x 2

3/8 x 1-1/2

1/4 x 1-1/2

 

1/8 x 2

3/16 x 1-1/2

3/8 x 1

800        (800-899)

1/8 x 3-1/2

3/16 x 3

1/4 x 2-1/2

3/8 x 2

1/8 x 2-1/2

3/16 x 2

 

1/4 x 1-1/2

900        (900-999)

1/8 x 4

3/16 x 3-1/2

1/4 x 3

 

1/8 x 3

3/16 x 2-1/2

1/4 x 2

3/8 x 1-1/2

1/8 x 2-1/2

3/16 x 2

1/2 x 1

1000       (1000-1249)

3/16 x 4

1/4 x 3-1/2

3/8 x 2-1/2, 3/8 x 3

1/2 x 2, 1/2 x 2-1/2

1/8 x 4

3/16 x 3

1/4 x 2-1/2

3/8 x 2

1/8 x 3

3/16 x 2-1/2

1/4 x 2

3/8 x 1

1250       (1250-1499)

1/4 x 4

3/8 x 3-1/2

1/2 x 3

3/16 x 3-1/2, 3/16 x 4

1/4 x 3

3/8 x 2-1/2

1/2 x 2

1/8 x 4

3/16 x 3

1/4 x 2-1/2

3/8 x 2

1500       (1500-1749)

1/4 x 5

3/8 x 4

1/2 x 3-1/2, 1/2 x 4

1/4 x 3-1/2, 1/4 x 4

3/8 x 3

1/2 x 2-1/2

3/16 x 3-1/2, 3/16 x 4

1/4 x 3

3/8 x 2-1/2

1/2 x 2

1750       (1750-1999)

1/4 x 6

3/8 x 5

 

3/8 x 3-1/2

1/2 x 3

1/4 x 3-1/2, 1/4 x 4

3/8 x 2-1/2

1/2 x 2-1/2

2000       (2000-2499)

1/4 x 8

3/8 x 6

1/2 x 5, 1/2 x 6

3/4 x 4, 3/4 x 5

1/4 x 6

3/8 x 5

1/2 x 4

1/4 x 5

3/8 x 5

1/2 x 3-1/2

2500       (2500-2999)

1/4 x 10

3/8 x 8

 

3/8 x 6

1/2 x 5

3/4 x 4

1/4 x 6

3/8 x 5

1/2 x 4

3000      (3000-3499)

1/4 x 12

3/8 x 10

1/2 x 8

1/4 x 8

1/2 x 6

3/4 x 5

1/4 x 8

3/8 x 6

1/2 x 5

3/4 x 4

3500       (3500-3999)

3/8 x 12

1/2 x 10

3/4 x 8

1/4 x 10

3/8 x 8

3/4 x 6

1/2 x 6

3/4 x 5

4000       (4000-4499)

1/2 x 12

3/4 x 10

1/4 x 12

3/8 x 10

1/2 x 8

1/4 x 10

3/8 x 8

3/4 x 6

4500       (4500-4999)

3/4 x 12

1/2 x 10

3/4 x 8

1/4 x 12

3/8 x 10

1/2 x 8

5000      (5000-5999)
 

3/8 x 12

1/2 x 12

3/4 x 10

3/8 x12

1/2 x 10

3/4 x 8

  * For 60 Hz current

 

** This table is to be employed as a guide to bus bar cross sections which will probably be large enough for ampacities within

   each range. Confirmation of the figures provided by this table may be obtained from the Copper Development Association

   Ampacity Data Table 1, "Ampacities of Copper No. 110 Bus Bar," available from Hussey Copper.

 

Rating of Electrical Conductors

 

Temperature Rise. This usually is the limiting parameter on rating conductors. It relates to the current passed through the conductor and the resistance of the conductor. Resistance for a given material is inversely proportional to the cross sectional area: for the same amount of current, as the cross section is decreased, effective resistance increases, with resultant increases in energy loss and higher conductor running temperature.

 

Allowable temperature rise depends on type of conductor, i.e., cable verses bar, and type of insulation and cooling system. For example, a bus bar in an enclosed duct with forced air cooling has maximum ampere temperature.

 

Skin Effect. Essentially crowding of current toward the outside of alternating current conductors. Skin effect causes current-carrying of A.C. conductors to decrease as the square root of the Skin Effect ratio increases. This is important only in large cross section conductors for high current applications. For shapes of 1/4" x 4" or smaller, this factor can be ignored.