What Are the Differences Between Copper Wire and Aluminium Wire?

Copper and aluminium are common in electrical wiring because they are inexpensive and durable. The resistance to the flow of electricity through these two metals is minimal because of their conductivity. Even though copper and aluminium are both good conductors, that’s all they have in common. Thus, each type of electrical wiring has its pros and cons. Let’s begin with –

Plumbing Fittings Made of Copper

In commercial buildings, copper wiring has been standard for over 50 years. Its tensile strength exceeds aluminium wiring; hence it is preferable. The tensile strength of copper is 40% higher than that of aluminium. 

Copper wiring is stronger than aluminium wiring, making it more durable. Wiring is often installed by pushing or pulling it through ports and feeders. Brittle wiring can cause installation damage. Copper wiring is tensile, meaning it can withstand strain before breaking.

To put it another way, copper wire contracts less when heated than aluminium wire. Due to this, it expands less than aluminium wiring does when heated. Wires in an electrical circuit get hotter due to the flow of electricity. Aluminium wiring expands more than copper wiring when heated. Overexpansion of the wires might cause problems with the splices and connections.

Insulators And Conductors Made of Aluminium

Since aluminium’s conductive characteristics are comparable to copper, the cheaper metal is frequently substituted for the more expensive one. Although it is cheaper than copper, aluminium wiring has a higher thermal expansion coefficient and is less durable than copper wiring. In some applications, aluminium wire is still preferred.

Aluminium wiring typically has a lower price tag than its copper counterpart. A common rule of thumb is that the price of aluminium wiring is half that of copper. The use of aluminium wiring in place of copper wiring can save numerous dollars for building businesses during the wiring process. Using aluminium for a building’s wiring can save a company tens of thousands of dollars.

Important Differences Between Aluminum Wire and Copper Wire

Aluminium wires are lighter than copper ones, and vice versa; their different compositions make them easy to identify. It means that each one has traits typical of the metal from which it was fashioned. Copper wire’s conductivity is higher than that of aluminium’s, but it’s still inferior to copper’s (only 60% as conductive).

Copper wires are inconveniently heavy, but aluminium ones are easier to transport. The expansion of aluminium in response to heat and the contraction of copper in response to cooling are two of the most notable distinctions between the two metals. It will not crack due to temperature changes.

Copper wires are superior to aluminium wires in most situations because copper wires are more pliable. Wires made of aluminium are less expensive than those made of copper. Aluminium wires have a lower tensile strength than copper ones. Aluminium wires are corrosive and can easily cause fires, in contrast to fireproof Copper wires.

Summary and Conclusions

Now it’s clear how aluminium and copper wires differ. Aluminium wires corrode fast and can spark fires; hence copper is preferred for home wiring. Thus, copper wire has supplanted other materials in-home wiring. Many people use platinum, gold, silver, and even iron wires. There are numerous nice wire possibilities, but aluminium and copper are best.

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