What is a busway and where is it used in building electrical systems?

What is a busway and where is it used in building electrical systems?

In electric power distribution, a bus duct (also called busway) is a sheet metal duct or also cast resin insulated containing either copper or aluminium busbars for the purpose of conducting a substantial current of electricity. It is an alternative means of conducting electricity to power cables or cable bus.

What is the difference between bus duct and busbar?

A busbar is a current current carrying conductor, commonly rectangular in shape, which can be tapped at various places along its length to supply power to a load. A bus duct is a safety cover for bus bars so that they are protected from damage and also from contact with people.

Which is better busbar or wire?

Better Resistance: Busbars have rigid design elements and hence has better resistance than cables, especially in case of short circuits. Due to lower levels of density, voltage loss is much lower than cables for the same length. Reduced Loss of Energy: Busbars have lower resistance than cables.

What is a busway system?

Busway as defined by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is a prefabricated electrical distribution system consisting of bus bars in a protective enclosure, including straight lengths, fittings, devices and accessories.

How does a busway work?

A guided busway is usually a dedicated, buses-only route with buses running on a purpose-built track. The bus is guided along the route so that steering is automatically controlled and, like a tram, the vehicle follows a set path. The bus driver controls the speed of the vehicle.

What is a busway plug?

Busway and bus plugs are prefabricated, movable electrical distribution equipment typically used in commercial and industrial facilities where load locations are likely to change. They use fuses or circuit breakers to protect the electrical circuit from overload.

Where is the plug on a bus?

They are installed in a large industrial plant where cables cannot be wired all over the floor space. The bus plugs are connected to a bus way or bus bar that provides electric power to where it is needed. Bus plugs are considered more effective than electrical cables for their many uses and advantages.

What is the standard length of a busway?

This is referred to as finger safe. Feeder Busway Lengths In addition to the 4′ (1219 mm), 6′ (1829 mm), 8′ (2438 mm), and standard 10′ (3048 mm) lengths, Sentron feeder busway sections are available in 0.125” (3.2 mm) increments from 1′ 4.5” (419 mm) to 10′ (3048 mm).

What are the advantages of busway over cable and conduit?

Beyond the benefits already mentioned, the use of busway in lieu of cable and conduit offers several other advantages. They include: ■ Ease of installation. Installing cable and conduit is complex, labor-intensive work that only highly specialized electricians can perform.

What is busway technology?

Busway offers a compact technology relative to cable and conduit that leaves more room within the existing space for other, potentially revenue-generating uses. For example, a typical 2,000-amp service installed using cable and conduit requires up to 99 square inches of space versus less than 38 square inches using a busway solution.

What are the advantages of a conduit installer?

Installers can add up to 10 feet of busway at a time as compared to routing multiple runs of conduit, and having to go back and pull cable through the pipes. ■ Reduced implementation cost. Paying specialized electricians for the hours of effort required to bend and route conduit is a costly proposition.

Is busway the best way to distribute power?

Is Busway The Best Way? Busway, which is a grounded metal enclosure containing factory-mounted bare or insulated conductors, can be an effective means of distributing power. Need to add load to or extend power from an existing distribution system?