---
title: "What Is Bus bar? Electrical Glossary | Daniel Electric"
description: "A bus bar is a solid metal strip inside a panel that carries power from the incoming service to the breakers."
url: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/bus-bar
publisher: Daniel Electric
phone: +1-817-481-8606
quote: https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/contact
---

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](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/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](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/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](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/guides/electrical-warning-signs).

[Daniel Electric can helpElectrical panel repair and replacement](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/electrical-panel-repair-replacement)

## Related terms

-   [Breaker panel](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/breaker-panel)
-   [Main breaker](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/main-breaker)
-   [Panelboard](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/panelboard)
-   [Load center](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/glossary/load-center)

## Sources

1.  [Siemens: Loadcentres, Power Product Catalogue](https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/api/uuid:93f50aa9-62c9-4e27-9da3-ae7595fb0e6d/s01-loadcentres1.pdf)
2.  [OSHA: 1910.399 Definitions applicable to this subpart](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.399)

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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.

[Call (817) 481-8606](tel:+1-817-481-8606)[Get a quote](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/contact)

![A Daniel Electric bucket lift raised to a parking lot light pole](https://danielelectric.multisites.ai/_astro/bucket-at-light-pole.BSVZ9eST_1Dp6XR.webp)