Busbars are a popular electrical distribution method in industrial and commercial buildings. They provide flexibility and ease of installation while reducing the cost of ownership.
A busbar system can also reduce the load on a building’s electrical panels. This is due to the resulting reduced number of wires required. This helps to avoid overloaded circuits which can lead to costly damage.
In addition, some busbar systems can be incorporated into electrical panels to monitor power usage for critical loads in order to help identify and solve energy issues before they cause problems. This can be done locally or remotely and provides a comprehensive overview of power consumption from a high level down to an individual outlet, which allows companies to plan for future needs.
How to Wire a 3-phase Busbar
The most basic way of wiring a three phase busbar is by using three insulated copper strip wires connected together as shown in the diagram below. The Neutral and Earth wires can be separated from the other phase lines if desired. This makes the system safer and more flexible for relocating.
Depending on your installation, you may need to make use of a three-phase power meter in order to ensure that the electric power being provided is balanced and safe. This will also allow you to know if you are exceeding the maximum power limit of the electric supply.
If your load is above 7.5 kW, it is recommended to install 3-phase electrical wiring. This will prevent the risk of overloading your system which can lead to fires, explosions and other hazards.
You can wire a 3 phase busbar with the following steps:
First, open the schematic page and select the menu option “Insert”. Next, the 3D mounting layout navigator is opened and a device (a device with the label “Phase busbar”) is placed in this space. A DT and a function definition are then automatically created.
You can then select a part for the phase busbar and click OK.
The model is then analyzed by the EMS simulation tool. Joule and Eddy losses are computed and transferred to the thermal module which in turn feeds this data to the structural and steady state thermal solution. The resulting temperature and deflections are then computed and visualized in the model.
A study of the mechanical and thermal behavior of a three-phase busbar system was carried out using the EMS simulation tool. This was done to evaluate the effect of the proximity and skin effect of busbars on the mechanical and thermal behavior of the system.
It was found that the optimum distance for each phase was between 2.5 and 3 meters. However, this depends on the type of material used and the design of the busbar.