Buss bar design

[Cat Nap3]

I would like to build my own bus bar Mounted directly to the battery screw terminal. Group 24 marine.
From the battery there would be an in-line fuse, then a brass bus bar.
The bus bar would be drilled and tapped for regular ring type terminals.
The potential total amp load would be 30amps.
I have a piece of copper 1/8”x1/2”x4” would this size be sufficient.
Is there a way to figure out the amps a certain size piece of copper can carry?
Thanks. Nick

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Cat Nap3

I would like to build my own bus bar Mounted directly to the battery screw terminal. Group 24 marine.
From the battery there would be an in-line fuse, then a brass bus bar.
The bus bar would be drilled and tapped for regular ring type terminals.
The potential total amp load would be 30amps.
I have a piece of copper 1/8”x1/2”x4” would this size be sufficient.
Is there a way to figure out the amps a certain size piece of copper can carry?
Thanks. Nick

Yep, compare the cross-sectional area of your piece of copper to the cross-sectional area of copper wire and then look up that gauge of wire for determine it's current carrying capacity.

I'll let you do the maths and looking up.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Yep, compare the cross-sectional area of your piece of copper to the cross-sectional area of copper wire and then look up that gauge of wire for determine it's current carrying capacity...

Sort of.
Current-Carrying Capacity of Busbars ➥ http://copperalliance.org.uk/uploads...of-busbars.pdf

[Bycrick]

Brass is NOT a particularly good conductor, somewhere around 1/4 to 1/3 of copper. Cross sectional area is about 40mm2, or about AWG #1 equivalent. In copper, it’s good for maybe 100a. In brass, maybe 25-30 amps.

[Frankly]

If you really are just looking at 30 amps then just buy something commercial (ain't expensive). As pointed out, copper is a lot better conductor than brass.


Frankly

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Cat Nap3

I would like to build my own bus bar Mounted directly to the battery screw terminal. Group 24 marine.
From the battery there would be an in-line fuse, then a brass bus bar.
The bus bar would be drilled and tapped for regular ring type terminals.
The potential total amp load would be 30amps.
I have a piece of copper 1/8”x1/2”x4” would this size be sufficient.
Is there a way to figure out the amps a certain size piece of copper can carry?
Thanks. Nick

Nick, are you planning to use brass or copper?