Why do electricians and electric companies insist on using copper wiring above all else? It turns out that copper wiring is the best material for the job, based on its various properties. For example, copper is extremely malleable and ductile; in addition, it also comes with very excellent electrical and heat conductivity. It can be considered virtually perfect for wiring because it is rustproof and robust. Since it has these properties, copper wiring is able to carry an electric current over a much longer distance than other sorts of wires. While copper has a number of uses—it is used from everything as a constituent of different metal alloys to a construction material—its most popular use is in the electrical industry and for creating wires.
The reason that copper wiring is preferred by electricians and electric companies is due to its great electrical conductivity, which is superior to other types of non-precious metals. Copper wires have the capacity of carrying greater amounts of electrical current for the diameter of the wire. This means that these types of wires subtract less charge when electricity moves through them. Copper wiring also has favorable chemical properties that make it highly prized for the electrician’s work. It is quite resistant to corrosion. It is also able to stand up to harsh environments and wears down in a much slower fashion compared to other sorts of wiring. In short, copper wires have greater longevity, which is why they are the most common types of wires used by electricians.
For all of these reasons, copper is considered the gold standard in the electrical industry. For both commercial and domestic purposes, copper is considered the go-to type of wiring. In fact, most of the modern buildings being constructed today are designed to accept copper wiring. Because of the prevalence of copper wires, rewiring is made a lot easier, too.
Another type of wiring of lesser quality that an electrician might also use is aluminum wiring. Aluminum wiring is known to have a higher resistance than copper; as a result, aluminum has greater losses than copper wiring. In contrast to copper, aluminum wire connections require meticulous cleaning to get rid of oxide. They also require a specific, anti-corrosion paste to be applied on them due to the reactivity of aluminum with the oxygen of the air. Finally, aluminum requires bigger cables than copper because it requires a bigger diameter in its wiring.
Copper has stood the test of time, and it is the most common type of wiring used today, both in commercial and residential applications. It is a highly conductive wire that makes it easier to carry an electric current over distances, which is why electricians use it.
