Bus bar current Calculator:
Enter the breadth and thickness of the busbar; do not enter the length of the busbar. Then press the calculate button, you get the aluminium or copper busbar current carrying capacity in amps. You can choose the type of busbar, either aluminium or copper or galvanized bars or iron busbar or silver in the results.
More details about Bus bar: What is Busbar Current Carrying Capacity Calculation 5 Types of Busbar
Busbar current Calculator working:
As the stated thumb rule that the aluminium carries 0.8 times of the area, copper will be 1.2 times, silver will be 1.6 times, iron and GI will be 0.6 times.
Hence the formula for calculating current carrying capacity,
Copper:
Copper busbar current carrying capacity = 1.2 * Busbar width in mm * Thickness in mm Amps
Aluminium:
Aluminium busbar current carrying capacity = 0.8 * Busbar width in mm * Thickness in mm Amps
Iron Busbar
Iron busbar current Carrying capacity = 0.6 * Busbar width in mm * Thickness in mm Amps
GI Bus bar
Galvanized busbar current Carrying capacity = 0.6 * Busbar width in mm * Thickness in mm Amps
Silver Bus Bar
Silver busbar current Carrying capacity = 1.6 * Busbar width in mm * Thickness in mm Amps
Example:
Calculate the 150 x 25 mm busbar current carrying capacity in all the above materials,
- Copper bar carries 4500Amps (1.2 x 150 x 25) current
- Aluminium Carries 3000 Amps (0.8 x 150 x 25) Current
- GI Bus Bar Carries 2250 Amps (0.6*150*25) Current
- Iron Bus bar carries 2250 Amps
- Silver bus bar carries 6000 Amps (1.6*150*25) Current.
Hi
Very useful information, but confusing one thing… It says that to calculate amps need to know only width and thickness (in my case copper strips). So, how about if I’m using trips 10 mm wide, 40 mm long and 2 mm tick? Length here absolutely doesn’t make any difference when comes to calculations?
Thanks
Hi sergio,
here length or long does not affect the current carrying capacity of the busbar.
Good
I am building a LiFePO4 battery with 280aH cell (8s configuration – 24V) and they sent me tinned clad busbar (copper inside) of 2mm thick and 20mm wide by 90 mm length ( I know length does not matter). I don’t think the busbars are sufficient to carry that current but these are the standard busbars they send to everyone?? Are these busbars going to be okay for connecting the cells together??
Thanks! Ray
Hi
Are these results based on peak current capability or sustained current capability?
Also do you have an example of how long peak would be measured using your calculations? (30s, 1m, 3m?)