For sizing the busbar the ampacity of system need to be determined, then by using the busbar manufactures’ table can size the busbar.
For example the below table is from the Storm copper components Company for sizing the busbars for different allowed temperature rises.
|
Required Ampacity*
|
Busbar Dimension, Inches**
|
|
|
30 °C Rise
|
50 °C Rise
|
65 °C Rise
|
|
100-149
|
1/16 x 1/2
1/16 x 3/4
|
1/16 x 1/2
|
|
|
150-199
|
1/16 x 1
1/8 x 1/2
3/16 x 1/2
|
1/16 x 3/4
|
1/16 x 1/2
|
|
200-249
|
1/8 x 3/4
1/4 x 1/2
|
1/8 x 1/2
|
1/16 x 3/4
1/8 x 1/2
|
|
250-299
|
1/16 x 1 1/2
1/8 x 1
3/16 x 3/4
|
1/16 x 1
1/8 x 3/4
3/16 x 1/2
|
1/16 x 1
|
|
300-349
|
1/16 x 2
3/16 x 1
1/4 x 3/4
|
1/4 x 1/2
|
1/8 x 3/4
3/16 x 1/2
|
|
350-399
|
1/8 x 1 1/2
|
1/8 x 1
3/16 x 3/4
|
1/4 x 1/2
|
|
400-449
|
1/4 x 1
3/8 x 3/4
|
1/4 x 3/4
|
1/16 x 1 1/2
1/8 x 1
3/16 x 3/4
|
|
450-499
|
1/8 x 2
3/16 x 1 1/2
|
1/16 x 2
3/16 x 1
|
1/4 x 3/4
|
|
500-599
|
1/4 x 1 1/2
3/8 x 1
|
1/8 x 1 1/2
1/4 x 1
3/8 x 3/4
|
1/16 x 2
1/8 x 1 1/2
3/16 x 1
|
|
600-699
|
1/8 x 2 1/2
3/16 x 2
1/2 x 1
|
1/8 x 2
3/16 x 1 1/2
3/8 x 1
|
1/4 x 1
3/8 x 3/4
|
|
700-799
|
1/8 x 3
3/16 x 2 1/2
1/4 x 2
3/8 1 1/2
|
1/4 x 1 1/2
|
1/8 x 2
3/16 x 1 1/2
3/8 x 1
|
|
800-899
|
1/8 x 3 1/2
3/16 x 3
1/4 x 2 1/2
3/8 x 2
|
1/8 x 2 1/2
3/16 x 2
1/2 x 1
|
1/4 x 1 1/2
|
|
900-999
|
3/16 x 3 1/2
1/4 x 3
|
3/16 x 2 1/2
1/4 x 2
3/8 x 1 1/2
|
3/16 x 2
1/2 x1
|
|
1000-1249
|
3/16 x 4
1/4 x 3 1/2
3/8 x 2 1/2
3/8 x 3
1/2 x 2
1/2 x 2 1/2
|
1/8 x 4
3/16 x 3
1/4 x 2 1/2
3/8 x 2
|
1/8 x 3
3/16 x 2 1/2
1/4 x 2
3/8 x 1 1/2
|
|
1250-1499
|
1/4 x 4
3/8 x 3 1/2
1/2 x 3
|
3/16 x 3 1/2
3/16 x 4
1/4 x 3
3/8 x 2 1/2
1/2 x 2
|
1/8 x 4
3/16 x 3
1/4 2 1/2
3/8 x 2
|
|
1500-1749
|
1/4 x 5
3/8 x 4
1/2 x 3 1/2
1/2 x 4
|
1/4 x 3 1/2
1/4 x 4
3/8 x 3
1/2 x 2 1/2
|
3/16 x 3 1/2
3/16 x 4
1/4 x 3
3/8 x 2 1/2
1/2 x 2
|
|
1750-1999
|
1/4 x 6
3/8 x 5
|
3/8 x 3 1/2
1/2 x 3
|
1/4 x 3 1/2
1/4 x 4
3/8 x 3
1/2 x 2 1/2
|
|
2000-2499
|
1/4 x 8
3/8 x 6
1/2 x 5
1/2 x 6
|
1/4 x 6
3/8 x 5
1/2 x 4
|
1/4 x 5
3/8 x 4
1/2 x 3 1/2
|
|
2500-2999
|
1/4 x 10
3/8 x 8
|
3/8 x 6
1/2 x 5
|
1/4 x 6
3/8 x 5
1/2 x 4
|
* For 60 Hz current.
