Industrial equipment and machinery require fast, secure power to minimise downtime and remove bottlenecks. Conductor systems deliver a safe, reliable power supply to critical industrial infrastructure.
It is easy to understand why many organisations choose conductor systems to power their cranes, hoisting tools, warehousing equipment, or conveyors. Offering maximum power transmission, extreme reliability, low maintenance, and manufactured with high-quality materials, they are an excellent choice.
There are two types of conductor systems: jointed copper and continuous copper systems.
What is the difference?
Understanding the difference between the two systems is necessary to decide which is best for your application and operational environment.
A continuous system has copper continuously fed throughout the housing and is connected without joints. In contrast, jointed systems are flat copper within a housing, connected via a joint installation.
Metreel supplies three popular conductor systems: the 4-Ductor® and Multiconductor®, continuous copper systems, and Click-Ductor®, a jointed copper system, installed at intervals along the system length.
Key distinctions between Click-Ductor®, Multiconductor® and 4-Ductor®
Although all are copper and completely enclosed within a PVC housing, the three systems have different constructions to serve different purposes.
Copper poles and lengths
The 4-Ductor® operates in a 4-pole stream of continuous copper, and Multiconductor® runs from 2 up to 7 poles. The continuous copper on both systems can be fed through a maximum length of 525 metres, ensuring high-performance, uninterrupted power.
However, the Click-Ductor® can be configured in 4,5 or 7-pole flat copper and offers an incredible maximum length of 800 metres. The click system ensures the length can be easily adjusted to support business operations and any changes.
Travel speed and current capacity
The 4-Ductor® travels 250 metres a minute, and the Multiconductor® travels 500 metres a minute, making both systems fast. To accommodate this speed, both systems operate at high current capacities. Available in 35A, 50A, 80A, 125A and 160A, to meet varied power demands within your business.
The Click-Ductor® has a travel speed of 250 metres per minute. The jointed copper system operates at high capacity, with 50A, 80A, 110A, and 220A current available to accommodate the speed and conductor length.
Installation and maintenance
4-Ductor® and multiconductor® benefit from no breaks in the copper. The continuous copper is positioned in an enclosed housing for minimal maintenance, reduced brush wear, and low carbon deposit levels.
However, Click-Ductor® clicks together to form copper sections, with no screwing involved. This makes maintenance and repairs easy, with the copper clicking in and out of place.
Despite the differences, Click-Ductor, Multiconductor® and 4-Ductor® are significant power-supply conductors for cranes, conveyors, hoists, monorails, and other industrial equipment.
Need help choosing the right conductor system for your workflow?
Metreel are the only UK supplier of Akapp-Stemmann copper conductor systems. Our team of experts are happy to help you find the right system.
Call us on 0115 932 7010 or submit an enquiry form.