BIG Power wire question for you guys!

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

if 0 gauge wire "A" is less strand count but 100% copper and is compared to something with higher strand count "B" but has almost no copper like some better brands, which is better?

Click to read more...

 

[DNick454 10+ year member]

It depends on what the "other metal" contains in brand B. Solid gold is a great conductor.... it doesn't make it practical for weight or cost though. Copper is used because it is a great conductor, stays fairly flexible without breaking, and is quite cost effective. So without knowing what Brand B contains, it's really not possible to know. Could be silver for all you know //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[jpexpc 10+ year member]

It depends on what the "other metal" contains in brand B. Solid gold is a great conductor.... it doesn't make it practical for weight or cost though. Copper is used because it is a great conductor, stays fairly flexible without breaking, and is quite cost effective. So without knowing what Brand B contains, it's really not possible to know. Could be silver for all you know //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

Good answer.

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

It depends on what the "other metal" contains in brand B. Solid gold is a great conductor.... it doesn't make it practical for weight or cost though. Copper is used because it is a great conductor, stays fairly flexible without breaking, and is quite cost effective. So without knowing what Brand B contains, it's really not possible to know. Could be silver for all you know //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

Yah but I'm talking realistic here, if I had a wire that was pure copper and a wire that was hyperflex and the hyperflex has a higher strand count but it may only have 30% copper(just guessing) then which would be better?

 

[jpexpc 10+ year member]

Pure copper.

 

[91Chevy 10+ year member]

Higher strand count only leads to increased flexibility. One solid piece of copper would conduct better than multiple strands, but bending it would be a bish.

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

I dont know why everyone is stuck on gold being a great conductor, it has a good conductivity dont get me wrong...it's just used for the main porpuse that it is very stable and doesnt corrode etc. like other metals, that's why you see gold used on connection points that are more exposed and would be more likely to corrode (gold is plated over something usually so that the connection stays true and the copper/brass underneath doesnt corrode and make the connection more resistive)...

Sorry. The first reply just made it seem like gold had equal, if not great conductivity than copper..

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

I dont know why everyone is stuck on gold being a great conductor, it has a good conductivity dont get me wrong...it's just used for the main porpuse that it is very stable and doesnt corrode etc. like other metals, that's why you see gold used on connection points that are more exposed and would be more likely to corrode...(sorry. The first reply just made it seem like gold had equal, if not great conductivity than copper..)

I was kind of thinking the same thing, all I've heard is that it corodes very easily in those kinds of conditions. My real question was what I posted above but I am glad you guys brought it up.

Higher strand count only leads to increased flexibility. One solid piece of copper would conduct better than multiple strands, but bending it would be a bish.

That's kind of what I was thinking too.

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

For the hundreds of strands vs solid copper...im not 100% certain here, but ive come across (in physics I believe) how more current will travel on the outside of the conductor..?

This would make some sense in my mind because as the current is going through, it would heat up. even if it's a slight heat it would increase resistance and the outside of the conductor would be cooler (have less resistance)...can anyone shed some light on this/add to this?

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

I'm gonna load comparison pics in a minute...

 

[91Chevy 10+ year member]

For the hundreds of strands vs solid copper...im not 100% certain here, but ive come across (in physics I believe) how more current will travel on the outside of the conductor..?
This would make some sense in my mind because as the current is going through, it would heat up. even if it's a slight heat it would increase resistance and the outside of the conductor would be cooler (have less resistance)...can anyone shed some light on this/add to this?

I recall hearing that as well, although my memory is a bit foggy.

 

[Sparc]

For the hundreds of strands vs solid copper...im not 100% certain here, but ive come across (in physics I believe) how more current will travel on the outside of the conductor..?
This would make some sense in my mind because as the current is going through, it would heat up. even if it's a slight heat it would increase resistance and the outside of the conductor would be cooler (have less resistance)...can anyone shed some light on this/add to this?

That is not true for DC. It is only true for AC power.

See wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternating_current#Effects_at_high_frequencies

 

[Johnny Law.Lulz 5,000+ posts]

ah i heard the thing about the electricity moving along the outside of the strands and not through them in science class but couldnt remember everything about it.

 

[Goindef154 5,000+ posts]

uploading now...

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

Hmm, interesting...but it'd still make sense in my mind thinking more would travel on it's surface and not in the center...