What is busway in a data center?

Busway (or bus duct) is a rigid or semi-flexible enclosed conductor track, usually mounted overhead above rack rows, that carries power and allows tap-off connections to be added at any point along its length to feed individual racks — an alternative to running individual cable whips from a PDU to each rack.

Why do AI data centers prefer busway over traditional cable whips?

Busway lets an operator add, move, or remove a rack power connection anywhere along the run without pulling new cable back to the PDU, which matters when rack layouts and power densities change frequently — a common situation in AI data centers as GPU hardware generations increase in density.

Is busway more expensive than cable whip distribution?

Busway typically has higher upfront material and installation cost than an equivalent cable-whip installation, and the busway run itself has to be sized for expected maximum future current needs at installation time. For facilities expecting significant rack layout changes over their life, this upfront cost is usually judged worth the long-term flexibility gained.

Where does busway fit in a data center power distribution system?

Busway sits at the last stage of power distribution, between the PDU (power distribution unit) and the individual rack, carrying power the same voltage level PDUs output and delivering it to rack-level tap-off connections.

Engineering·7 min read·September 19, 2026

🔗 Data Center Busway Explained

Why overhead busway has become the preferred power distribution method for high-density AI GPU racks — how it works, how it compares to traditional cable whips, and why its ability to be tapped anywhere along its length matters as rack layouts and power densities keep changing.

🎓Data Center Engineering Basics — Start to Finish (Full Access)

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What Busway Actually Is

Busway (also called bus duct or plug-in busway) is a rigid or semi-flexible enclosed conductor track, typically mounted overhead above the rack rows, that carries power along its length and allows tap-off boxes to be plugged in at regular intervals to feed individual rack power drops. It's an alternative to the traditional method of running individual cable whips from a PDU (power distribution unit) to each rack — same underlying job (getting power from distribution equipment to the rack), fundamentally different physical approach.

Topics covered

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