Everyone probably knows a thing or two about household wiring. Copper-core cable is generally the most common. And when buying electrical wiring in everyday life, I'm sure copper-core cable is the most recommended by salespeople. Copper-core cable has become an indispensable part of our lives, so how should we choose and purchase it, and what are the key considerations? Today, let's explore the advantages of copper-core cable.
1. High Strength: At room temperature, the allowable stress of copper is 7-28% higher than that of aluminum. The difference in stress at high temperatures is even greater.
2. Low Resistivity: The resistivity of aluminum-core cable is approximately 1.68 times higher than that of copper-core cable.
3. Good Ductility: The elongation of copper alloys is 20-40%, with electrical copper exceeding 30%, while aluminum alloys have a mere 18%.
4. High Ampacity: Due to its low resistivity, copper-core cables have an allowable ampacity (maximum current they can carry) approximately 30% higher than aluminum-core cables of the same cross-section.
5. Low Energy Consumption: Due to copper's low resistivity, copper cables significantly reduce energy loss compared to aluminum cables. This significantly improves power generation efficiency and protects the environment.
6. Good Stability and Corrosion Resistance: Copper cores are resistant to oxidation and corrosion, while aluminum cores are susceptible to oxidation and corrosion.
7. Convenient Construction: ① The copper core is flexible and allows for a small bending radius, making it easy to make bends and thread conduits. ② The copper core resists fatigue and is not prone to breakage after repeated bending, making wiring easy. ③ The copper core's high mechanical strength allows it to withstand significant mechanical tension, greatly facilitating installation and facilitating mechanized construction.
8. Low Voltage Loss: Due to the low resistivity of copper-core cables, the voltage drop is minimal when the same current flows through the same cross-section.
Therefore, for the same transmission distance, higher voltage quality can be guaranteed. In other words, within the allowable voltage drop conditions, copper-core cables can transmit power over longer distances, providing a wider coverage area, facilitating network planning and reducing the number of power supply points.
9. Fatigue Resistance: Aluminum is prone to breaking after repeated bending, while copper is less prone to breaking. In terms of elasticity, copper is approximately 1.7 to 1.8 times higher than aluminum.
10. Oxidation and Corrosion Resistance: Copper-core cable connectors offer stable performance and are immune to oxidation-related failures. Instability in aluminum-core cable connectors often leads to increased contact resistance due to oxidation, resulting in heat and potential failures. Consequently, the failure rate is much higher than with copper-core cables.
11. Low Heat Generation: Under the same current, copper-core cables of the same cross-section generate much less heat than aluminum-core cables, making them safer to operate.
Tips for choosing copper-core wire
1) Wire Appearance - When purchasing wire, consumers should pay attention to the appearance of the wire: it should be smooth and flat, with intact insulation and sheathing, clear markings, and no greasy feeling when touching the wire. Looking at the wire's cross-section, the insulation or sheath thickness should be uniform across the entire circumference, with no deviation from the core. The insulation or sheath should have a certain thickness.
2) Wire Surface Marking: According to national standards, the surface of the wire should be marked with a continuous marking of the manufacturer's name, product model, and rated voltage. This helps to quickly identify the manufacturer in the event of problems during use, so consumers should pay attention to this when purchasing wire. Also, when purchasing wire, consumers should ensure that the manufacturer's name, product model, and rated voltage indicated on the certificate of conformity match the printed markings on the wire to avoid counterfeit products.
Copper-core wire has many advantages, which is why its market price is higher than other wires. Of course, choosing a well-known brand with better quality will also result in a higher price. However, the value is worth it, as it will provide better performance and greater safety. However, in life, purchases still have to be made based on actual conditions. After all, the most suitable one is the best.
