Why Is Copper Such A Popular Choice?

Copper wire cables are the most used metal when it comes to electrical work. In fact, over one-third of all the copper produced all over the world is used in electrical works. Copper is a single metal, so every copper object has roughly the same properties. So why copper? There are many different reasons why copper is such a popular choice, but it is these primary three properties that earn copper it’s title as the most popular choice in electrical engineering.

1. Conductivity
2. High ductility, or ability to be stretched into wires
3. High tensile strength or the amount of force needed to pull an object apart

Whether in bare copper wire form or as one of many other alloys such as tinned copper wire strands, copper is a plentiful and fairly priced resource and makes it cost-effective.


So how can we identify real copper wire?

Is there any specific way we can check the purity of copper?
1..One of the simplest method to test pure copper is to apply lemon juice over it. Then rinse it with water and it will glow like reddish colour.

2..There are many brands of copper wire available in the market. Some are pure copper while others are semi copper or not original copper also known as alloys.

Electricity travels more easily in highly conductive elements like pure copper, silver or gold, the less conductive the material, the larger the diameter has to be to carry the same current load.

Engineers choose the right wire diameter for the job, and know that raising current in a wire increases the resistivity and generates more heat. From research, it has been found that copper can carry more current than aluminum while carrying the same load

While the conductivity of different copper wires shift depends on the type of wire, such tinned copper wire or silver plated copper wires, in pure copper boasts the highest electrical conductivity rating of all non-precious metals. In fact, the high thermal and electrical conductivity of copper is second only to silver custom wires. Electrical Wires come in many forms and are made from many materials. They may seem simple but engineers are aware of two important points


What to look out for when buying


Copper wires and cables with PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) sheathing are the best and used in a vast number of applications from fixed wiring to flexible installations and they are available in various core (single core, two core, three core), sizes(mm), and colors, and comes in full 100 metres/yards in length. There's also the Fire Resistance(FR) and Fire Resistance Low Smoke cable (FRLS)

It's also important to know if you are dealing with DC or AC power in a given wire. AC power has some very complex physics which cause some strange effects. This was one of the reasons why AC power was developed long after DC power.
Electricity in long wires used in transmission behave very differently than in short wires used in design of devices. The use of wires in AC circuits brings on all sorts of problems like skin effect and proximity effects but in all, the application will determine the right choice.