Did you know that for a long time, aluminum wire was used instead of copper in this country, for electrical wiring purposes?
This was largely due to a copper shortage that affected the country primarily during the 1960s and 1970s, but still, to this day, aluminum wire is sometimes used instead of copper.
Because, as with so many other things in life, it’s not that one is better than the other. It’s that there are pros and cons to all decisions, and with respect to electrical wire material, that is no different.
Here are some of the advantages that aluminum wire has over copper.
Weight
Aluminum is far, far lighter than copper. With a specific gravity of 2.7 versus copper’s specific gravity of 8.9, aluminum is more than three times lighter.
This is just not a factor of convenience. It makes it much easier to pack, load, and transport aluminum. This in turn drives down costs (see below).
But on top of that, aluminum is therefore easier on infrastructure to use as wiring because it incurs less load on the structures that bear it. This can be a critical factor when drawing wire through conduits or laying cable in trays.
Conductivity to Weight
It is true that aluminum offers higher electrical resistance than copper, which means copper is technically a better conductor, but this does not paint the full picture.
If you bring in weight, then aluminum is actually better. Aluminum’s conductivity to weight is basically twice as high as coppers – which means this: one pound of aluminum could carry the same electrical current, at the same voltage as two pounds of copper.
And that’s not nothing, especially when you consider all of the other factors mentioned here.
Flexibility and Ductility
Both aluminum and copper are highly flexible, highly ductile metals, but aluminum takes the edge slightly. It is very soft and flexible, making it easier to wind, form, and draw, therefore also making it easier to establish electrical connections.
Corrosion Resistance
One of the detractors of copper is that it is highly suspect to corrosion. Aluminum can corrode, too, but copper is a magnet for it, especially in marine environments. In some situations, it might be considered preferable to use aluminum wire in place of copper.
Cost
This is, far and away, the biggest comparative advantage that aluminum has over copper. It is a small fraction of the price of copper, which means that aluminum wire can be deployed with considerable greater cost-effectiveness. This is underscored in times of shortages.
Why Is Aluminum Triplex Wire Used Instead of Copper?
Triplex wire is a type of wire that is used to distribute power from utility lines to structures, usually either homes or businesses. It is made with three conductors, two of them two-phase conductors and one that is a neutral phase conductor. Typically, aluminum triplex wire is insulated with XLPE, or cross-linked polyethylene, which is both physically tough and chemically resistant.
Aluminum is a solid choice here not only because it is lightweight and flexible, but because it is highly cost-effective when compared with copper alternatives.
Where to Get High Quality Aluminum Wire Online
Interested in learning more about the comparative virtues of aluminum wire? Here because you need to find a new supplier of aluminum triplex wire or some other specialty electrical wire or cable?
Visit EWCS Wire. They carry a wide range of highly specialized electrical wire and cable along with plain old copper building wire and ground wire. If you need it for wiring, they have it.
