Existing Facility With Older Bus Plugs – Change out to newer plugs?
We recently moved to an existing facility wired with older Bus Duct and are having trouble finding Bus Plugs, new or used in the sizes we need to feed our equipment. Should we change out the duct to a new brand where the plugs are easier to find?
No, there may be a more cost effective solution.
Assuming you moved to a building where the volts match and the building can supply all of the amperes your machines need.
We have seen where new occupants have decided their best route is to rip out the bus duct and use pipe and wire to connect their machines. This works out well when there are fewer machines to serve or when even a few are very large. These machines might otherwise require a bus plug that is rated at or near the capacity of the entire duct. Other times the location of a machine in relation to the bus plug is less direct than extending from a spare position in the buildings main distribution switchboard or panel board.
After you have considered how long you will use this facility you could look at relocating the existing duct to better suit your needs or you could uses tap boxes or a large bus plug, some pipe and wire and connect to additional lengths of ‘easy to find’ duct and Bus Plugs. However, pipe and wire direct from the Main Distribution to you machine sometimes can be your best option.