Copper core cables have more advantages than aluminum core cables:
1. Low resistivity: the resistivity of aluminum core aerial bundled cable BS 7870 is about 1.68 times higher than that of copper core cable.
2. Good ductility: the ductility of copper alloy is 20-40%, the ductility of electrical copper is more than 30%, while aluminum alloy is only 18%.
3. High strength: the allowable stress at room temperature, copper is 7~28% higher than aluminum. Especially the stress at high temperature, the difference between the two is even greater.
4. Anti-fatigue: Aluminum is easy to break after repeated bending, while copper is not easy. In terms of elasticity index, copper is also about 1.7-1.8 times higher than aluminum.
5. Good stability and corrosion resistance: The copper core is resistant to oxidation and corrosion, while the aluminum core is susceptible to oxidation and corrosion.
6. Large current carrying capacity: Due to the low resistivity, the copper core cable of the same cross section is about 30% higher than the allowable current carrying capacity (the maximum current that can pass) of the aluminum core cable.
7. Low voltage loss: Due to the low resistivity of the copper core cable, the same current flows in the same section. The voltage drop of the copper core cable is small. Therefore, the same transmission distance can ensure higher voltage quality; in other words, under the allowable voltage drop condition, the copper core cable can reach a longer distance, that is, the power supply coverage area is large, which is beneficial to network planning and reduces The number of power supply points.
8. Low heating temperature: Under the same current, the copper core cable with the same cross section has much smaller heat than the aluminum core cable, which makes the operation safer.
9. Low energy consumption: Due to the low electrical resistivity of copper, it is obvious that copper cables have low power loss compared to aluminum cables. This is conducive to improving the utilization rate of power generation and protecting the environment.
10. Anti-oxidation and corrosion resistance: The performance of the connector of the copper aerial bundled cable(ABC) B231 is stable, and there will be no accidents due to oxidation. When the connector of aluminum core cable is unstable, the contact resistance will increase due to oxidation and heat will cause accidents. Therefore, the accident rate is much greater than that of copper core cables.
11. Convenient construction: The copper core is flexible and the allowable bend radius is small, so it is convenient to bend and easy to pass through; the copper core is fatigue-resistant, repeated bending is not easy to break, so the wiring is convenient; the copper core has high mechanical strength and can withstand relatively The large mechanical pulling force brings great convenience to construction and laying, and also creates conditions for mechanized construction.
12. Cheap price: Copper pole is 3.5 times the price of aluminum pole, and the proportion of copper is 3.3 times that of aluminum. Therefore, aluminum core cables are much cheaper than copper core cables, and are suitable for low-cost projects or temporary electricity use.
13. The cable is very light: the weight of the aluminum core cable is 40% of the copper core cable, and the construction and transportation costs are low.
14. Anti-oxidation and corrosion resistance: Aluminum quickly reacts with oxygen in the air to form an oxide film, which can prevent further oxidation. Therefore, aluminum wire is a necessary material for high-voltage, large-section, and large-span overhead power transmission.
Although aluminum core cables are cheap, copper cables have outstanding advantages in cable power supply, especially in the field of underground cable power supply. The underground power supply using copper core cables has the characteristics of low accident rate, corrosion resistance, high reliability, and convenient construction and maintenance. This is why copper abc cables are mainly used in underground power supply in China.