Ohms_Cousin
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2020
- Messages
- 122
Been reading as many Bussbar threads here as possible.
I have read about Copper and Aluminum buss bars and the pros and cons of Al vs Cu.
Thing is, even if one were to use Cu buss bar, it still should be plated with Tin, or interestingly, silver (Ag). There are good reasons for plating, and given I am going to be making Bussbars for a marine environment I will be plating with Tin at a minimum. But Silver is interesting because it is the best electrical conductor.
So I got thinking about Al vs Cu Bussbars for my application. I would prefer to use Al because it is 1/3 the weight of Cu (boat application so weight is a thing) and because it is significantly cheaper as well. Whichever metal I choose for a Bussbar will need to be plated - Ie, use copper Bussbar and plate with Tin or use Aluminum Bussbar and plate with Tin.
Given that the metal used for a Bussbar (Copper or Aluminum) will be plated with Tin (or silver) does it matter what metal is used as the base metal of the Bussbar? How much of a difference is there between a Copper Bussbar plated with Tin Vs an Aluminum Bussbar plated with Tin?
And that brings up interesting thought - probably not economical but its interesting none the less. Could Aluminum Bussbar plated in Silver be as effective as a Copper Bussbar?
What i mean is, if one were to use a piece of Aluminum flat bar of the same dimensions as Copper Flat Bar BUT the Aluminum flat bar is plated in Silver - would it match the ampacity of the Copper Flat Bar?
I have read about Copper and Aluminum buss bars and the pros and cons of Al vs Cu.
Thing is, even if one were to use Cu buss bar, it still should be plated with Tin, or interestingly, silver (Ag). There are good reasons for plating, and given I am going to be making Bussbars for a marine environment I will be plating with Tin at a minimum. But Silver is interesting because it is the best electrical conductor.
So I got thinking about Al vs Cu Bussbars for my application. I would prefer to use Al because it is 1/3 the weight of Cu (boat application so weight is a thing) and because it is significantly cheaper as well. Whichever metal I choose for a Bussbar will need to be plated - Ie, use copper Bussbar and plate with Tin or use Aluminum Bussbar and plate with Tin.
Given that the metal used for a Bussbar (Copper or Aluminum) will be plated with Tin (or silver) does it matter what metal is used as the base metal of the Bussbar? How much of a difference is there between a Copper Bussbar plated with Tin Vs an Aluminum Bussbar plated with Tin?
And that brings up interesting thought - probably not economical but its interesting none the less. Could Aluminum Bussbar plated in Silver be as effective as a Copper Bussbar?
What i mean is, if one were to use a piece of Aluminum flat bar of the same dimensions as Copper Flat Bar BUT the Aluminum flat bar is plated in Silver - would it match the ampacity of the Copper Flat Bar?
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