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We frequently use aluminum wires with a higher thickness to make up for the lower conductivity as compared to copper. It’s not as simple as cost vs performance
by MobiusHorizons 3y ago
We frequently use aluminum wires with a higher thickness to make up for the lower conductivity as compared to copper. It’s not as simple as cost vs performance though, as aluminum is substantially less dense than copper. Gold and silver are also better conductors than copper, but of course are very expensive, and still have resistance. Zero resistance may be with it on some cases. For instance in projects that currently use high voltage dc it may be worth it due to safety and complexity wins, but that all would depend on how hard (expense and complexity) the superconductor is to deploy.
- cf141q5325 3y ago>We frequently use aluminum wires with a higher thickness to make up for the lower conductivity as compared to copper. Aluminum wires even made it into residential housing when copper was expensive/rare. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminum_building_wiring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminum_building_wiring
- stoobs 3y agoCan confirm, my parents had an aluminium telephone line in the UK until it failed and had to be replaced. Moot point as it's replaced with a fibre optic cable now though.
- cf141q5325 3y agoThe problem is with their usage as mains power. I think they are considered a fire hazard in older German homes.
- stoobs 3y agoNot surprising, any degradation in the connection leads to intermittent connection/high resistance fault = heat and poof, there it goes.
- ithkuil 3y agoNo only silver is a better conductor than copper. Gold is worse.