Copper sheet and bus bar go into switchgear, panelboards, battery banks, grounding systems, heat sinks, roofing and architectural work. We source C110 and oxygen-free C101 copper in sheet, plate and bar, arrange shearing, sawing or waterjet cuts, and deliver across Texas.
What copper sheet and bus bar are used for, and how to pick them
For electrical work, C110 is the standard. It is 99.9% copper with conductivity rated at or above 100% IACS, and most bus bar, ground bar and electrical connectors are made from it. C101 oxygen-free copper is purer still. Choose it for vacuum equipment, hydrogen atmospheres, and parts that get brazed or welded hot, where the trace of oxygen in C110 can cause embrittlement.
C122 is phosphorus-deoxidized copper for plumbing, brazed assemblies and fabricated tanks. It brazes and welds well, but its conductivity is noticeably lower, so it isn't a bus bar alloy.
Temper decides whether you can form it. Soft annealed copper bends and dishes easily for roofing, flashing and art work. Cold-rolled tempers stay flat and hold their shape for panels and bus runs. Bus bar commonly comes in a light cold-worked temper that holds shape but still bends flatwise on a bus bender.
Copper grades
| Grade/temper | Why pick it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| C110 (ETP) | Top everyday conductivity. Bus bar, grounding, electrical parts, roofing and art. | Carries a trace of oxygen. Can embrittle if brazed or annealed in a hydrogen atmosphere. |
| C101 (oxygen-free electronic) | 99.99% copper. Vacuum, hydrogen and high-purity electrical or brazed parts. | Specify it only where purity matters. C110 does the job for standard bus work. |
| C122 (DHP) | Phosphorus-deoxidized. Brazes and welds well for plumbing, tanks and fabrications. | Lower conductivity. Not a bus bar alloy. |
Common copper sheet and bus bar sizes
| Form | Commonly available sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet by weight | 16 oz (.0216"), 20 oz (.027"), 24 oz (.0323"), 32 oz (.0431"), 48 oz (.0647") | Weight is per square foot. Common sheets 36" x 96", 36" x 120", 48" x 96" |
| Sheet and plate by thickness | .010" to .250" sheet, heavier plate on request | Full sheets or sheared blanks |
| Bus bar | 1/8" to 1/2" thick, 1/2" to 6" wide; wider bars can be sourced | 12 ft lengths common; square, rounded or full-round edges |
Sizes only. Metal prices move daily, so every order is quoted.
Cut-to-size options for copper sheet and bus bar
Sheet is sheared to blanks, the quickest route to square pieces. Bus bar is saw cut to length, typically within about a sixteenth of an inch and closer on request. Punched holes and bends are fabrication work; send the drawing and we'll tell you what can be arranged.
Waterjet cutting is the go-to for copper shapes and thicker plate. Copper reflects laser light and pulls heat away fast, so laser cutting is limited to thin gauges, and a waterjet leaves no heat-affected edge on a conductor. Cuts are arranged through our supply network.
What to include in your quote request
- Alloy: C110, C101 or C122
- Form and size: sheet weight or thickness, or bus bar thickness by width
- Temper: soft, cold rolled, or bus bar temper
- Edge on bus bar: square, rounded or full round, and any tin plating
- Cut sizes or lengths, with quantities
- Mill certs or a spec such as ASTM B187 for bus bar, if required
- Ship-to ZIP code