Copper Purity in Cable Conductors: Grades, Risks and How to Verify Them

Copper Purity in Cable Conductors: Grades, Risks and How to Verify Them Quick Answer: Cable conductors use electrolytic tough pitch copper at about 99.9 percent purity — the buyer’s defense is the resistance test per length and batch reports keyed to the drums shipped. Two cables can look identical on a drum, weigh the same […]

Aluminum vs Copper Conductors for Power Distribution: Cost vs Performance

Aluminum vs Copper Conductors for Power Distribution: Cost vs Performance Quick Answer: Aluminum conducts about 61 percent as well as copper but costs far less per ampere delivered — it wins on long straight feeders; copper wins where space is tight. The conductor-metal question looks like a spreadsheet problem, and part of it is: run […]