compare and contrast the uses of aluminium and copper as electical writing?
During the late 1960's and early 1970's aluminum was used in mobile home wiringThere was a large increase in electrical caused firesAluminum expands and contracts quite a lotEven a light over load and repeated movement weakened the wire to where it failedIt also needed aluminum compatible connections like receptacles and switchesThese could work loose and cause high resistance hot spotsCopper is stronger and does not expand as much with heat from a small over loadIt is more durable and can be bent and worked more than aluminumMany older homes need upgraded wiring because when they were built we had much less appliancesToday the home entrance cable is usually aluminum due to costsIt is over sized for the job, uses proper connectors and anti oxidation liquids to keep it safeFactoid- during WWII copper wiring was made with a steel wire center core due to copper shortagesIt worked well as electrons run the copper surface of the wireIt was heavy and stiff and hard to work withAnother interesting fact is much wiring damage is caused by rodents chewing on wiresIf you have a piece of aluminum wire flex it back and forth and it soon heats weakens and breaksTry the same with copper wireIt will weaken and break but not as easily as aluminum.
