Re: Aluminium Wire (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:16:14 -0700
From: Barton B. Anderson <bartb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Aluminium Wire  (fwd)

As far as toploads and even primary's, no big deal, but as far as a 
secondary winding aluminum is a poor choice. The issue has to do with 
both DC and AC resistances. Both will be near 1.6 times higher for 
aluminum as compared to using a copper winding. It will work as far as 
sparks, resonance, etc.., but it will require that much more power to 
achieve the same spark length. Both DC and AC resistance have to do with 
the resistivity of the material and are equivalent to the ratio of the 
resistivity between the two materials.

Take care,
Bart



Tesla list wrote:

>---------- 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 
>>-- 
>>*************************************************** 
>>We specialize in UNIQUE items! Coins shrunk by huge 
>>magnetic fields, Lichtenberg Figures (our "Captured 
>>Lightning") and out of print technical Books. Visit 
>>Stoneridge Engineering at http://www.teslamania.com 
>>*************************************************** 
>>
>>
>>
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