Just bought 12ft 1/4 x3 copper bus bar ! Am I set for Bus bar for life ?

[Aabshir]

After long research of high amperage bus bar I decided to go to my local metal shop and pick 12ft 1/4 x3 copper bus bar and yes I asked cut it for about 2ft bars.

this thing weights almost 40lbs. I have
batteries coming by the end of the month.

what did I learn here ? Yes this is expensive but it costs me like $29 a foot of solid 990Ah ratted copper where they are selling online $100s for a 10inches of thin bus bars.

why are these companies so greedy when this thing is mot even that expensive ? Anyways enjoy the pictures.
Time to drill holes and stuff

Ps: if you’re in Minnesota and need bus bars get back to me. I might be able to help

 

[time2roll]

Seems a bit wide but if that works you should have no issues.

 

[Aabshir]

Seems a bit wide but if that works you should have no issues.

Very true. I just couldn’t stop my self.. haha I did the calculation this can do around 1000a ?.

I also was inspired by this picture.

 

[tim0shel]

I've done the same and got some from local metal company. I only got a few feet as I did not need that much and got 1.5"" wide.

 

[Aabshir]

I've done the same and got some from local metal company. I only got a few feet as I did not need that much and got 1.5"" wide.

Yea 3” is way too wide now it’s starting to sink in. I am going to find a way to cut it in half. 1.5”

 

[Pyrofx]

Call around to metal supplier. Ask for a shear. Tell them size.
Pretty simple job

 

[DerpsyDoodler]

Very true. I just couldn’t stop my self.. haha I did the calculation this can do around 1000a ?.

I also was inspired by this picture.

IIRC mine are only 1 1/2" wide. Only 1/8" thick, too. I do have a 1/4" by 3/4" piece connecting the bus bar to the inverter fuse. Can barely see it in this pic. +bar is on the bottom. The rest of that bar got used for my grounding bar.

 

[DerpsyDoodler]

I'd be willing to bet if you cut your excess up into reasonably sized bars, you could unload them in the for sale area.

 

[Aabshir]

IIRC mine are only 1 1/2" wide. Only 1/8" thick, too. I do have a 1/4" by 3/4" piece connecting the bus bar to the inverter fuse. Can barely see it in this pic. +bar is on the bottom. The rest of that bar got used for my grounding bar.

View attachment 58604

That looks like power station. Nice tho almost zero resistance and V drop in those connections I bet

 

[Aabshir]

Call around to metal supplier. Ask for a shear. Tell them size.
Pretty simple job

My next step. Thank you

 

[DerpsyDoodler]

That looks like power station. Nice tho almost zero resistance and V drop in those connections I bet

The wiring and bars do stay cool. battery terminals stay cool, too. i feel good about the wiring job. there's still cleanup to do, though.

 

[tim0shel]

Yea 3” is way too wide now it’s starting to sink in. I am going to find a way to cut it in half. 1.5”

That ends up giving you double the buss bars too if you do this. But it is too wide I would think. 1.5" is sufficient enough.

 

[DerpsyDoodler]

That ends up giving you double the buss bars too if you do this. But it is too wide I would think. 1.5" is sufficient enough.

I mean...if he's got the space...no such thing as too much copper, right? But that said, it seems like overkill and a waste of copper.

 

[tim0shel]

I mean...if he's got the space...no such thing as too much copper, right? But that said, it seems like overkill and a waste of copper.

Yes true but if cut in half then he can have more for future projects etc. but still be efficient enough.

 

[DerpsyDoodler]

Yes true but if cut in half then he can have more for future projects etc. but still be efficient enough.

absolutely. or even sell some to recoup some of his costs. Maybe not even pre-cut them. Cut them to order.

 

[TomC4306]

Just cross cut 1 ½ inches wide for cell bars. Then trim the 3 ".

 

[The New JC777]

@Aabshir Sent you a PM. I could use a 1' bar. If you don't want to cut it I'll take a 2' bar.

 

[Aabshir]

@Aabshir Sent you a PM. I could use a 1' bar. If you don't want to cut it I'll take a 2' bar.

i have responded to your PM.. its funny old days we used to say PM now they are calling it DM ?. glad to see someone that says it the right way.

 

[Aabshir]

absolutely. or even sell some to recoup some of his costs. Maybe not even pre-cut them. Cut them to order.

very good idea. coming right up.

 

[Jgb3]

Copper Ampacity - Eldre is now Mersen | Bus Bars

Conductor Size Calculating conductor size is very important to the electrical and mechanical properties of a bus bar. Electrical current-carrying requirements determine the minimum cross-sectional area of the conductors. Mechanical considerations include rigidity, mounting holes, connections and...

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