overlap busbar fingers ?

[Poond928]

I have 2 busbars, a 7 finger and a 5 finger.

I have a series of 7 MCBs and want to add another 2.

Can I simply overlap the finger in the last MCB to extend the series of mcbs on the rail or do I HAVE to get a new 9 or longer busbar?

 

[kevindgas]

you can over lap just bend a little kink in the bar so as it fits parallel to the other one and clamp up as normal. it is better to connect the 2 over a couple of Mcb's rather than just the one as the screws can come loose

 

[Poond928]

Great, I had fingured I'd need to kink it to get it parallel for a good connection.

Hadn't thought if overlaping through 2 ways but that sound more secure.

Thanks

 

[kevindgas]

your welcome

 

[securespark]

Even better, buy a replacement busbar with the number of ways you require.

 

[bernardgreen]

Overlapping bus bars should be rivetted or bolted together.

Overlapping them in the clamp of an MCB or similar may not apply enough pressure to ensure a permanent good contact between the busbars.

The clamp in the MCB is designed to exert the force from the screw into a small area of the bus bar and clamp giving that area sufficient pressure to ensure (?) a permanent low resistance connection at max 45 amps. If the same force from the screw also is spread over a larger area of overlapped busbars the pressure ( force divided by area ) between the bus bars is lower while the current from bus bar to bus bar may be higher.

 

[AndyPRK]

can you purchase wylex bus bars on their own ?

 

[Click-Sure]

Yes, you can, just ask at any decent wholesaler.