At this point, you should be familiar enough with busway systems to assist a customer in matching products to an application.

When you meet with the customer, conduct a short interview to obtain the following information:

Any/all electrical specifications, if available, for the busway/distribution system

Type of electrical service present

Locations of all devices to be connected with busway, including service entrance, distribution panels, and loads

Amp draw of each load to be connected

Voltage rating for each busway run

Bus bars preference: aluminum or copper

Wiring required: 3-wire or 4-wire

Ground: 50% housing ground or 50% internal ground or 100% ground or 50% isolated ground

Neutral: 100% neutral or 200% neutral

Environment: indoor and/or outdoor busway required

Types and numbers of plug-in devices required

Method of hanging, to order appropriate hanger style(s)

Ambient temperature along busway run, to account for amp rating drop in high-temperature areas

Bill Of Materials for the busway installation, if available

If electrical specifications are unavailable, be sure to obtain the following information:

Maximum voltage drop allowed

Minimum short circuit rating allowed for the bus and plugs

For any fusible units: required fuse type(s). Fuses are supplied by the customer.

You may also want to ask about the customer’s plans for future remodeling or expansion. This may help in planning the busway system for future needs.

Armed with this information, you can create a sketch of the proposed installation. After a little fine-tuning with the customer, you should be able to go to your catalog and work out a price.