Conductor bars (also referred to as power bars, figure eight bars or hot bars) are one of the most common methods of electrifying and supplying power to a crane and hoist. A conductor bar uses a sliding shoe collector system, which removes most of the exposed conductor safety hazards and can supply higher amperage power compared to other power systems.
Today, most conductor bar electrification systems are insulated with a cover. There are some applications where the conductor bar may not be insulated, but the most common types have insulated covers.
Conductor bar – the supply of incoming power and/or control along the runway or bridge
Power feed – attachment of incoming power to the conductor bar
Collector – a contacting device to collect the electrical current from the conductor bar and forward it to a machine
Brackets – supporting device for attachment of multiple hangers to the runway or bridge
Hangers – attach the conductor bar to the brackets
End cover – safety protection at the end of conductor system
Anchor clamp – supporting device for directing movement of conductors during thermal expansion and contraction
Conductor bar systems for overhead cranes can be used on both indoor and outdoor cranes and are most typically installed on the crane’s runway systems or on monorail cranes. One of the main advantages of using a conductor bar system is that they can be used on runways with more than one bridge operating on them.
They’re also very cost-effective and easy to install with many different types of brackets and hanger clamps. In addition, they are ideal for low headroom applications where cables cannot hang down, and for systems that utilize a curve or track switch.
One final advantage is that conductor bars are excellent for crane setups where future upgrades or expansions may be a consideration. Runway systems can be extended easier and with less cost because conductor bars are so easy to connect together for installation. Conductor bars are also the perfect solution for continuation of power in interlocking crane systems.
On a conductor bar system, one of the main disadvantages is that the collector shoes can wear out quickly and need to be serviced or replaced often depending on the severity of use.
Another disadvantage is that a conductor bar system can never be utilized in an environment that requires an explosion proof crane, and they should not be used to power transfer carts.
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