A
aussiblu
Guest
I am engaged in a friendly discussion at
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11300518&page=1&pp=30
about the relative merits of using copper or aluminium cable in
for an automotive starter circuit. I hijacked a thread about the
merits of copper V brass V aluminium radiators. It is claimed
that aluminium cable dissipates heat more efficiently and that
with repeated use copper becomes more brittle. To quote in part:
"...copper cable deteriorates when being heat cycled over and
over again, aluminium cable is more brittle than copper when
used within the limits of it's current carrying capacity but
once you start drawing big current for short amounts of time
through smaller conductors the heat cycling affects the copper
more over time and from years of experience I have found that
the ally cabling when used in this situation very rarely fails,
I have found that the copper cable becomes very stiff and
brittle and fails a lot at terminals with vibration and slight
movement but the ally cable stays flexible. I don't have any
formulas or anything to explain why this is the case, I can only
speak from personal experiences. Also copper cable oxidises and
builds up a green grease like film when exposed to air over time
probably worse than any ally cable ..."
It seems counter intuitive to me as I always thought copper was
more thermally efficient than aluminium and that aluminium was
more likely to form a non conductive and brittling oxide
coating. However, I guess that the need with aluminium to use a
bigger cross sectional cable to have the amperage rating might
change the thermal performance difference between aluminium and
copper cables. What are your views and your real world
experiences with copper V aluminium cable in high current DC
applications?
--
Regards
Blue
Remove ZX from email address to reply directly.
http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11300518&page=1&pp=30
about the relative merits of using copper or aluminium cable in
for an automotive starter circuit. I hijacked a thread about the
merits of copper V brass V aluminium radiators. It is claimed
that aluminium cable dissipates heat more efficiently and that
with repeated use copper becomes more brittle. To quote in part:
"...copper cable deteriorates when being heat cycled over and
over again, aluminium cable is more brittle than copper when
used within the limits of it's current carrying capacity but
once you start drawing big current for short amounts of time
through smaller conductors the heat cycling affects the copper
more over time and from years of experience I have found that
the ally cabling when used in this situation very rarely fails,
I have found that the copper cable becomes very stiff and
brittle and fails a lot at terminals with vibration and slight
movement but the ally cable stays flexible. I don't have any
formulas or anything to explain why this is the case, I can only
speak from personal experiences. Also copper cable oxidises and
builds up a green grease like film when exposed to air over time
probably worse than any ally cable ..."
It seems counter intuitive to me as I always thought copper was
more thermally efficient than aluminium and that aluminium was
more likely to form a non conductive and brittling oxide
coating. However, I guess that the need with aluminium to use a
bigger cross sectional cable to have the amperage rating might
change the thermal performance difference between aluminium and
copper cables. What are your views and your real world
experiences with copper V aluminium cable in high current DC
applications?
--
Regards
Blue
Remove ZX from email address to reply directly.