RELATIVE CURRENT-CARRYING CAPACITY ) — _ When multiple bars vee in a bus bar system, the total capacity of capacity_of es the numb this direct ratio figure capacity and radiated heat. ‘The following tables show the relative ratings of copper bus bars in various arrangements for both a-c Lk | tl rconducted_ and d-c, The a-c values are relative only to the single bar a-c values and the d-c values are relative only to the single bar d-c values. They cannot be related to eacis other without using the skin effect ratio discussed below. All bars are horizontal and on edge. The narrow spacing equals the bar thickness. The wide spacing is 234” art ra ll ul 1 yal yl UT (MN 56 ‘The following table is an addition to the above chart AC [10 1s8_[ a2 [2.00 are | 190 | 320 | 377 | 4.35 Denn 18 | 25 282 [3.2 Ly | 346 | 479 [5.96 Table 6. equal to the bar thickness. All bars are horizontal and and for d-e only. The spacing between laminations is on edge. [Rena No. of Laminations 1 | 2 3 Ts 7 6 I 10 Relative Capacity 10 [| 18 25 32 | 39 | 44 1 6.5 ~ Table 7. ‘The above tables as with all current ratings should bbe used as a guide only. The actual ratings will depend upon service conditions. ‘The current-carrying capacity of a single horizontal bar in the horizontal position (“flat"” with the largest dimension horizontal is about 90% of the rating of the same bar in the vertical position (“on edge"). For multiple groupings, reduce the “‘on edge” capacities SKIN EFFECT ‘The resistance of a conductor is a property of the conductor itself. However a conductor carrying high frequency alternating current has a higher apparent resistance than the conductor resistance. This is due to a back e.m.f. generated in the center of the conductor which tends to crowd the current to the outer surface or skin of the conductor. ‘This effect is known as the skin effect. The resulting approximately 20% for 4”" wide and 30% for 6” wide bbus bars in the “flat” position. For totally enclosed bus bars, the capacity is reduced approximaialy 40% over the open bus capacities. As louvers and vents are added, this 40% figure will de- crease until somo enclosure auch as an expanded mesh is reached, when the capacity approaches 100% of an unenclosed system. non-uniform current density has the effect of increasing the apparent resistance of the a-c conductor as meas- ured by the usual d-e methods and gives rise to increas- ing losses. ‘The skin effect is proportional to the frequency of the current, magnitude of the current and the size of the conductor. The “Skin Effect Ratio” is the ratio of the a-c resistance to the dec resistance. Bas «shin Btect Revi (*) Rue ire = Sem Bea Rats ; ()