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Bus bars are
copper or aluminium conductors in switch panels, distribution trunks,
substations, battery banks, data centers and other electrical power
distribution apparatus.
Busbar Insulation:
Low &
medium voltage busbars are often insulated in order to…
- Prevent electrical arcing
- Reduce spacing between bus bar
- Provide safe operation
There are two main types of bus bar insulation being used today:
- Plastic shrink tubes and tapes (Mylar (PET), Kapton, Nomex
- High-dielectric-strength Epoxy Coating Powder
Epoxy Powder Coating is Replacing Mylar:
Plastic
Sheathing is a traditional method and it’s pretty easy to do but it has
shortcomings. A more efficient and cost effective method is to use an insulating
epoxy coating powder.
- It costs less than plastic per linear foot/meter
- Epoxy has higher operating temperature
- Epoxy can be used on Odd Shaped Parts and it seamlessly insulates holes in bus bars
Epoxy
coating powder offers very high dielectric strength and it will bond directly
to the bus bar copper, aluminum or silver plating. This typically means that
epoxy coating may be thinner than plastic sheathing and as a result, epoxy
powder coated bus bars can be design-optimized:
- Bars can be placed closer together – often touching in nested sets
- Heat is conducted away better through thin epoxy
- Fusion-bonded epoxy prevents moisture penetration, thus preventing
dendrites and “silver whiskers”
Property Comparison Table Mylar Sleeves vs Epoxy Coating Powder
Property | Epoxy | Shrinktube Plastic |
Operating Temperature |
180°C + (>350°F) |
100°C (200°F) |
UL Class B (130°C) |
Yes |
No |
Solvent Resistance |
Excellent |
Good |
Dielectric Strength, V/mil |
~ 1,000 |
~ 600 |
Corona/Electrical Properties |
Excellent |
Low |
For Low Voltages (600V) |
Yes |
Yes |
High Voltages (up to 38 kV) |
Yes |
No |
Outdoor Use |
Yes |
Yes |
Weatherability |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Cost per Meter (per linear foot) |
~ $10/m (~$3/ft) |
~ $30/m (~$9/ft) |
Chemical Resistance |
Excellent |
Good |
Try a sample!
SolEpoxy
coating powders are industry standard materials used by some of the world's
largest power distribution companies. Contact us to ask for your sample today.