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GEIndustrial Solutions*Spectra SeriesBusway

Spectra Series* Busway.All the muscle without the weight.GE engineers have brokenthe weight barrier with SpectraSeries Busway. Its computerdesigned, all-aluminum housingis up to 50% lighter thancomparable wire and conduit –and lighter than competitors’busway – while providing thecurrent-carrying capacity(up to 5,000 amps) and shortcircuit protection you’ve alwayscounted on from GE busway.www.geindustrial.com1

Less weight means big labor savings.Since Spectra Series Busway is lighter than other busways, its easier to handle andhang. You save on labor and installation time (per NECA labor standards). This maylower your total installed cost by up to 75% versus wire and conduit.Epoxy insulation protects your investment.GE has applied more than three decades of experience with material coatings tobring advanced epoxy insulation technology to Spectra Series Busway. Our specialClass B 130 C Blue Coat epoxy insulation provides tougher, longer life (50 yearsexpected) than mylar, PVC, and glass tape used by other manufacturers.A load of extras.Both plug-in and feeder configurations offer identical low voltage drop. In fact,it’s one of the most efficient busway systems available.Our exclusive adjustable joint connector allows quick 1/2” busway lengthadjustment – right in the field. This new level of flexibility makes it easy to cope withunexpected building variations during installation.Spectra Series Busway also includes our specially designed belleville spring washerthat retains over 90% of its original contact pressure. So you get a more secure,reliable and virtually maintenance-free joint.Our new busway can often be hung with a unique GE hanger that employs justa single drop rod. Plug-assist and plug-position locators make installation a snap(even on larger plugs). And 50% integral housing ground is standard. Internalground is available for both aluminum and copper busway.Plating options.Copper busway: Tin plating is standard on all copper busway.Aluminum busway: Silver plating is standard on all aluminum busway.A complete silver plating system is optional on copper busway.2www.geindustrial.com

ContentsIntroduction &&&&&&&&&&&&& 1-2Put the Busway Tool Kit to work for you!GE’s Busway Tool Kit is a collection of electronictools that quickly and easily answers customers’questions, calculates costs savings for contractors,provides layout assistance to specifiers, anddelivers value engineering to distributors.Busway Tool Kit &&&&&&&&&&& 3Key Features &&&&&&&&&&&&& 4-6Electrical Data &&&&&&&&&&&& 7-10Physical Data &&&&&&&&&&&& 11-34Labor Calculator compares thelabor costs of installing lighter GEbusway versus Square D busway.Plugs &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 35-40Cataloging &&&&&&&&&&&&&& 41-44Guide Form Specifications &&&& 45-49Cable Converter – calculates howbusway costs to compare to pipeand wire.Joint Guard &&&&&&&&&&&&&& Back CoverSpeculator answers busway-relatedelectrical questions.Autobus allows specifiers, electricalcontractors and others to designand engineer busway in 3-DAutoCAD format.The Busway Toolkitis available on-line atwww.geelectrical.com/elitenetor order the two-CD set(DEU-060) from GE.www.geindustrial.com3

Spectra Series* BuswayKey FeaturesState-of-the-Art Busway SystemsAutomated processapplies durable bakedenamel ANSI 61 finish(tough .09” thickaluminum 6061-T6housings) – for consistent,repeatable quality andprotection.Our experts closelymonitor productionperformance – to helpprotect your investment.4FeaturesAll Spectra Series* busbars are integrity testedwith 5000 Vac – forabsolute performanceconfidence.www.geindustrial.com

Key FeaturesSpectra Series* BuswayEasiest-to-Install Busway – Ever.Spectra Series* Buswayfeatures an aluminumhousing that cuts buswayweight up to 50% –reducing installation costs.Single bolt joint with positivetorque connection at50 ft.-lbs. is standard. Seethe back cover for optionalJoint Guard bolt.Sections can be hungevery 10 feet with just asingle drop rod hangerstandard up to 2000 ampaluminum or 1600 ampcopper. Spectra bus isextremely light – enoughto lighten ceiling loads upto 50%.Easy-to-install, ruggedvertical riser hangersupports simplify buswayinstallation and adjustment.www.geindustrial.com5

