Re: Aluminium Wire (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:17:03 +0000
From: David Rieben <drieben@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: drieben@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Aluminium Wire  (fwd)

Hi all,

Electric utility companies use plenty of relatively large
cross sectioned, uninsulated aluminum cable for transmis-
sion of electric power ;^) As Bert stated, aluminum
has a significantly lower conductivity than copper but
its lower cost coupled with its relatively low specific 
gravity or density ( Al = 2.7, Cu = 8.96 ) still renders it
the practical choice for power line conductors. Even
with only 62% of the relative conductance of cop-
per, aluminum still ends up with a conductance vs.
density ratio of over twice that of copper and as 
previously stated, aluminum is still considerably 
cheaper than copper. However, as Bert also stated,
you would likely be hard-pressed to locate a small
quantity of relatively small guaged enameled aluminum
wire as the superior conductance of copper is pre-
ferred for smaller transformers and motors where
weight and cost is not as much of an issue. 


David Rieben

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> 

> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- 
> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:22:15 -0500 
> From: Bert Hickman 
> To: Tesla list 
> Subject: Re: Aluminium Wire (fwd) 
> 
> Tesla list wrote: 
> > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- 
> > Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:48:54 +0100 
> > From: Chris Swinson 
> > To: Tesla list 
> > Subject: Aluminium Wire 
> > 
> > Hi all, 
> > 
> > Does anyone know if you can buy Aluminium Wire ? Pondering doing some 
> > testing over copper vs Aluminium Wire with a very small coil, though looks a 
> > pretty are kind of thing :-( 
> > 
> > Chris 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> Chris, 
> 
> You can indeed buy aluminum magnet wire. However, its seldom found in 
> small quantities since its normally only used by transformer and ballast 
> manufacturers, loudspeaker, or disk drive manufacturers in order to save 
> (shave?) costs, reduce weight in aerospace applications, or reduce 
> inertia in moving coil systems. It's used extensively in 15-1500 KVA 
> dry-type transformers, but usually as rectangular paper or Nomex 
> insulated wire. 
> 
> Since aluminum wire has less than 62% of the electrical conductivity of 
> copper wire, aluminum wire must either be significantly larger (~1.6x 
> the cross sectional area for the same DC resistance), or the maximum 
> current must be derated by a factor of ~0.62 when substituting it for 
> copper wire. 
> 
> If you're willing to spring for a significant quantity, most large 
> magnet wire manufacturers produce it (Superior Essex, Rea, Alpha-Core, 
> etc.). Unless you know someone in an industry that uses the stuff, your 
> chances of finding a small quantity are slim to none - even on eBay. 
> 
> Bert 
> -- 
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> 
>