Our most commonly used cable conductors are copper and aluminum. Now we will compare them in terms of conductor performance so that you can choose the right cable products.
1. The advantages of copper core cables
1. Low resistivity: the resistivity of aluminum core cable is about 1.68 times higher than that of copper core cable.
2. Good ductility: The ductility of electrical copper is above 30%.
3. High strength: the allowable stress at room temperature, copper is 7~28% higher than aluminum.
4. Anti-fatigue: Aluminum is easy to break after repeated bending, while copper is not easy. In terms of elasticity index, copper is also about 1.7 to 1.8 times higher than aluminum.
5. Good stability: the copper core is resistant to oxidation and corrosion, while the aluminum core is susceptible to oxidation and corrosion.
6. Large current carrying capacity: Due to the low resistivity, the copper core cable of the same cross-section is about 30% higher than the allowable current carrying capacity (the maximum current that can pass) of the aluminum core cable.
7. Low energy consumption: Due to the low electrical resistivity of copper, compared to aluminum cables, copper cables have lower power loss. This is beneficial to improve the utilization rate of power generation and protect the environment.
8. Convenient construction: ①The copper core is flexible, and the allowable bending radius is small, so it is convenient to turn and easy to wear the pipe; ②The copper core is resistant to fatigue and repeated bending is not easy to break, so the wiring is convenient; ③The copper core has high mechanical strength and can Withstanding large mechanical tension, it brings great convenience to construction and laying, and also creates conditions for mechanized construction.
Second, the advantages of aluminum core cables
1. Cheap price: Copper poles are more than 3 times the price of aluminum poles, and the proportion of copper is 3.3 times that of aluminum. Therefore, aluminum core cables are much cheaper than copper core cables, and are suitable for low-cost projects or temporary electricity use.
2. The cable is very light: the weight of the aluminum core cable is 40% of the copper core cable, and the construction and transportation costs are low. 3. Anti-oxidation: Aluminum quickly reacts with oxygen in the air to form an oxide film, which can prevent further oxidation. Therefore, aluminum wire is a necessary material for high-voltage, large-section, and large-span overhead power transmission.
Although aluminum core cables are relatively cheap, copper cables have outstanding advantages in cable power supply, especially in the field of underground cable power supply. The underground power supply using copper core cables has the characteristics of low accident rate, corrosion resistance, high reliability, and convenient construction and maintenance. This is why copper cables are mainly used in underground power supply in China.