Key FeaturesSpectra Series* BuswayFor secure, flexible longterm reliability and minimalmaintenance, SpectraBusway offers up to 1/2” adjustable jointswith belleville springwashers that do notrequire re-torquing.Flex-A-Joint* removableisolation joints allowindividual sections to beconveniently taken outof service with minimumdowntime or interruptionof power. AcceptsFlex-A-Tap bolted powertake-off devices up to 1600amps at every joint, plugin or feeder.Plug-assist and plug-positionlocators simplify connection –assuring positive, safeinstallation. See GeneralElectric installation instructions,pub number DEH-40087for recommended lowmaintenance procedures.Note: It is a good practice tode-energize the busway wheninstalling or removing plugs.Please follow all guidelines in GEpublication DEH-40087 carefully.6www.geindustrial.com

Spectra Series* BuswayElectrical DataIntegrated housing ground resistanceElectrical DataSpectra Series* Busway all-aluminum housing provides an extremely lowimpedance ground path with less resistance (more continuous currentcapacity) than internal ground bus bars for both copper and aluminum systems.Spectra Series Busway integrated housing ground resistance values exceedNEC 250-94 standards for minimum ground conductors.Spectra Series* feeder buswayPlug-in outlet grounding may be supplied with optional tin-plated copper tabsbolted to the aluminum housing for superior continuity through standard busplug ground stabs. An internal ground bus bar (50% capacity, .125 inch thick)is also available to provide a complete system.Table 7.1DC Resistance Ohms x 10-3/100 ft. @ 75 CBar 7.5008.250Aluminum Internal 150% Ground per Internal50% Ground 0.871The housing could satisfy 50% ground bus conductorrequirements. An internal aluminum ground bar offersno electrical advantage and is not available in theSpectra II option.Busway applications with harmonicsFor busway applications where non-linear loads are present, first determine thespecific non-linear load condition for the application. Once the non-linear loadcondition is established, Spectra Series Busway should be derated in accordancewith Option A; see Table 7.2 and Fig. 7.1 below.Where full nameplate loading is required, Spectra Series Busway shouldbe sized in accordance with Option B; see Table 7.2 and Fig. 7.1 below. Byincreasing the width of both the phase and neutral bars equally, the buswaywill operate within UL heat rise limits at full nameplate rating, while alsocarrying up to twice the rated current in the neutral conductor.Table 7.2Non-linear LoadOption A(Neutral HarmonicNeutralDeratingPhaseBar Bar WidthCurrent / Total eindustrial.comFigure 7.1Phase BarNeutral BarOption BPhaseNeutralBarBarWidthWidthNot RequiredX * 1.15X * 1.15X * 1.23X * 1.23X * 1.32X * 1.32X * 1.42X * 1.42X * 1.53X * 1.53XOPTION AX*NOPTION BNote: Please contact your local GE Industrial Solutionssales office for additional information on applicationof busway with non-linear loads.7

Spectra Series* BuswayShort-circuit ratingsThe Spectra Series* Busway design provides predictable, consistent strengthand high short-circuit ratings.Electrical DataThe ratings shown below are UL recognized rms symmetrical amps for bothfeeder and plug-in phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground. Tests were run atthree cycles minimum per UL standards. Additional tests were run at six cycles.Spectra Series Busway is third party certified by KEMA for short circuit withstandtest at 1 and 3 seconds.Table 8.1Short-Circuit Ratings Plug-In and 40005000Aluminum (kA)3 and 6 Cycles1 132200169200169200200––3 Secs.141414242936495570769797140–3 and 6 Cycles50508585100100100125150150200200200200Copper (kA)1 Sec.40404040516576951291501911912002003 Secs.212121212937445575107110110149200Table 8.2Maximum Fuse Size for Increased Short-Circuit ProtectionAmp 22540060080010001200135016002000–2500Maximum “L” Fuse ��40002Also 600J, 800T or 400R.Also 600J, 800T or 600R.Example: A 225A (AL) short-circuit rating will increase to 100kA with a 1200A (L) fuseinstalled on the line side of the busway, normally mounted in the gear.StandardsSpectra Series Busway conforms to the latest revisions of NEMA BU-1; ANSI/UL857; federal spec W-B-811b; cUL. Can comply with IEC 439-1 and 2.Contact factory for details.8ElectricalAmp Ratingwww.geindustrial.com

