View Single Post
Unread 02-25-2003, 05:04 PM   #40
Since87
Pro/Guru - Uber Mod
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Indiana
Posts: 834
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by SysCrusher
The heat just travels through copper and into the water faster than aluminum. This is one reason why copper is used more often in electrical applications. Electrical resistance has pecular effect - Heat. Copper can deal with this heat better allowing more electrical current to pass through it faster with less resitance.
No. The primary reason copper is used in electrical applications is that it has a low electrical resistance. Because of the low electrical resistance, for a given current, wire length, and wire gauge, less power will be dissipated in a copper wire than in an aluminum wire. The heat spreading ability of copper is a tertiary concern.
Since87 is offline   Reply With Quote