Panels and service
Bus bar
A bus bar is a solid metal strip inside a panel that carries power from the incoming service to the breakers.
Inside the breaker panel, breakers clip onto bus bars. OSHA lists buses as a core part of a panelboard. Siemens says the main bus bars in its loadcentres are made of tin-plated aluminum, with copper bus also available. The bars carry the full current of the service.
Parts of a panel stay live even when the main breaker is off, so never reach inside. Burn marks, a melted breaker or a hot panel call for a licensed electrician, often with a panel replacement. See electrical warning signs.
Related terms
Sources
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Need an electrician in Southlake?
Call and tell us what is going on. A photo of the panel label or the problem helps us come prepared. Quotes on new installations are free.
