Engineering Tool

Busbar Temperature Estimator

Engineering estimator for settled rectangular busbar and cable temperatures under RMS current. Deterministic thermal-network model, not a certified design approval.

Client-side JS No server Instant results
Main inputs
Ends configuration
End 1
End 2
Results
Adjust inputs and press Run calculation.
Advanced settings
1
1
9
7
0.6
200
Detailed results
Item Value Unit Note
Warnings and notes
    Assumptions and limitations
    • Ambient temperature is fixed and common to busbar and cable.
    • Convection is represented by effective user-entered heat transfer coefficients.
    • No enclosure air temperature rise is calculated.
    • Radiation heat transfer is not included.
    • AC skin and proximity effects are not included.
    • Cable outside diameter and insulation are generic lookup assumptions.
    • Connector, crimp, and terminal thermal coupling is represented by one conductance.
    • Contactor/fuse mode injects 50% of interface electrical loss into the busbar.
    Key equations
    • ρ(T) = ρ₂₀ · (1 + α · (T − 20)) — temperature-dependent resistivity
    • R_seg = ρ(T) · dx / A — segment resistance (busbar or cable)
    • g_conv = h · k · P · dx — convection conductance per busbar node
    • g_ax = λ · A / dx — axial conduction conductance
    • r_rad = ln(r_o/r_i) / (2π·K_ins) + 1/(h·k·2π·r_o) — cable radial thermal resistance per metre
    • h_node = dx / r_rad — cable node conductance to ambient
    • T_relaxed = ω·T_new + (1−ω)·T_old — successive relaxation update
    Steady-state busbar and cable thermal network Busbar nodes conduct axially, reject heat to ambient, and optionally couple to cable branches at each end. 1D segmented thermal network B0 B1 ... B7 B8 Busbar axial conduction + Joule heat Convection to fixed ambient L0 L... Optional cable branch R0 R... Connector heat in cable node