Which is the best wire in the world?

Aluminum wiring is electrical wiring made of aluminum, instead of the usual copper. It is widely and successfully used for electricity transmission and distribution. It is lighter and stronger than copper wire, which helps prevent the cables from sagging. It is also less expensive than copper wire. It has also been successfully used in aircraft wiring. In the 1960s, with the rising price of copper, electricians started to use it to wire homes and other buildings. Aluminum wiring was not successful in this application and it is a major safety problem. Because of the safety problems with aluminum wiring, it was discontinued for building wiring in the mid-1970s. Over time, aluminum wiring can separate from the screws on electrical outlets, switches, or lights, creating a poor connection, which causes the wire to heat up. The heat can cause the aluminum to oxidize, creating an even worse connection and more heat, which can eventually start a fire. Incorrect repairs to aluminum wiring, such as connecting aluminum wire to copper wire with twist-on wire connectors, can make the problem even worse. Even twist-on connectors designed to connect aluminum to copper can be dangerous. The only proper way to repair aluminum wiring is to connect it to copper "tails" (short pieces of copper wire) with crimped or screw-on connectors specifically designed for this purpose.

Is your new home under construction? Or are you facing electrical issues with the existing wiring set-up at your home? Not sure which wiring you should choose for a safer home? We are here to help you with your decision.

For cabling solutions at your home or office, the wire and cable industry uses a variety of metal conductors but Copper & Aluminum are the most common in the manufacturing of electrical wires. These metals are best suited for different applications because of their unique properties. Here are the most common differences between Copper & Aluminum wires.

Copper is the preferred wiring for your home over aluminum because of its ease of use and ability to effectively conduct electricity. It is more stable, durable, and performs better than aluminum wires.  Copper is known to have better Conductivity than Aluminium. Copper wire is more expensive whereas the cost of aluminum wires is comparatively low but they are corrosive and can cause a fire.

Let’s talk a little bit more about each type of wiring, separately.

Copper Wiring

Copper wiring is often preferred over aluminum wiring. Copper's tensile strength is about 40 percent better than that of aluminum and thus Copper is less likely to break. This is important considering that electrical wiring is sometimes mounted by pulling it through ports and feeders. It can break during installation if the wiring is weak or fragile. 

Copper wiring has a lower thermal expansion. This means it doesn’t expand as much as aluminum wiring when exposed to heat. And when electricity flows through electrical wiring, its temperature increases. One of the disadvantages that might stop you from opting for copper wiring is its cost. So, if extensive wiring is required, copper wiring can be too expensive for you.

Aluminum Wiring

Aluminum is also a common material used in the construction of electrical wires. Unfortunately, aluminum wiring is not as strong as copper wiring, and it has a higher thermal expansion coefficient. But still, there are advantages of using aluminum wiring. Aluminium Wiring is cheaper and lighter than copper wiring, almost half the price. Using aluminum wiring for a residential home or commercial building saves a lot of money. On one hand, copper wires are strong, better conductivity and on the other hand, aluminum wires are preferred for Fixed Installation. Aluminium has a significantly higher specific electrical resistivity than copper. This difference is highly relevant for power cables. 

Aluminium conductor requires 56% larger cross-sectional area than copper for same current carrying capability.

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Paramount Cables focuses on manufacturing excellence, technological advancement, and customer satisfaction. It strives to meet & exceed global quality benchmarks and to provide total cabling solutions for its customers.

You will get world-class and cost-effective products with a complete range of cables including House Wiring, Optical Fibre cables for Telecom & Defence, High Voltage & Low Voltage Power Cables, Control & Instrumentation Cables, etc.

We hope the above information will help you in making the right choice.