What size and where to find buss bar

[az_gila]

Just for reference, a single strip of Vans copper (1/16 x 1/2) is approx. equal to a #4 gauge wire.

IIRC the firewall layout plans call for two parallel strips in between the two contactors to equal a #1 size cable.

[gasman]

A 2 inch copper coupling is 1/16 inch thick. Just cut and roll out flat. You will have more than enough flat copper to do the job.

[rivetshaver]

This is what I bought from spruce.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...ges/busbar.php

[Wayne Gillispie]

Originally Posted by az_gila

Just for reference, a single strip of Vans copper (1/6 x 1/2) is approx. equal to a #4 gauge wire.

IIRC the firewall layout plans call for two parallel strips in between the two contactors to equal a #1 size cable.

Exactly the reason I did not use Vans. Mine is .125" X 3/4" and silver flashed. Yes, it may be overkill. I braze and solder copper tubing for hvac all the time and there is a big quality/strength difference between true buss bar material and your hardware store copper fittings and tubing. Let your buss bars corrode or break and you will be stuck somewhere. They conduct 200-300 A during a normal start.

[PeteP]

I took a piece of 1/2" copper pipe and squeezed it flat it in the vise. I have access to some pretty neat electrical test gear so this morning I ran an ampacity test on it and it sustained 600 amps at 12volts for over 5 minutes with no problem. I am using the newer inline style Skytech starter that is published to pull around 200 amps max but I suspect that the inrush current is quite a bit higher for a few miliseconds. At either rate I think the $1.85 copper pipe is going to be my answer to the problem.

BTW.. I have a piece of the .0625 by 1/2: strip and I am going to run a ampacity test on it later but I think that a single piece of it has a good chance of being marginal at the high inrush current loads of some starters.

Pete
91072

[Jeff R]

I doubled up on the copper strip Van's sells.

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by Jeff R

I doubled up on the copper strip Van's sells.

That's good since the plans say "2 Reqd." right by the picture of the bus bar...

As I mentioned earlier it makes it equivalent to about a #1 cable.