How are these metal "bus bars" called and where to get them? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: adrifromhh
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2017, 01:23:31 am
content: Hi guys,a while ago I bought a 19'' system enclosure for eurocards with DIN 41612 connectors inside. They were interconnected with this interesting sheet metal "bus bar" for the power rails. I like them a lot and could use more of them. Do you have any idea how they are called, who makes them and where to get them? I really tried a lot of keywords on google with no luck...Best,Adrian

author: DBecker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2017, 11:28:59 am
content: They are called, as you guessed, "bus bars". They are made of tin plated copper.I've bought them at Halted Surplus in Santa Clara, which probably isn't convenient for you.

author: adrifromhh
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2017, 09:40:46 pm
content: Thanks for the input. I found similar ones from Schroff which are darn expensive... Sad..

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2017, 11:14:25 pm
content: Just buy 12-14 gauge high current household oxygen free copper wire, strip off the insulation & solder 2 or 3 vertically above each pin making a thick copper flat buss bar. I've done it before, though the bars will only be on one side of the pins (I usually bend the wire slightly so it goes in front and behind every second pin) it is not as fancy looking, but, it works perfectly fine and costs less than 5$ to cover the amount of power pins you have illustrated in your photo.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2017, 11:19:55 pm
content: I've also seen flat buss bars in steel and tin at my local home depot, but, the thinnest one might be too thick for you.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2017, 11:44:15 pm
content: Not sure which suppliers would carry it in your country but the solar industry uses tinned copper ribbons of similar sizes to join solar cells. They come on spools in a range of different sizes (thicknesses and widths) like solder or wire and are very cheap in that form.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2017, 11:51:52 pm
content: The last few replies are missing the point. He is looking for backplane busbars which press fit onto the connector pins, not something he has to solder.I have never seen those for sale.

author: BrianHG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2017, 03:16:55 am
content: Quote from: edavid on August 28, 2017, 11:51:52 pmBending the thick house-hold copper wire, WEAVING it from edge card connector to edge card connector would work without solder. But still, I guess if you want that pinch from what he showed in the image, it is kind of specialized to the app.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2017, 07:53:52 am
content: Looks like the sort of thing you could fabricate using nickel strips and a battery spot welder.

author: adrifromhh
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2017, 03:01:56 pm
content: Quote from: edavid on August 28, 2017, 11:51:52 pmYou're right, I was looking for the "perfect" solution that would make the connectors reusable and allow me to relocate them inside the enclosure. I found these bus-bars from Schroff, but I find them pretty expensive. (about 7€ each) As I understand them, they are to be soldered, or fastened with some sort of metal ring. There is only a small picture without explanation.https://schroff.pentair.com/de/schroff/streifenleiter-f%C3%BCr-federleisten-copy-of-60800-064It looks like I might actually take the compromise and solder the power rails through.I know that there are DIN 41612 Connectors with IDC backs, but they are even more expensive and don't really fit my purpose, as I want to use the lower half of the connectors for busses and rails, the upper half for individual connections between modules.Quote from: BradC on August 29, 2017, 07:53:52 amNice idea but I don't think I can manufacture this with the needed precision and without investing extraordinary amounts of time.