As you might be aware, triplex wire used for power service entry in many residences and businesses is made of aluminum, not copper, whereas a wide range of other domestic and commercial electrical wire and cable is made from copper instead.
Why the shift, therefore, to aluminum triplex wire? Well, there are many reasons. We will cover 6 here, of which one is the main driver.
Cost
Even though this post is going to touch on 6 reasons why aluminum triplex wire is made from just that and not copper, this is the main reason. And, honestly, not only is it the main reason, even if you discounted all the others and just considered cost alone, triplex wire would still be made from aluminum.
Not that aluminum is a cheap metal, because it isn’t, but over the past few years, the price of copper has gone through the roof. This makes it untenable for use in some installations despite the fact that it is one of the best electrical conductors, bar none.
As a result, to keep costs reasonable, aluminum is used for triplex and quadruplex wire, in construction, because if it , costs would be even more unsustainably high.
Weight
Aluminum is also a lot lighter than copper, which again really makes this about cost because of the logistical concerns. The main driver, pretty much the only one actually, of how much it costs to transport something (onerous regulations aside) is the weight. Since copper is so much heavier than aluminum, it takes more fuel to get it anywhere, and that makes it even more expensive. Although, there is another consideration to be taken with the weight of copper, which is handling.
Handling
Since aluminum is so much lighter than copper, it is a lot easier to handle. This makes it less taxing on electricians and installers that have to move it or work with it directly.
Of course, this could potentially also be reduced to another factor of cost, since the harder it is to handle the material, the more involved the process is and the longer it will take to complete an install.
But, one way or the other, this is one more reason that triplex wire is made from aluminum and not from copper.
Conductivity to Weight
While copper is technically a better conductor than aluminum, if you account for weight, that advantage diminishes. Aluminum actually has a higher conductivity to weight ratio. This means a lighter weight of aluminum can carry current and voltage with easier facility than the same mass of copper.
In other words, you can use less aluminum, which, again, drives down the cost.
Durability
Specifically, corrosion resistance. Both copper and aluminum technically will corrode, but copper is highly prone to corrosion. Aluminum forms a thin layer of aluminum oxide on the surface which helps protect it.
Fitness to the Application
Lastly, there are some situations in which it just isn’t necessary to use copper as an electrical conductor. It makes more sense in some situations to use aluminum instead of copper, either because copper is too expensive or because aluminum is better suited to the conditions of the installation, such as aerial installations or for direct burial.
Where to Learn More About Aluminum Triplex Wire
Want to learn more about high-quality aluminum triplex wire? Visit EWCS Wire. In addition to quadruplex and triplex wire, they sell a wide variety of other types of aluminum wire in addition to other specialty electrical wire and cable. Visit their website and get in touch with them if you have any questions.
For more information about 6 awg wire and 4/0 welding cable Please visit: Electrical Wire & Cable Specialists.
