Aluminum vs Copper
A COMPARISON OF ALUMINUM VS. COPPER AS USED IN
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Larry Pryor, P.E. – Sr. Specification Engineer, GE Consumer & Industrial
Rick Schlobohm, P.E. – Sr. Specification Engineer, GE Consumer & Industrial
Bill Brownell, P.E – Specification Engineer, GE Consumer & Industrial
ABSTRACT
The debate over the pros and cons of aluminum vs. copper conductors has been discussed for many years. Many of the concerns are based on old information and also misinformation.
These
concerns center on the very different properties of the two materials and their suitability for application within the Electrical Equipment
Industry.
Reliable performance from the conductors, the joints and terminations of the conductors is essential to the operation of the electrical system. With the recent increases in the cost of copper, customers are seeing these increases passed on to them by the equipment manufacturer. The variance in cost between equipment with copper versus aluminum conductors is now affecting the customer’s buying decision. strength limits its use to special applications such as joint plating and sliding contact surfaces.
For the purposes of this paper, the areas of discussion are:
-
-
Current Carrying Capacity, Conductivity
Physical Properties
a. Expansion
b. Weight
c. Tensile Strength
Connections and Terminations
Plating and Environmental Concerns
Product Offerings
Cost Comparison
Impact on Various Pieces of Equipment
CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY
The electrical and mechanical properties of a material are dependent on its alloy. For the comparison between copper and aluminum in this paper, the copper is cold-worked electrolytic tough pitch copper similar to ASTM B187, alloy
UNC C11000. The copper used in electrical equipment is nominally pure 98% conductivity commercially hard based on the International
Annealed Copper Standard (IACS). Pure
Aluminum is not used as an electrical conductor in equipment since it is too soft for mechanical assemblies and is thus alloyed
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
Larry Pryor, P.E. – Sr. Specification Engineer, GE Consumer & Industrial
Rick Schlobohm, P.E. – Sr. Specification Engineer, GE Consumer & Industrial
Bill Brownell, P.E – Specification Engineer, GE Consumer & Industrial
ABSTRACT
The debate over the pros and cons of aluminum vs. copper conductors has been discussed for many years. Many of the concerns are based on old information and also misinformation.
These
concerns center on the very different properties of the two materials and their suitability for application within the Electrical Equipment
Industry.
Reliable performance from the conductors, the joints and terminations of the conductors is essential to the operation of the electrical system. With the recent increases in the cost of copper, customers are seeing these increases passed on to them by the equipment manufacturer. The variance in cost between equipment with copper versus aluminum conductors is now affecting the customer’s buying decision. strength limits its use to special applications such as joint plating and sliding contact surfaces.
For the purposes of this paper, the areas of discussion are:
-
-
Current Carrying Capacity, Conductivity
Physical Properties
a. Expansion
b. Weight
c. Tensile Strength
Connections and Terminations
Plating and Environmental Concerns
Product Offerings
Cost Comparison
Impact on Various Pieces of Equipment
CURRENT CARRYING CAPACITY
The electrical and mechanical properties of a material are dependent on its alloy. For the comparison between copper and aluminum in this paper, the copper is cold-worked electrolytic tough pitch copper similar to ASTM B187, alloy
UNC C11000. The copper used in electrical equipment is nominally pure 98% conductivity commercially hard based on the International
Annealed Copper Standard (IACS). Pure
Aluminum is not used as an electrical conductor in equipment since it is too soft for mechanical assemblies and is thus alloyed