Spectra Series* BuswayElectrical DataBusway operation at other frequenciesMaximum hot spot temperature ( C)@ 100% of rated load135125Effect of ambient temperature on busway operation115Graph 9.1 illustrates the effect of various ambient temperature conditions onbusway operating temperature. Spectra Series Busway utilizes NEMA Class B130 C insulation. This chart can be used to determine bus operatingparameters in accordance with various standards.1059585UL 857 standard7565Note: In addition to the standard illustrated on Graph 9.1, the Bluecoat epoxy insulation of Spectra Series buswayhas earned “Class B - 130 C UL recognition in accordance with UL 857.” This superior insulation enablesSpectra Series busway to operate satisfactorily at 50 C ambient with a 55 C heat rise, allowing 105 C maximumoperating temperature, with some loss of the 50 year insulation life. See Graph 9.1 for derating details.5545 Maximum average ambient temperature ( C)010203040 45 50 55 60 65 701.00 .95 .90 .85 .80 .74 .67Multiplier for UL and IEC complianceFig. 9.1Plug-In or Feeder, One or Two 50WALLWALLWALL250250(3" FOR RISER FLANGE ORSPRING HANGER CLEARANCE)1*25*4" minimum provides clearancefor 30-100 amp fusible plugs. 7"minimum for 200 amp fusible plugs.8" minimum for all other plugs.ProximityBelow is a drawing that shows the possible positions of busways relative towalls and to each other. Refer to Graph 9.2 for the proper multiplier requiredto maintain a 55 C rise in a 40 C ambient.Graph 9.2Multiplier1.06Edgewise mounted to wall1.04If horizontally mounted busways are three high, there is an additional multiplying factor of 0.95 for the top run and 0.975 for the center run. The averagecurrent hours per week the busway runs at full load will need to be taken intoaccount to determine if the installation requires derating as shown in Graph 9.2.1.02Edgewise mountedbetween l DataSpectra Series* Busway continuous current ratings are for 50/60 Hz frequency.For 400 Hz operation, de-rate bus to 85% load.Graph 9.1Effect of ambient temperature onbusway operation901234A – Inches56 6.57

Spectra Series* BuswayVoltage drop: plug-in or feederSpectra Series* Busway has excellent low-voltage-drop values. Minimumreactance (X) is due to very close bar spacings (sandwiched construction) anda non-magnetic housing. Values shown are identical for plug-in and feeder.Electrical Data60 Hz values shown. For 50 Hz multiply reactance (X) by 0.83 and resistancevalues do not change. For 400 Hz, multiply reactance by 3.9 and multiplyresistance by 1.4. Calculate new voltage drop Vd amps load X 3(R cos Θ X sin Θ) ft/100, where cos Θ Power Factor. Contact your localGE representative for a free copy of the Busway Tool Kit (DEU-066) to helpwith electrical calculations.Table 10.1Voltage Drop: Plug-In or 0040005000Bar Width x 191Ohms x .062.262.212.162.05Voltage Drop – Concentrated Load1Line-to-Line/100 Ft. @ 100% Rated Load, 25 C Amb.Power 532.472.732.672.562.42For plug-in distributed loads divide by 2Actual voltage drop Vd (from Table) xactual load actual distance (ft/mm)xrated load100 feet (30480mm)10www.geindustrial.com

Spectra Series* BuswayPhysical DataUL

Spectra Series* Busway all-aluminum housing provides an extremely low impedance ground path with less resistance (more continuous current capacity) than internal ground bus bars for both copper and aluminum systems. Spectra Series Busway integrated housing ground resistance values exceed NEC 250-94 standards for minimum ground conductors.