# U shaped power distribution board **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2026, 1:14pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/u-shaped-power-distribution-board/23645 "2026-09-25T13:14:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![divyansh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@divyansh](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/divyansh)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 1:14pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/u-shaped-power-distribution-board/23645/1 "2026-09-25T13:14:57Z")
Question about the U-shaped metal conductor inside the Blue Robotics barrier block Hi Blue Robotics team, I’m trying to understand the mechanical/electrical design of the barrier blocks used in the BlueROV2 power distribution. Looking at the terminal block, I noticed that the internal conductive metal pieces have a U/channel-shaped geometry, rather than simply being a flat rectangular metal plate. I understand that the terminals are connected together to form the positive/negative power buses, but I’m curious about the reason for this particular geometry. What is the main engineering reason for using the U-shaped/channel-shaped conductor instead of a flat bus bar? Is it primarily for: increasing mechanical stiffness of the conductor, improving the screw/wire clamping and retention, reducing deformation of the metal under the screw, increasing the effective conductor cross-section, or some other reason related to the manufacturing/design of the barrier block? I’m specifically interested in the reason for the U-shaped metal profile itself, rather than the plastic insulation/barrier between the terminals. I’m designing a similar power-distribution system for an underwater robot and would like to understand the engineering reasoning behind this design. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![tony-white](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/tony-white/32/18385_2.png) [@tony-white](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/tony-white)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 7:28pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/u-shaped-power-distribution-board/23645/2 "2026-09-25T19:28:49Z")
Hi @divyansh - Are you talking about the metal plates indicated by the green arrow here? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/bluerobotics/original/3X/3/0/30eac06cc405eb7e2c403593eea0881c618a2cf8.jpeg) Those are used to bridge the plastic ridges, identified by the red arrow, to turn the terminal block from something you make 1:1 connections on, into a bus bar where all the connected wires are in parallel on the battery voltage power bus. If that’s not what you mean, please include a picture - I’m having trouble understanding what part you’re referring to! ---
**Author:** ![divyansh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@divyansh](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/divyansh)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 10:32am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/u-shaped-power-distribution-board/23645/3 "2026-09-28T10:32:18Z")
yes my doubt is power distribution board can be rectangular with no bridges (red arrow) why it is there all though it is shorted with u brackets shape plate (green arrow ) i just want to know the technical reason why those bridges are there is there any technical reason like current jumps or back emf protection it will be better if u tell me the technical reason behind those bridge ---
**Author:** ![tony-white](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/tony-white/32/18385_2.png) [@tony-white](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/tony-white)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/u-shaped-power-distribution-board/23645/4 "2026-09-28T16:26:44Z")
Hi @divyansh - Without those bridge pieces, all the screw terminals on each side of the ROV would not be connected together. The bridges allow the screw terminals to act as power distribution bus bars, as they are rated for high current! Remove them and each wire connected to a screw terminal is not linked to its neighbors… ---
**Author:** ![divyansh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@divyansh](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/divyansh)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/u-shaped-power-distribution-board/23645/5 "2026-09-28T16:42:31Z")
Got it . Thank you so much ---
**Author:** ![divyansh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@divyansh](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/divyansh)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 5:20am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/u-shaped-power-distribution-board/23645/6 "2026-09-29T05:20:18Z")
![IMG_20260929_104211185](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/bluerobotics/original/3X/0/1/01266cdf4be81d40c7a40c2f8248fec9217ce0c1.jpeg) This also the same distribution board one side for positive and another for negative same blue Robotics power distribution board is also made in such a way like one side complete positive another complete negative so just extra things is that why that barriers are there , there can be rectangular bar like i have attached in image can tell me this power distribution board technical disadvantages ---
**Author:** ![Hobbeskarma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hobbeskarma](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/Hobbeskarma)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 12:18pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/u-shaped-power-distribution-board/23645/7 "2026-09-29T12:18:22Z")
The “barriers” you speak of are there so that spade connectors don’t twist when tightened and are less likely to loosen when the wires move around. They are notched into the metal of the bus bar so that the spade connection screws can also hold the metal of the bus into its insulating plastic carrier/mounting block without extra screws. If you specifically want disadvantages of what you just posted, technically electrically there aren’t any. It will “flow power” fine. Application wise, you would want to use ring terminals instead of the split spade type to negate twisting. Insulation wise you will want to take some steps so that nothing can easily come into contact with the bus as its a wide surface area. ---
**Author:** ![EliotBR](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/eliotbr/32/6937_2.png) [@EliotBR](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/EliotBR)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 4:33pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/u-shaped-power-distribution-board/23645/8 "2026-09-29T16:33:48Z")
@Hobbeskarma’s response covers most of the relevant considerations. As a couple of minor additions: 1. Our vehicles are intended as a platform for other integrations, so if someone wants to repurpose part of the bus bar for a different voltage then the plastic barriers are helpful for avoiding short-circuits 2. That particular component is one we source off the shelf. We use an affordable option that meets our performance and sourcing requirements, so not every aspect of it needs to be designed by us with intent - it just needs to be good enough at what we want it to do 🙂