My name is Helmut Schmidt, and I am facility manager for our mechanical components manufacturing sites in Germany.
I really appreciated the previous post panelbuilders are all cheaters raising right questions on prefabricated solutions versus traditional solutions with lot of cabling. I used a similar slogan in my title as I would like to question in the same way the electrical contractors who, I don’t understand really why, do not seem to always propose the best solution …
Let me explain: recently in my company, we started a new project for a 3rd manufacturing site (5500m²), including on one side production of machine tools and on the other side office area.
In the past, when we built our first 2 manufacturing sites projects, the contractors used cables on cable trays for lighting and power distribution. Now, for this 3rd project, we received quotations from the usual electrical contractors, with lighting and power distribution done the same way, with cables on cable trays. But also, as suggested by a design office, another quotation based on busway solution, quoted by another electrical contactor recommended by this Design Office.
Regarding the electrical distribution (power and lighting), I had heard about busway solution, but I thought it was really much more expensive. But after talking to this Design Office, I realized that I was not fully aware of this technology and its advantages, as I tried to summarize in this small comparison table:
|
|
Cable |
Busway |
| Dimensions |
+- |
++ |
| Flexibility |
— |
++ |
| Continuity of service |
— |
++ |
| Material availability |
++ |
— |
| Price |
== |
== |
I was very surprised, in particular because the busway solution quoted was not at all more expensive! Furthermore, after digging a little, I realized that this solution is far more advantageous for the future management of our factory:
-
Busway installation
Continuity of service. the biggest advantage making all the difference and allowing the evolution of my installation: it is possible to connect or disconnect one machine when others are running
Helmut,
I’m pro busbar buth not always.
At first you need to check the quality of the busbar because it still must be working in 2032, 2042….
If there is a fault on a busbar (water leak) than the hole installation is out of order.
Also check the dimensioning because to smal is a lot of wasted energy (buth thats the same with cables)
If you want to at something than it’s easyer, quicker and the rest can still run. (hot connection)
According to my experience is a busbar at start more expensive buth flexibel (and cheaper) for the future
@Harry,
When are you pro busbar or when are you not ?
This is today my concern!
Helmut
I presume you mean Busbar, not busway.
I am a free lance electrical designer, the use of busbar is nothing new. its been used in such applications for at least 25 years and a lot longer in some forms (40 years +).
I would suggest that if you are getting options for cable and busbar then you are not taking on board a building services design consultant to carry out a full design. By a full design I mean full and not design and build. To be frank you get what you pay for, do something on the cheap and cheap is what you will get.
There may be instances where cable is cheaper than busbar and others where busbar is cheaper. The type, manufacturer and rating will also have a bearing on it. value engineering exercises will probably further cheapen the job and not necessarily give you better value for money.
Don’t blame the contractor they are just earning a living like every one else. Get the job designed and specified right in the first place. In other words take on board a reputable consultant (most are) and whilst it will cost you a little more now it will pay dividends in the future.
@G Fields,
1/ I hear sometimes “busway” and sometimes “busbar trunking”. Usually I reserve “busbar” to busbar in switchboards … how do you make the difference?
2/ You say busbar is used for at least 25 years but when I visit other buildings I don’t see busbar. Why is not used more often in your opinion?
Helmut
Helmut
How and when you use it would depend on what you wished to achieve. It is suitable for many, many applications from systems requiring 1000’s of Amps to small power and lighting.
Ideally long straight runs are best suited to it, though not essential. You can have a large header busbar trunking (say 1000A) feeding smaller trunking (say 250A-400A), which in turn could feed still smaller trunking (say 16A)-100A).
Some busbar trunking has additional conductors that can be used to control interfaces.
There is no simple answer to this as how and what you use comes down to familiarity with the product and experience particularly on similar applications.
If you are looking for a flexible installation that changes regularly with the addition of new equipment or relocating of existing it can pay dividends both in speed and cost.
The installation itself can be much, much quicker than installing cables.
Almost anything can be done, sometimes it requires some modification to manufactures standard equipment to achieve exactly what you want, however speaking from experience i can tell you that some of Telemacinuque’s now standard equipment came from modifications requested by a colleague over 20 years ago.
Some busbar trunking is better than others, some is even IP Rate, the busbars being cast in resin.
My advice would be to take on the services of a reputable building services consultant, one of the bigger names, I currently work for WYG (Formally White Young Green), others such as Hoare Lea, BDP will be able to provide a similar level of service.
The best service will come from some one whom has actually designed schemes that use it, re inventing a wheel usually results in problems.
If you require any pointers i will gladly advise you. my mobile number is 07775783663 if you should require to speak to some one.
My colleague at WYG Manchester who is truly proficient with busbar systems is Mike Green, he is currently the technical director and can be contacted on 0161 872 3223.
Hello,I presume that Busway means use of bare conductors run on insulators.The major cons, are they have to be enclosed in a metal box with required IP protection,there will be joints at direction change overs(Joints are week points),is time consuming(first busway supports have to be fitted all along the route and then busways are run on these supports),extensions have to be planned and necessary provisions have to be made to tap(requires junction boxes to fit into the Busways) and lastly additional cost for materials and installation
@B.R.
In my case IP will be IP54 but it is indoor installation.
About supports I suppose you need also for cable to fix trays. For sure we will have provisions of junction boxes for extension, have you used busways for your own installation? do you recommend it?
Helmut
Some busbar trunking is better than others, some is even IP Amount, the busbars being throw in material.
@Servo Voltage
What you mean by better, for installation or usage? what are your advices?
Helmut
The major cons, are they have to be enclosed in a metal box with required IP protection,there will be joints at direction change over
@raj,
All busways I’ve seen have metal box with or without color, what solution do you suggest ?
why are contractors cheaters?
is all business man cheaters?
Shop Owners?
Cheaters are people that are not doing nothing but want to take your money away,contractors on the other hand have to work hard and prove their work before they get payed.
but remember there is contractor and there is fly by night
so don’t put every one in the same basket.
It’s not fair to say contractors are cheaters, the problem is the accountants. They would want the bus solution at the cost of cable but install price of bus.
Another problem is that the plant engineer may design to meet existing technology so if its been wired for 10 years and you start to add on do you bus or do you wire? Is it a development project and what happens when you decide that the project is no longer needed because we have a bigger idea (requiring bigger loads)?It is quite easy to run temporary installed cabling that could be hung later.
No easy answer to your problem but don’t call contractors cheaters as contractors have to complete a task before payment. The one thing I will say is that contracts are poorly defined and audited/supervised
i agree
also the problem is the design is not complete and no drawings available,still the contractor is requested to do programs and erect the plant without no proper information.
I agreed too, while engineers design the job based on specs. and not price, accountant are not trianed to provide engineeering solutions but signs the cheque.
I have experienced installing cables and busbars. The only thing I can say is that busbars in busways are not really flexible. When it comes to speed of installation, you will spend almost the same manhour installing busbar and installing cables. When it comes to safety, I would prefer cable to busbar. But it is up to you, if your business is getting commission for selling busway solution, then, you really have to believe that this is the best solution. Otherwise, you won’t be able to sell it.
How and when you use it would rely on what you wanted to accomplish. It is appropriate for many, many programs from techniques demanding 1000′s of Amplifiers to little energy and lighting style.
for reference it is great to learn more at : http://www.xpowerengineup.com
Sometimes it happens that when what we want If not got then we got anger and eratated about that matter. There are many situation faced by a human being that should be not happen and offcourse cheaters are everywhere in every field.
Can we do a guest blog? I like this short article.
I would prefer to discover much more about this as well as your other
writings.