Copper wire vs cheaper Aluminum wire are the equally dependable?
As I know, Aluminium wire, conductors, cables, bus-bars , overhead conductors etc as inter-connectors are used in very routine manner in all types of electrical installations, in some part of the world, Of course for conductors used as machine part, such as Power transformer windings, Motor/Generator windings, Current carrying parts inside circuit-breakers etc, copper is used. I am aware that aluminium cables of 1.1 Kv grade, 3.3 kV grade and upto 33 Kv grade are generally availabel in those markets. Rather if someone wants to use copper conductor in such cables than they have to tell the manufacturers beforehand. These are so much so used ( specially cables) , that engineers are accustomed to their comapartive bigger size, and their engineering practices are accordingly adopted. Considering such situations , I guess aluminium can be considerd as reliable as copper if suitably used. Further addition [after one day:] When I mentioned above about that of aluminium cables of 1.1 Kv grade, 3.3 kV grade and upto 33 Kv grade ., I meant about Power Cables. In 1.1 Kv grade of power cables the aluminium cable starts most likely from conductor size of 4 sqmm and upwards. Control cables which are generally of 1.1 Kv grade, and of 1.5 or 2.5 sqmm size are invariadly of copper conductor. I beleive, aluminium is more brittle and hence for termination sutablity in smaller sizes copper performs better in industrial applications.
The biggest issue is that if you drive the bike to the shop, they will probably have you leave it for a day or two. If you take the wheel off the bike yourself and take the wheel and new tire to the shop, it should cost between $15-$30 for them to dismount the old, properly dispose of it, mount the new, and spin balance it. A lot will depend on where you live. If you drive the bike over, leave it, the cost will be between $50-$75 for them to remove and reinstall the rear wheel. Plus the cost of the tire. some shops may charge extra for the mount and balance even on top of the $50-75 again depends on where you live.
Just looking thru my old bills. RR a tube - $26 - Should be about the same as mounting a tire from a wheel brought in. This was from Nov 2006 RR rear tire, tire on bike- $48 - Jan 2008 RR front tire - tire on bike $36 - last week July 2009. For 20 bucks, I'll let them do the work. Edit- I live in Los Angeles - My shop's rate $90/hr
NO ! Aluminum wire requires double the size compare with copper wire to pass same amount of current. Aluminum wire is easily broken and it creates thermo effect while joint into copper made socket. Many houses got fire in the old day due to aluminum wire therm effect.
If connections are properly made the two can be pretty much equally dependable. However it is more difficult to make a proper connection for aluminum wire, so in practice one may find aluminum less dependable, but the blame could be put on workmanship as much as on the material. In the past there were considerable problems with aluminum wiring in residential applications, but now one is more likely to find aluminum used in rather large sizes where is is more likely the time will be taken to make proper connections, and copper used in the smaller sizes.
