In this highly informative, three-page article, John Clarke, Director of Zucchini in the UK, answers some of the questions most regularly asked about busbar trunking systems.
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John Clarke is Director and General Manager of The Zucchini Group in the
UK. He has worked in the electrical industry for more than 30 years and,
in the last 15 years, has been involved entirely in the development of Busbar
systems in the UK. Originally with Telemecanique, he was subsequently
appointed Sales and Marketing Manager of Power Centre before founding the UK
operation for Zucchini.
Zucchini are one of the original pioneers and
innovators of Busbar power distribution systems and are now a major player
throughout Europe.
1. What is the history of Zucchini
busbar trunking?
Zucchini busbar trunking has been available for
more than 50 years. It has progressed from derivations of busbar chambers
with heavy metal gauge, metal closures with bolt-on covers and clamp connections
for tap-offs to totally enclosed sheet steel or aluminium casings with either
copper or aluminium conductors and plug-in, tap-off outlets, which are fully
shuttered and finger protected for increased safety. The latest generation of
Zucchini busbar system design incorporates a 5-pole system which provides the
advantage of a high integrity, 100% separate earth bar whilst also retaining a
full 100% neutral bar. 200% neutral systems are available for applications
with high harmonic currents.
2. What does a Busbar trunking
system consist of?
Busbar trunking is manufactured into totally
enclosed, pre-fabricated sections consisting of copper or aluminium busbars with
current ratings ranging from 25 up to 6300amps. Power is simply tapped-off
by plugs or tap-offs positioned at regular intervals. Typically, a busbar
system will consist of 3 or 1.5 metre lengths, end feed/live end boxes, end
covers, and various tap-off units at different ratings and hanging brackets.
3. What are the advantages of using Zucchini
busbar trunking?
Zucchini busbar trunking has several key advantages
over conventional forms of power distribution:-
a) Reduced, on-site
installation times when compared to hard-wired systems thus leading to cost
savings.
b) Increased flexibility in design and versatility with regard
to future modifications.
c) Increased safety features brought about by
the use of high quality, manufactured components, which provide greater safety
and peace of mind for specifiers, contractors and
end-users.
4. In which applications are Busbars being
used?
Zucchini busbar trunking systems are now being used in a
variety of high and low voltage applications including production plants,
workshops, assembly lines, warehouses, distribution centres, supermarkets,
retail outlets etc., etc.
5. What major UK projects have specified Zucchini busbar
trunking for power / lighting distribution?
Rolls Royce, Rover
Cars, JCB, Honda, Mercedes Benz, Land Rover, Ford, Vauxhall, Caterpillar,
British Telecom, Lidl Warehouses, MEB, Manchester Airport, BBC Television,
Seagate Computers, Tesco, Wickes, Blockbuster Video, Eddie Stobart and HMV, to
name but a few.
6. Is it difficult to estimate a Busbar
installation project?
No. The beauty of busbar is its
simplicity – from the design/estimating stage through to installation on
site. This is because the technical characteristics and price of each
component are always known. Busbar installations require no special tools.
The joints, lengths and accessories are simply bolted or screwed together.
The medium and high power systems have double-headed torque bolts, which on
tightening will sheer when the correct torque has been achieved. In addition,
the fact that busbar is a factory manufactured and tested product, ensures a
high quality, safer installation.
Zucchini provide a full range of technical support services to electrical
contractors who can now buy fully designed, engineered systems. The design
and estimating stages are also fully supported by Zucchini who provide
quotations for busbar components and can in most cases, advise and assist in the
design.
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