Advantages of Aluminum Braided Wire

Aluminum Braided Wire is a versatile, flexible, and lightweight electrical conductor that can be used to carry high-current electricity. Its light weight helps to reduce installation and labor costs, as well as reduce the number of energizers needed. It is also known for its excellent corrosion resistance, especially in the presence of salt and other chemicals. This is particularly important in coastal areas, where the salty air can significantly increase a wire's corrosion rate.

The low cost of aluminum also makes it a popular choice for use in power distribution systems, where longer line lengths are common. It is approximately 61% as conductive as copper of the same size, so it is possible to run longer lines with lower voltages than would be possible with copper. However, it is not as electrically efficient as copper, and the higher current-carrying capacity of copper requires thicker gauge wires.

When used in the conductors of a wire, aluminum has a much lower melting point than copper, so it tends to be used in applications with high-temperature requirements (such as in electric utilities). It also tends to expand and contract more rapidly than copper when heated by current flow, which can lead to the loosening of connections at devices such as switches and outlets. This can result in dangerous spacing between the conductors and create a fire hazard.

Over time, various techniques and materials were developed to address these issues. Special connectors that exclude oxygen (anti-oxidants) were designed to prevent oxidation, and better alloys for both the conductors and the connectors reduced the stress caused by expansion/contraction. It was also discovered that a layer of aluminum oxide forms within minutes on any exposed surface of the wire, and although it is not as good a conductor as copper, it does provide adequate protection from further corrosion. It was then determined that if the layer of aluminum oxide is scraped or sanded off (often referred to as abrading) and a non-flammable anti-oxidant applied, the connection will last significantly longer than if no such procedure was followed.

In addition, the CPSC found that certain types of "twist-on" connectors, such as Ideal no. 65, can be used to re-twist copper conductors onto existing aluminum branch circuit wires to help prevent loosening and overheating of these connections, but the Commission considers these connectors to be only a temporary repair and not a complete solution. This is due to the fact that re-twisting does not eliminate the issue of the aluminum expanding and contracting at a different rate from steel, and because these connectors have very shallow undercuts, the re-twisting can actually result in a looser connection than the original one.

The best solution is to replace the older types of devices and connections that were installed with aluminum with newer, more compatible models. This can be accomplished by replacing receptacles and switches with those that meet the CU/ALR specification. This will ensure that they are properly sized for the smaller diameter aluminum wires and that they have deeper undercut screw terminals to hold them securely.

ER5154 Al-Mg Alloy Wire

Grade 5154, Al-Mg alloy wire is used for braiding in coaxial cable for shielding, with it’s good performance.

Main Application: flexible coaxial cable, a variety of audio and video cable, vehicle signal cable, network cable, data transmission cable and so on.