First, to be clear, there are dozen of concerns and precautions you should be aware of when we talk about energy transport. Cables and busbar systems are the most common and reliable ways to do so, at least until wireless energy transport is developed 🙂 However, many potential issues need to be addressed. This article deals with four significant precautions you should take – grouping conductors in parallel, short circuits, magnetic effects, operating current, and voltage drop.
- Grouping conductors in parallel
Above a certain current (usually several hundred amperes), the use of several conductors in parallel allows their cross-section to be limited and thus their handling made easier. This technique, very often used for the conductors between the transformer and the main low voltage switchboard, is also used for high-power outgoing connections.
The use of prefabricated busbar systems is, however, recommended.
The arrangement of conductors in a triangle (or in a trefoil) provides the best balance, but is generally limited to two or even three conductors per phase. Above this, the overlapping of layers limits cooling and installation in a bundle is preferable.
This proximity rule also applies to single conductors (phases, neutral and protective conductor).
Read more: Four very important precautions for the installation of cables and busbar trunking systems