Copper wires have always been around as they offer multiple advantages when it comes to manufacturing electrical products. For any kind of wiring job, copper wires are highly recommended and you will find these wires in mostly all electrical devices. Regardless of their advantages, there are materials like fiber optics which are nowadays challenging the popularity of copper wires.
Benefits of using copper wiring:
Copper wires are heat resistant and a close second to silver where electrical conductivity is concerned. Unlike other non-precious metals, copper is equipped to handle a far greater load of electricity without using much insulation and armoring. These wires are resistant to heat and can eradicate most problems arising from overloading. Copper is also resistant to corrosion and although there may be patina resulting from oxidation, this material is not going to lose its functionality.
- Copper is highly ductile and can be converted to produce ultra thin wires which are even thinner than hair strands. Since copper is also malleable, these wires can be bent into different forms without any breakage. So copper wires are versatile; they can be molded to form thick electrical cables for electrical posts and into thin wires for headphones.
- Copper wires cannot be easily melted and this feature makes it a good option where safety is a concern. When an overload or electrical surge comes through these wires. They will not burn or melt away. Therefore, the chances of fire outbreaks are lessened when there is a power problem.
- These wires will not loosen and you will not be required to fix them time and again. Other materials are likely to become loose after a while and may become detached leading to grave consequences.
- Since most electrical devices and appliances demand copper in their products, it is better to have copper wiring in your home to avoid compatibility issues. If you plan to use a non-copper wire it may lead to a galvanic action and trigger major problems. This will even destroy the copper wire you were planning to attach it to. In other words, you will have to bear a lot of expenses to repair the whole set up. It is advisable to use copper wiring right from the start to avoid such unwanted issues.
Copper wires may be excellent conductors but unsuitable for high tech automotive parts because they cannot handle electrical surges. Instead of copper, gold or silver wires are used by makers of semi-conductors as these are found to be more stable. Since copper is also prone to electromagnetic interference that can cause some devices to malfunction, it is not used for applications which need connection stability like communication devices. It is in these cases that fiber optics is being used extensively. However, most electricians still prefer working with copper wires since they are flexible and extremely easy to handle. They can be stripped easily, pulled into tight spots and you do not have to worry about formation of surface oxides on these wires. This makes copper wires the best choices for wiring any building.