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3/31/2017 ExpansiontypebusconnectorsinSubstationsElectricpower&transmission&distributionEngTips

18Aug1417:50
rterickson(Electrical)
Expansionandslidedonotmeanthesamething.Aslideconnectorsupportsthebusbutallowsittoslipfreelywhilean
expansionconnectorisanalogoustoaspring.

Becauselongsectionsofrigidbuswillexpandandcontractwithchangesintemperature,yourrigidbusdesignmust
allowthebustomovethusavoidingdamage.Asinglesectionofbusmustnotbefixedatbothends.Ifoneendisfixed,
theotherendmustbeaslideorexpansionconnection,dependingonwhattypeofbusorequipmentyouareconnecting
to.

Themostcommonuseofanexpansionconnectoriswhenyouhaveabussectionconnectiontwodisconnectswitches.
Oneendisfixed,buttheotherendmustbeallowedtoexpandandcontract.Slipconnectorsaremostoftenusedonbus
supportsattheendofabussection.

basilasq1(Electrical) (OP) 18Aug1417:57


Thanksalotthatwasveryhelpful.

Acloserlookatbothconnectorsshowsthatslidingconnectorsusuallyhavearingtoenabletubularbustoslidefreely
whereasexpansionconnectorshaveflexiblewirestrandstoensureelectricalconnectionsasdistincttubularsections
expand/contract.

stevenal(Electrical) 2Sep1412:07
Youmightwanttobecarefulusingtheword"connector"sincetheslipstylebussupportsyouarespeakingofarenot
intendedtoprovideelectricalconnections.

Iwouldnotuseslipsupportsonlyatbusends.Anybusrunshouldbefixedatonelocationonlywithallothersupports
allowedtoslip.

tinfoil(Electrical) 13Sep1411:33
Iwouldtendtocallthewidgetintendedtoholdthebusinplacea'clamp'whereasawidgetintendedtoelectricallyjoin
twoormorecomponentstogetherisa'connector'.

Foreachsectionofrigidbus,ourpracticeistouseasinglefixedclamp,withalloftherestare'sliding'clamps.Where
practicable,thefixedclampisplacedasclosetothe'middle'ofthebussectionaspossible,tominimize'worstcase'
thermaldisplacements.

Itisimportanttofixthatonepoint,asheating/coolingcyclescanactuallycauseabussectionto'walk'overtimeifevery
connectionisa'slider'.

Lately,wehavebeenusingaclevercombinationclampunitthatcanbeeitherfixedorsliding,dependingonwhich
orientationthetopbitisfastenedtothelower,simplifyingourorderingandstockingissues.

http://www.engtips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=370115 1/1

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