Current density
Bus duct wins. Bare bars in ventilated housings shed heat far better than insulated conductors in conduit — the same amps in a fraction of the space. A 2000A busway run replaces a forest of parallel conduits.
COMPARISON
Bus Duct vs. Cable.
When power rides a bus instead of a cable — density, flexibility, cost, the two busway families, and the copper content that floors used value.
COMPARISON
When power rides a bus instead of a cable.
Bus duct (busway) is the industrial alternative to cable: rigid copper or aluminum bars in a metal housing, carrying hundreds to thousands of amps down factory aisles and data center halls. Plug-in units tap power anywhere along the run. It costs more than cable upfront and wins on flexibility, density, and — for sellers — copper content.
We buy bus duct
Straight sections, elbows, plug-in units, and tap boxes. Selling guide →
HEAD TO HEAD
Bus duct vs. cable
Flexibility
Bus duct wins. Plug-in tap boxes connect anywhere along the run — move a machine, move its tap. Cable runs are point-to-point: every new load means a new homerun. Factories that rearrange constantly live on busway.
Cost
Cable wins upfront. Conduit and wire is cheaper to install for simple point-to-point runs. Bus duct earns it back in reconfigurable spaces — the crossover is usually the second or third layout change.
Installation
Busway sections bolt together and hang from structure — fast to install, fast to extend. Cable needs conduit bending, pulling, and terminations. On a tight schedule, busway’s modularity is the schedule.
The two busway families
Feeder busway — straight power transport, high amps, minimal taps. Plug-in busway — tap openings every few feet for drop-in loads. Data centers and factories buy plug-in; utilities and substations buy feeder. Know which you have before listing.
Copper content
Bus duct is a copper (or aluminum) bar with a housing around it — the metal content per foot is enormous compared to cable. This is why used busway holds value even when the market is soft: the recovery floor is high. Photograph the joint ends to show bar material and condition.
THE PARTS
Busway fittings: the parts list
A busway run is more than straight sections: elbows (flatwise and edgewise — turning corners), tees (branching), tap boxes / plug-in units (the fused or breakered buckets that connect loads — the most valuable fittings per pound), end closers (capping the run), expansion fittings (long runs that move with temperature), and hangers. When selling a removed run, keep the fittings with the straights — a run without its tap boxes is a puzzle missing pieces, priced accordingly. Photograph tap boxes open showing the breaker or fusible switch inside; the protective device is half the fitting’s value.
QUESTIONS
Bus duct questions, answered.
What is bus duct used for?
Distributing high-current power (hundreds to thousands of amps) in factories, data centers, and commercial buildings — where plug-in taps and reconfigurability beat point-to-point cable runs.
Is bus duct better than cable?
For high-current, reconfigurable distribution: yes — denser, more flexible, faster to install. For simple point-to-point runs, cable is cheaper. They serve different jobs.
What is the difference between feeder and plug-in busway?
Feeder busway transports power with minimal taps; plug-in busway has tap openings every few feet for connecting loads anywhere along the run.
Is used bus duct worth anything?
Yes — strong resale for clean straight sections and plug-in units, plus a high copper-recovery floor. Photograph joint ends showing bar material.
What brands of busway are common?
Square D (Schneider), Siemens, Eaton, GE/ABB — the same major manufacturers as the rest of distribution gear, which keeps the used market liquid.
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps to an offer.
01Send photos
Photograph the equipment, nameplates, and quantities in place, then send them through the contact form.
02Material review
We review what the equipment is, its condition and quantity, and how it grades for resale versus recovery.
03Receive an offer
For qualifying material, we discuss a direct purchase offer and the next steps.