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bus bars for batteries

2727 Views 16 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  TeamNemesisVance
I was wanting to machine my own bus bars for (4) batteries. Is their a specific material they should be made of, like brass or copper? Or would something cheaper like 12L14 or a low carbon steel work?
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copper is best..aluminum is cheaper and thats all id use
Copper if you can afford it but the prices for that much copper are redic lol. Aluminum seems to do very well for everybody who uses it. I have copper flat bar for my buss bars but was probably a lot cheaper than the amount of material you would need.
Thanks man, figured copper would be #1 just not sure how much $$ 2 bars that large would run.
As bully said, those are the two most common choices.

Brass would work better than Aluminum, not as good as copper, but it would be more resistant to corrosion than copper.
Yeah I'm thinking I'll need 2 pieces about 16" X 2" X 1". Copper would get salty. I'll check out aluminum vs copper. How about brass??
Gottcha. Thanks guys, I'll check on some prices.
Aluminum is good. There are different grades of aluminum also. Some with more copper mixed in.

Copper is just too pricy right now to justify making stuff with it imo.
WOW!!!! So brass is out at almost $400 for the size I want!

And aluminum is in at $65!
Yeah I'm thinking I'll need 2 pieces about 16" X 2" X 1". Copper would get salty. I'll check out aluminum vs copper. How about brass??
2 inches wide,and 1 inch thick? I think I would look at those figures again.You could get away with less without losing performance.
What are you powering?
I got a bunch of 2" x 1" aluminum layin' at the shop.
As for buss bars here is what I did.I was running Soundigital last season,and wanted as much battery power close to the amp as possible.Running different kinds of batteries made it impossible to run a typical buss bar.So,I made these up.With this style I could wire in 7 batteries,and have one short lead going to the amp.Never a shortage in voltage,or amperage.
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The length prolly is an over estimate... I have a good idea to machine it to be very sleek. But it will link 4 Stinger spv20 batteries. I will have to get the batteries in before I have exact measurments. Basically im going to machine out openings for the battery terminals with a set screw in the side. Also the wires will connect to the side of the bus bar with the set screw on the bottom. Will have a very clean look.
tin or nickel plated copper
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most people around here use 2"x1/4" aluminum but copper is the best, just its so high right now.first pix is of mine second is my sons.this was in the install process.
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I like that, looks nice.. That's a heck of alot more economical than the copper.
I like that, looks nice.. That's a heck of alot more economical than the copper.
thanks and it works great
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