Bus Ducts & Bus Plug Supplier

Current Midwest Sells
Bus Duct and Bus Plugs

Current Midwest maintains a large inventory of electrical bus ducts and bus plugs from leading manufacturers, including Square D, ITE, Bulldog Cutler-Hammer, Siemens, General Electric, and other top brands. We also carry bus duct switches and other related components.

Our used bus ducts and plugs are thoroughly reconditioned to provide you with safe, top-quality electrical gear. All Current Midwest reconditioned bus ducts and bus plugs come with a three-year warranty.

What is a Bus Duct?

Bus Duct (or busway) is a sheet metal duct containing either copper or aluminum busbars, which conduct a substantial electrical current. It is used in industrial or commercial applications to conduct electricity instead of power cables. For circuits requiring greater reliability, bus duct systems provide a simpler, faster installation at a lower cost over power cables.

Common Types and Sizes of Bus Ducts

Configurations Amps Materials
3 phase 3 wire (3p3w) 200A Copper
3 phase 4 wire (3p4w) 400A Aluminum
600A
800A
1000A
1200A
2000A

 

What Are Bus Plugs?

In electric power distribution, Bus Plugs connect to a Bus Duct (or busway) and supply localized power distribution to electronic industrial equipment. Bus plugs are components that plug into bus ducts and provide power and circuit protection to the machines. Bus plugs can be either fusible or circuit breaker type.

Common Types and Sizes of Bus Plugs

Configurations Amps
3 phase 3 wire (3p3w) 30A
3 phase 4 wire (3p4w) 60A
100A
200A
400A
600A
800A
1000A
1200A

 

FAQs

Why are bus plugs used?

Not only are they more cost-effective than power cables, but bus plugs for electrical installations also allow for equipment to be added or relocated with ease.

What are some other terms for bus plugs components?

Bus Plugs also may be known as bus switches or bus plugs.

How long do bus plugs typically last?

Many elements can impact the longevity and life span of bus plugs. Fortunately, when properly maintained, a correctly-sized bus plug can last 20 years or more.

What are the advantages of bus ducts over cables?

Installing bus ducts over cabling can be a good idea for many reasons. For example, whether aluminum or copper, bus duct offers better resistance, which means better distribution of current. Compared to cables, there is a lower rate of voltage loss. Another benefit of bus ducts is that they can be much easier to scale up or down depending on your needs. Cables can be cumbersome to reconfigure and extend to fit your available space, whereas bus ducts are much easier to change when needed. This can result in significant savings of time and money when reconfiguring your systems.

Because busbars are so easy to install and reconfigure, they’re also more cost effective than cable-based systems. They also feature standardized components including junction boxes and plugs, which means there’s much less chance of mistakes being made during installation. Their durable metal construction also gives them an edge over cables, which can wear out or become damaged over time.

What advantages do bus systems offer over individual cables?

Among the many advantages of bus systems is that they can be used indoors or outdoors without concern over environmental conditions. They’re also more adaptable to the available space and don’t present a risk of cables becoming tangled or confused.

When should bus ducts be used?

Bus ducts can be used in practically any situation in which cable or conduit would be used otherwise. Although many believe these systems are suitable only for applications requiring high amperage, this is not the case. Bus ducts can be designed to deliver anywhere between 100A to 6500A, making these systems a good fit for manufacturing operations ranging from electronics to automotive.

Another factor that makes bus ducts effective for a wide range of use cases is its versatility. With options such as elbows and offsets, busways can fit into almost any type of layout with ease. Additions such as tap-off units make it easy to adapt to load changes throughout your facility. There are only a few situations in which cable or conduit makes more sense than installing bus ducts, such as in applications where the systems would be exposed to corrosive vapors. Follow the link to learn more about bus ducts and when they can be used.

Do you need a fusible bus plug disconnect or circuit breaker?

As your bus plug and bus duct supplier, Current Midwest also sells fusible bus plug disconnect (switches) ranging from 30-2,000 amps and designed for indoor or outdoor use.

Current Midwest carries molded-case circuit breakers for industrial and commercial applications.