Benjamin Franklin and his ill fated kite did not invent electricity. Thomas Edison, also, did not invent electricity. These men, in combination with many other great minds, simply discovered how electricity is created, and then found a way to harness the power of electricity. These inventions, in fact, transformed our world into a predominantly industrialized society. The subsequent increase in manufacturing industries created the need for inventions that could safely harness and distribute the power of electricity. One such invention are electrical switchboards.
According to the U.S. National Electric Code, electrical switchboards safely direct electricity from one source to another. Thusly, electrical switchboards consist of a number of panels that efficiently and safely redirect electricity. Other protective devices, such as a Siemens bus plug, medium voltage switchgear, and non segregated phase bus, are components of electrical switchboards.
There are different types of buses that take power from a transformer to electrical switchboards. Essentially, these components are gateways in and out of a power distribution system such as a distribution substation. They all offer their own variations of circuit protection. A medium voltage switchgear, for example, can offer similar protection. A bus plug used in combination with a non segregated phase bus duct have its own circuit protection through either a fuse or a circuit breaker. Measured in volts or voltage, U.S. bus plug voltage range from 120 over 240, 208 over 120, 240, 277 over 480, 480, or 600 volts. Bus plug ampere ratings can range from 15 to 1600 amps in the U.S. Bus plugs lower the number of feeds coming off of electrical switchboards
Bus plugs are typically used in demanding industrial or manufacturing environments that have extreme qualities. As such, they often need replacement due to the high temperatures and high quantities of air contaminants that are frequently found in these environments. These factors can shorten their life span.