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
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ul
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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.
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